Anything But Melo: Syracuse Fans Welcome Storied Alumni Carmelo Anthony, Michael Carter-Williams, and Jerami Grant Back to the Carrier Dome

By Anthony Castellano

On a night that saw celebrated Syracuse alums Carmelo Anthony, Michael Carter-Williams, and Jerami Grant return to the Carrier Dome, the New York Knicks' star managed to seize the spotlight. Carter-Williams and Grant were held out of the exhibition due to injuries and Carmelo decided to run with it, leading the Knicks to an 84-77 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Ever since Carmelo Anthony triumphantly paraded off the Carrier Dome court in 2003 after winning the national championship, it has been all uphill from there- well, mostly. Ardent Orange fans who follow Anthony's career know he has embarked on a journey replete with numerous accomplishments ranging from seven all star games and a scoring title to an Olympic gold medal. However, is a ring the one missing piece to his legacy?

Candidly taking questions from a podium while sporting a business casual blue button up shirt, Carmelo addressed his legacy to the roughly 30 reporters in attendance.

Carmelo Anthony gets congratulated by his teammates 

"I mean I think a championship validates or solidifies (your legacy) to a certain point but it doesn't show who you are as a person or player," Anthony said. "There are a lot of great ones out there that haven't won a championship but that doesn't mean they didn't have a great career or they weren't a great player. But I still have a long time left in this league and my goal is to win a championship and try my best to win a championship."

While very welcoming in his answers, Carmelo gradually grew a bit more hesitant while discussing his championship prospects. A subdued uneasiness appeared to enveloping him until he decided to brush it off with laughter.

"I don't even want to say 'If I don't' because I still have a long time left in this league to go out there and fight for a championship," Anthony said. "So hopefully that time will come and I won't be answering this question a long time from now."

Almost echoing the former Orangeman's thoughts, Head Coach Derek Fisher thinks that Carmelo needs a championship to validate his placement in NBA history. However, it is certainly not the be all-end all.

"I think in society, that's kind of just the way it is," Fisher explained. "We often times only measure success by the end result so it's not just for Carmelo and his legacy but any of us. You can't just get focused on the end result. True success is measured on the moments from day to day and a special thing can happen along the way and if you focus on just creating the right type of culture and daily habits, you'll get where you're trying to go."

Carter-Williams and Grant address the crowd before the game

The Knicks' forward, who scored 17 points in 27 minutes, seemed to pick up right where he had left off 11 years ago. Despite the usual lackluster atmosphere that typically accompanies a mid-October preseason game, the vibrant Orange fans were in full effect this Tuesday night. With longtime and legendary men's basketball head coach Jim Boeheim in attendance, the fans certainly made Carmelo feel comfortable in his old surroundings on a night that saw Anthony record seven rebounds and dish out three assists.

"It was a great atmosphere with great fans," the SU alum said. "The energy was unbelievable. I came back here I think two years ago and the energy wasn't like it was today because I think they had time to prepare more this year. Anytime I get a chance to play in this building, it's a special moment and it brings back those memories."

One thing is for sure: While Carmelo still has one last item remaining on his bucket list, he can always fall back on his championship days as an Orangeman.

"Riding around, we were coming from the hotel to the Carrier Dome and we were just seeing all the spots and my old stomping grounds where I used to hang out. We just saw the campus again," Anthony said. "That feeling, it just doesn't get any better than that."