Denver's golden boy making the rounds

September 9, 3:02 PMDenver Nuggets ExaminerMike Wolf

Imagine what Ray Lewis could do to the Nuggets
struggling defense.  (photo by Nick Wass/AP)

Hope. Defense. Leadership.  Just a few of the things you heard Carmelo Anthony mention this past week on his campaign trail. 

Anthony donned his gold medal on the premiere of Oprah Winfrey yesterday, threw out the first pitch at Camden Yards last week and bear-hugged Ray Lewis in Baltimore on Sunday.  Wearing a shiny number 15 for the Ravens, Carmelo threw up the coin toss as an honorary captain.  Broncos fans will forgive him -- I think. 

The question becomes: Why not perform all that hoopla in Denver?  The Broncos could use another tall body at wide-out.  And if Anthony could throw a strike in the first pitch at Coors Field they may as well keep him out there for the first inning.

Meanwhile, lonely Nuggets fans stuck in the doldrums of September, where any NBA news comes in the form of "rumored to be," are left grasping at any hints as to who our star forward will be this season.  The Unguardable Force or The Out-of-Shape Farce.

USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo had some tough words for Melo just days before the 2008 Olympics.  "Right now, he's not shooting well, and he's not in the best of shape yet," Colangelo said four days before the start of Olympic pool play.  Nuggets fans sighed. 

However, over the first four games of the tournament Anthony showed huge improvement.  Bruising down low with international stars Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets and Andres Nocioni of the Chicago Bulls, Anthony demonstrated the kind of toughness he'll need this season.

"We are good. As long as I’m there we’re all right," Anthony told HoopsHype earlier this week.  "We have a shot at something. I think this will be an impressive season for the Nuggets. We are motivated and want to prove that since we lost our defensive player of the year (Marcus Camby), our best defensive player on the team, we still can do it."

He's still got his confidence.  Now, about that defense?  Training camp is just three weeks away.