Carmelo Anthony Wraps Up China Tour With Furry Friend

New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony just wrapped up his promotional excursion through China, as part of the Jordan Brand Flight Tour, and made a new friend he tried to bring back to New York City with him.  Sadly for Knicks fans, it wasn't New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul.

The Knicks forward posted a picture of himself holding a cuddly panda bear on his Twitter account--and, although David Stern comes to mind, no it wasn't him.

'Melo, Paul and Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade just finished a week-long, four-city itinerary of China for the Jordan brand; which celebrates basketball in local communities.  The three NBA stars made stops at basketball camps and skills clinics to sign autographs and promote the game-- and the Michael Jordan sneakers over 300 million basketball fans will see and now be screaming for.

The big-three were treated like rock-stars and mobbed by thousands of screaming fans.  Yao Ming, you did a good job of bringing the NBA to the people's Republic.

The Knicks star and his fellow good will ambassadors each had their own shoes to promote for the tour.  Anthony's was called "Explosive" and based on a Chinese opera.

No word yet if Anthony signed with a Chinese team or if he and the free-agent-to-be Paul discussed the possibility of playing together for the Knicks.

Amar'e Stoudemire To Produce Hollywood Fright Flick

Amar'e Stoudemire must be counting on an NBA lockout next season.  It's not like the New York Knicks forward doesn't already have enough projects on his plate, but now you can add the title of film producer to his resume.  The Knicks star will be going Hollywood and producing "The Strangers 2," a sequel to the scary 2008 original "The Strangers."

No, the followup isn't about Isiah Thomas returning to the front office or the playoff sweep by the Boston Celtics--even thought both of those story-lines are pretty spooky to Knicks fans.

Stoudemire is in talks with Relativity Media honcho Ryan Kavanuagh to executive produce "The Strangers 2."  In other words, Stoudemire is putting money into the production and will get a director's chair with his name on it.



The original film was a $9 million production which grossed over $80 million worldwide.  It starred Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a young couple terrorized by three weirdos in masks.

The 6'10' Stoudemire talked about his new venture at a party in Manhattan.  "Ever see 'The Strangers?'  It's a scary movie...It's crazy," he said.  Cue the slasher music.

Relativity Media has also backed and distributed other films including "Bridemaids," "The Fighter" and "The Social Network."

Stoudemire hasn't been idle or laying low this off-season.  He is currently filming "Entourage" in Los Angeles and recently filmed a cameo in Garry Marshall's "New Year's Eve" in New York City.

Not only is the Knicks star giving James Franco a run as the busiest guy in Hollywood, he is launching a clothing line with Rachel Roy this fall.  Did I mention, he's a rapper too.  Who isn't these days.

If Stoudemire really wants to be Cecil B. DeMille and  produce a blockbuster, he should get Chris Paul to join Carmelo Anthony and himself on the New York Knicks.  Stoudemire could call it "Three Amigos 2."

That's something New Yorkers would kiss him "on the veranda" for.  Okay, the lips would be fine.

Chris Paul Should Sharpen Up His Skills

The New Orleans Hornets Chris Paul should be the subject of ridicule among is Western Conference teammates after his embarassing moment in the Skills Competition. Paul came out and blew a layup right from the jump. I bet little Abigail was thinking she drew Stephen Curry in this contest.



It's not like he blows wide open layups everyday, but as you can see from all the laughs on the sideline Paul will never hear the last of that one.

The Buddyball Era

Once LeBron James joined Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami, two of his closer friends in the NBA, I said it was the start of buddyball. Now it seems like New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul wants in on the action. Not necessarily going to play in Miami, but calling for a trade where there is an established superstar. He wants a trade unless the Hornets can convince him that they're willing to become a contender. As of now I don't see that happening in New Orleans at this moment due to the slow pace of an ownership change.

I can understand wanting to win, but don't try to pout your way out of town. Making a trade demand makes you look like a spoiled child. By trying to go to a team that has a big time player is only saying I want to play with my boys. Especially in the light of the Miami 3 get together. Players must remember this is basketball not the get along gang. Saying he wants to go to New York, Orlando, Dallas, and Portland. All teams that are playoff contenders, with the exception of the Knicks. But the Knicks do have Amare Stoudemire,supposedly one of Paul's "boys". I'm no insider, but Stoudemire said he could deliver Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks if he signed there and Paul said that he, Anthony and Stoudemire would form a "big three" in New York  at Anthony's wedding. Here's the thing Chris, management holds the cards. They're not going to trade you for a bag of basketballs and the towel boy. If the Hornets do trade you, they have to get fair value. It's a business. I know the Hornets have never been the ideal franchise, they still have to trot out a good product to keep the fans interest and make money.

Personally, I get tired of athletes making these kind of demands. Paul should've thought about this when he signed his contract extension in 2008. I understand the Hornets appeared on the cusp after taking the defending champion San Antonio Spurs to seven games. But he should've tried to look at the bigger picture. Hey, money talks doesn't it? That was as good as it was going to get with the way the team was constructed. But he signed on for more and now he wants out. Unless some team gives up a king's ransom for Paul, he ain't going nowhere. Unless some GM pulls out a handgun and pantyhose and completely robs the Hornets. Right now the best option is to just try and get his team back to the playoffs.

Fans,buddyball is here, whether you like it or not.