WASHINGTON — Say it ain’t so, Carmelo.
Yes, Carmelo Anthony, who moved from Brooklyn to Baltimore when he was 8, admitted he is a diehard Orioles fan. He even showed his oriole-bird tattoo on his forearm to prove it.
The Yankees and Orioles are embroiled in a battle in the ALDS and Anthony prefers to keep his Oriole fandom on the down low. But when asked by The Post, he wasn’t going to fib.
Yes, I’ve been an Orioles fan since I was 8 years old,’’ Anthony said. “I’ve never been a Yankee fan. I support some guys on the team. I have mixed feelings now. Here in New York, you got to support the Yankees.’’
Anthony said if there’s a Game 5 at Yankee Stadium he may go but said jokingly he would wear a half Orioles/half Yankees ballcap. LeBron James made the colossal error of showing up at a Yankees-Cleveland playoff game donning a Yankee cap.
Anthony, who always has relatives attend when the Knicks are in Washington, said his new buddy Michelle Obama would not be in attendance tonight. Anthony and the First Lady hugged during the London Olympics when she told him she was a fan because he is always smiling.
“I haven’t invited her,’’ Anthony said. “It’s preseason. I didn’t want to bring her out right now. I didn’t want to make that call and bring her to a preseason game.’’
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It would seem unlikely the Knicks would keep the 15th roster spot open for rookie combo guard Chris Smith now that he’s undergoing patella tendon surgery on his left knee, but J.R.’s brother does have a future with the franchise.
Coach Mike Woodson didn’t entirely rule out Smith not being waived. Smith will be out three to six months and will rehab at the Knicks training facility.
When he returns, Smith, who had a partially guaranteed contract, can join the Knicks-operated D-League team in Erie, Pa., even if he is waived so the Knicks can monitor him.
Woodson likes his defense, and Smith said he thought he was a shoo-in to make the squad.
“Without a doubt,’’ Smith said. “No doubt in my mind did I not think I’d make the team. I feel like my defense is what gets me over the top. Once I come back, I’ll come back stronger.’’
Undrafted last June out of Louisville, Smith, 25, said it was just “wear and tear.’’
“I don’t’ know how it happened,’’ Smith said. “It swelled up on me. It’s just wear and tear on my left knee and a piece broke off. I was told in college I had tendinitis. Over time it just got a little worse.’’
Said Woodson: “It’s a tough break. He’s young enough, he’ll bounce back. We’ll wait for him to come back.’’
If the Knicks waive Smith, the battle for the final spot comes down to Mychel Thompson, John Shurna and Chris Copeland. There could be another opening if out-of-shape Rasheed Wallace doesn’t pan out.