How can we tell that autumn is approaching? It’s still hella hot outside (at least where I live) and the leaves haven’t started changing color. Will summer never end?
Ah, but there is one traditional beginning-of-fall event taking place this weekend in the world of sports. I’m referring, of course, to Carmelo Anthony’s annual charity gold event and team get together in Puerto Rico.
This year Melo brought along old friends Lance Thomas, Kyle O’Quinn and Sasha Vujacic, along with new teammates Justin Holiday, Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee and Marshall Plumlee.
Lee appears to be the unofficial photographer on this trip. He made sure to write “Me7o” on his Instagram post, which is the mark of an excellent teammate:
Of course, it wouldn’t be the 2016-17 Knicks without some shirtless exercise, so here is Lee and Rose reenacting Rocky III on the beach:
Here is Melo glad-handling the donors:
Day 1 of #AVMW2016 in Puerto Rico #CarmeloAnthonyFoundation #StayMe7o pic.twitter.com/7TCnvbwyws
— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) September 11, 2016
I’m a little sad that Kristaps didn’t come to Puerto Rico this year — he went in 2015 — and that we missed out on seeing other guaranteed-contract newbies like Maurice Ndour, Mindaugas Kuzminkas and Willy Hernangomez. Ah well, dad will reach out to those guys soon enough. And everybody knows the bond between Melo and Kristaps is unbreakable and everlasting.