Stet Sports Blog

Just before the conclusion of the Olympics, I mentioned that the Baltimore Sun was doing Carmelo Anthony a disservice with its disparate coverage in favor of Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff.

So I’m not surprised in the least bit that Baltimore City has neglected Anthony in its “Star Spangled Celebration for Michael Phelps,” going down this Saturday.

Michael Phelps deserves the love for achieving a goal that may not be matched, but Katie Hoff? All she did was participate. All she did was show up. All she did was tire out, and everybody loves her to pieces.

All Carmelo Anthony did was help put USA Basketball back on the global map in grand fashion. Combine that with the fact that Anthony is actually a native of the city, and has been giving back to the city for far longer than Phelps or Hoff, it’s a crying shame that Baltimore couldn’t at least headline its native son in the festivities.

I’m not excusing the reasons why he might be an afterthought in all this pomp and circumstance. It doesn’t help that Anthony at one point was the face of the ‘Stop Snitching’ movement, was involved in an on-court brawl, and has had recent run-ins with the law.

But in spite of it all, he is an American. He is a Maryland native, and he is an Olympian. And he’s not the only one to get in a tight spot.

The city of Baltimore and the State of Maryland should be ashamed for their lack of insight on recognizing Anthony’s accomplishments. The only thing more shameful is that the media, mainstream and blogosphere alike, have been negligent in catching on to the injustice.

Technorati Tags: Carmelo Anthony, Katie Hoff, Michael Phelps