Demand High, Supply Low For Carmelo Anthony's Knicks Jersey

Modell's Sporting Goods CEO Mitch Modell yesterday said that it "likely will be 45 days before he has an adequate supply" of Carmelo Anthony's new No. 7 Knicks replica jersey, according to NEWSDAY. On the Knicks' online store, Anthony jerseys "can be pre-ordered but are not expected to ship until April." The NBA's online store "is not promising shipment until May." Modell said that the problem is that the team "recently decided against altering its uniform design for 2011-12, leaving adidas with a limited inventory because the company had been anticipating a change." He noted that a "limited number of jerseys went on sale at three Manhattan stores Wednesday afternoon, but he did not expect them to last long." Name and number T-shirts are expected to be available today, and "black replica jerseys were expected by next week" (NEWSDAY, 2/24). In N.Y., Howard Kussoy reports every souvenir stand outside MSG sold out of Anthony's Knicks jersey "nearly three hours before" he made his debut last night against the Bucks (N.Y. POST, 2/24).

MY NAME IS EARL: While Anthony wore his new No. 7 during his Knicks debut last night, he said that he "spoke with Earl Monroe to ask if he could wear the Pearl's retired No. 15." Sources indicated that Anthony, who wore No. 15 for the Nuggets and during his one season at Syracuse Univ., "chose No. 7 because the Jordan Brand players almost always choose prime numbers for their jerseys" (N.Y. POST, 2/24).