FaceTiming is everything for Anthony
Carmelo Anthony had a big night Monday and his whole family got to share in the experience, one way or another.
The 17-year NBA veteran hadn’t appeared in a game in more than a year when the Portland Trail Blazers signed him this month.
He has played in four games with his new team and had his best performance against the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
Anthony had a teamhigh 25 points and eight rebounds, both individual season highs for Portland as well, to lead the Trail Blazers to a 117-94 victory, their first since he joined the team.
He also made some history, passing Alex English to climb to No. 18 on the league’s list of all-time leading scorers.
Anthony was 62 points behind English when he was deactivated by the Houston Rockets on Nov. 8, 2018. He was eventually traded to — but never actually played for — the Bulls, then was waived and remained unsigned until several weeks into the 2019-20 season.
His wife, actress La La Anthony, was in the stands for her husband’s big game. Anthony nailed a threepointer at the 9:31 mark in the fourth quarter to bring his points total to 25,615, two better than English. During the next timeout, La La Anthony called their 12year-old son, Kiyan, via FaceTime. She held her phone up so her husband and son could see each other.
When Anthony looked up from the bench and saw Kiyan’s face, he gave the boy a salute.
“My son always wants to feel like he’s here,” La La Anthony told ESPN. “He misses his dad a lot. I was filming up the block, so I came here and just wanted my son to feel like he was a part of the moment.
“I FaceTimed him so he could see his dad, and he just was excited because his dad had such a great game tonight.”
Hall worthy?
Wide receiver Isaac Bruce, who played one season in Los Angeles before moving with the Rams to St. Louis, is among the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In his career, Bruce had 1,024 receptions (13th all time), 15,208 yards receiving (fifth), and 91 touchdown receptions (12th). He was chosen in the second round of the 1994 draft, played 14 years with the team and is the Rams’ all-time leader in touchdown receptions and yards receiving.
When he retired after the 2009 season, he was second all-time in yards receiving in NFL history behind Jerry Rice. Sounds like a Hall of Famer.
Safety Troy Polamalu, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and linebacker Patrick Willis made the semifinal list in their first year eligible.
Also on the list, which will be cut to 15 on Jan. 2, are previous finalists John Lynch, Steve Atwater, Tony Boselli, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James and Alan Faneca.
Five former players will be elected on Feb. 1, the day before the Super Bowl.
The Hall also will induct 10 senior candidates, three contributors and two coaches in a special centennial class in 2020.
The semifinalists, in alphabetical order: Atwater, safety; Carl Banks, linebacker; Ronde Barber, cornerback/safety; Boselli, tackle; Bruce, wide receiver; LeRoy Butler, safety; Faneca, guard; Torry Holt, wide receiver; Hutchinson, guard; James, running back; Lynch, safety; Clay Matthews, linebacker; Sam Mills, linebacker; Polamalu, safety; Simeon Rice, defensive end; Richard Seymour, defensive end/defensive tackle; Steve Tasker, wide receiver/special-teamer; Fred Taylor, running back; Zach Thomas, linebacker; Hines Ward, wide receiver; Ricky Watters, running back; Wayne, wide receiver; Willis, linebacker; Darren Woodson, safety; Bryant Young, defensive tackle.