Is the NBA All-Star Game king of them all?

POINT: Most entertaining weekend

by Phlip Bogenberger

There are few things in sports as entertaining as watching Shaquille O’Neal grab a defensive rebound, sling a long outlet pass to Allen Iverson who streaks up the court, and throws a pass that LeBron James turns into a thunderous reverse ally-oop.

But that is what you may witness at the most entertaining game in the world, this weekend’s NBA All-Star Game.

And it truly is a global game with Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Yao Ming (China), Steve Nash (Canada) and Tony Parker (France) showcasing their talents on the same court.

There’s assured to be a highlight-film dunk by Vince Carter, a no-look pass from Gilbert Arenas and a Kobe Bryant driving to the hoop to make a Michael Jordan-like move in midair and flick in an awe-inspiring basket.

But the game is just the capper on a great basketball weekend.

The rookie game, which pits first and second year players against each other, gives the next generation of all-stars the chance to display their abilities. The long distance shootout showcases the top 3-point shooters in the league. Plus, one event teams an NBA, WNBA and a retired player to compete in a skills competition.

Then there is the slam dunk contest, the most exciting event of the weekend.

Sure it’s not Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, and James opted to skip the competition, but it will feature some moves never exhibited on a basketball court before.

Josh Smith will defy gravity for an instant before throwing down a monster dunk, Andre Iguodala and Hakim Warrick will bring the crowd to its feet with mesmerizing slams, and Nate Robinson will prove that he can dunk with the people nearly a foot taller than his 5-9 stature.

There is a home run derby during baseball’s festivities, but every regular-season game has become a home run derby in the steroid era. I concede baseball’s all-star game is worth something because the triumphant league earns home-field advantage in the World Series.

However, NBA players will dazzle and delight the audience with an array of tricks plays usually reserved for playground basketball. MLB’s All-Star Game is virtually played the same as a regular-season contest.

The NFL Pro Bowl is a joke because it’s played at half speed and many players go for the free vacation and schmooze with fellow athletes.

The NHL has a skills competition, but hockey games are hard to keep up with on television. The game does not feature a fight and usually lacks bone-crushing hits. Plus, I’ve never heard of half the players.

If I wanted to watch a sporting event that features athletes I’ve never heard of I can watch the Olympics, but I’d rather watch the world’s best basketball players perform stunts nobody has seen on a basketball court before.

COUNTERPOINT: Show me something that matters

by Weston Reeves

After my commentary last week about how everyone should gather around the tube to watch the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, I’m now going to take an opposite approach and tell viewers to stay away from watching the NBA All-Star Game.

There is a fundamental difference between the two sporting events. Sure both showcase the best talent around, but the Olympic events actually matter. Athletes competing in the winter games are fighting to win a medal that represents a crowning achievement in their sport.

The majority of all-star games, however, don’t mean a thing. I do support honoring the best in the sport by naming all-stars, but watching a game that doesn’t affect the outcome of the sport itself just doesn’t peak my interest.

Take the NFL Pro Bowl that took place this past weekend for example. I am a huge football fan, but I didn’t even so much as glimpse at the game. It’s a good thing too, because it ended up being a sloppy affair filled with turnovers and poor play.

And why should the pro-bowlers play hard? They’re not playing for a ring, trophy or even a contract. I’m sure Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning couldn’t care less that he threw three interceptions.

Surprisingly, of the four major professional sports, Major League Baseball has the right idea.

Viewers were upset in 2002 for being suckered into watching 11 innings of a meaningless All-Star game that ended in a tie. Managers Joe Torre from the American League and Bob Brenly from the National League were forced to end the contest when they turned to a suddenly empty bullpen.

For 2003, Selig made a great decision and moved to fix the problem and give life and intrigue for the first time to what were usually mundane and meaningless all-star games.

In hopes of making up for the previous season’s fiasco, the winner of the 2003 All-Star game would be awarded home-field advantage in the World Series.

The result couldn’t have been better. With something to play for, the AL team rallied from four runs down in the sixth inning and sealed the 7-6 victory when Texas Rangers third basemen Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Since the change, the American League has won the All-Star game the past three seasons, and in two of the past three seasons and AL team has won the World Series. Those two teams, the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and the Chicago White Sox in 2005, did so with sweeps over the St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros, respectively.

Until the NBA gives players a similar incentive to win the All-Star game, I’m not going to be watching.