Carmelo Anthony has claimed time and again that he wants to win a championship. He entered the league at the same year as LeBron James, and he has won his two titles. Melo has none, and there seems to be no end in sight for him.

It was a running joke in the comments section-"Carmelo Anthony signed a 125 Million, 5-year, 0 championship contract with the New York Knicks." Melo had real options to win. In Chicago, he could be part of a line-up that has Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson and be coached by one of the best active coaches in Tom Thibodeau.

He chose New York and no matter how much he says 'basketball reasons' even former Commissioner David Stern who coined the term will chuckle.

The Knicks could give him the security of a five-year contract and almost $ 30 million in guaranteed money. But there were other perks of being in the Big Apple. From Knicks Blog:

"I just didn't want to leave. There were so many opportunities that I started to build upon while I was here. There have been business opportunities and different situations - things I've always wanted to do in New York City. I just felt as though if I were to leave, I'd have to start all over in the next space. I'd have to meet new people and build a foundation, but it's taken me a while to get it to where it is right now."

Carmelo has thought long-term, and he's acting as an entrepreneur more than an athlete. Melo also reminds us that he's a person, and he does value relationships with his co-workers and superiors:

"Phil Jackson will be a mentor to me. I haven't really gotten a chance to sit down with him and get his advice, but during the season I'm sure we'll spend a lot of time together. He's a reader. I hear he plays a lot of mind games. He's a smart guy, so I'm looking forward to the books he's going to give us during training camp."

It might be stating the obvious, but despite the efforts of Collective Bargaining Agreements to take away the Big Market advantage, the athletes have interests outside of the sport. New York simply has more to offer. But the one thing it can't offer (at least not now, or in the short term) is a championship.

It appears Melo is at peace with that, and he's taking the rich consolation prize package instead.