 Editor’s Note: This is the second edition of Melvin Ely’s blog on Hornets.com. BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT… I ALMOST DIDN’T GET It was 1989, the year the Sega Genesis came out. I went around the house looking for my gifts and I found them. So I opened the packages a little to see what my gifts were. My mom found the little hole I made in the wrapping and got mad. So around 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve she was like, “I am taking this darn game back. I’m taking all the games back.” I just started bawling. I didn’t think she was going to do it, but she got in the car and left for about an hour or two and came back with the return receipt. So I was thinking, I am not getting anything for Christmas the whole night, It was a long, long night. I woke up and the box was on my bed. My mom and dad got a kick out of it. I actually still have my Sega Genesis to this day and my favorite game is Quackshot. What do I want for Christmas this time? If I had one wish… if the Lord can allow me to get another ring, that would be my wish. I got one with San Antonio. Once you get one, you get addicted to them.
Any time you can celebrate the history of basketball, I say do it. The ABA played a big part in what the NBA is today. For the New Orleans Hornets to be part of it, it’s pretty cool, extremely cool for me. I am an extreme old-school type player. Like I tell everybody, I won’t jump over anybody. My shot is the jump hook or the running hook, which is a lost art right now in the NBA. Most bigs don’t do hook shots; they would rather dunk or shoot jumpers. They forget the technical part of the game. I am going to enjoy being part of the Hardwood Classics Nights this season. DA BEARS! I am a BIG Chicago Bears fan!! The NFL has been extremely surprising this year. There have been a whole lot of ups and downs. The last couple years there have been dominant teams. This year everyone is taking their lumps for the most part. I’m happy the Bears are having a pretty good season and I am just excited for the playoffs to start. I know the Bears played against the Saints, and I have no comment on that one. My loyalties lie in Chicago. I’m actually still a Bulls fan, which is funny. When you grow up with Dad and the family cheering for them it’s hard not to root for them now, whether it’s the Bulls or the Bears. FASHIONABLE MEL It’s kind of hard to find clothes in my size. I’ve been blessed to have the ability to get stuff customized. The people that did my draft suit my rookie year, they just about dress me now. Recently I have been having a little fun with the guys; I’ve changed my style up a little bit the older I get. I started throwing away the tank tops and the white T-shirts and started wearing collared shirts. Some of the guys have been noticing it and giving me a hard time. I like to shop at Metro Park and there are some little boutiques on Melrose Place (in Beverly Hills) I go to as well. NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION My New Year’s resolution is to work harder. I took a couple steps back this year with being sick overseas and with my tooth. I worked my butt off this preseason and had a couple of setbacks. You play how you practice, so I want to continue to keep working harder. If you’d like to ask Melvin Ely a question or comment on the “Ely Elaborates” blog, send an e-mail to jime@hornets.com. Please include “Ely Elaborates” in the subject of your e-mail. Other Ely Elaborates Entries Ely Elaborates - Mar. 30 Ely Elaborates - Jan. 26 Ely Elaborates - Nov. 17 |
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