It wouldn't be a bad idea for Melo to take his hat off, because it makes him look silly.

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.)