I have a new addition to my sports quote hall of fame: this gem from Carmelo Anthony, congratulating himself for continuing to put up big numbers despite the distraction of trade rumors:
I take my hat off to myself for dealing with all this stuff that’s going on and still be able to go out there and play at the high level that I can play at. I really don’t think an average person can walk in my shoes. I don’t think that.
The phrase “I take my hat off to myself” is definitely going to make its way into my regular rotation, right alongside J.R. Rider’s immortal “I said I was going to win it and I won it. I have to love myself for that.”
Just for the heck of it, here’s the rest of the top 5:
- “Vonteego has a lot of confidence, and the Warriors are starting to have a lot of confidence in Vonteego.” (Golden State Warriors rookie Vonteego Cummings, circa 1999, speaking highly of himself. I mean of Vonteego.)
- “Rickey don’t like it when Rickey can’t find Rickey’s limo.” (Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, still the record-holder for most third-person-self-references in one sentence.)
- “I ain’t getting on no time machine.” (ABA player Marvin Barnes, refusing to board a short flight that would cross time zones and thus land before it took off.)
Hat or no, some of us who reside in Denver will relish the day we no longer have to contemplate Melo or his love of self.