MathewFinger

Freeport, Ill. —
Both the NFL and NBA are facing labor disputes that put in jeopardy the 2011-12 season for both leagues.

And it seems both leagues have a gloomy forecast.

That’s why the NBA All-Star Weekend couldn’t come at a better time.

There honestly couldn’t be a better distraction from the on-going disputes that could take away America’s greatest distractions in the fall, winter and spring months outside of baseball.

Sure the contests and All-Star Game itself doesn’t really count for anything. But they’re still darn entertaining and just fun.

After all, isn’t that what sports is all about?

Great game before weekend kicks off
Just before the start of All-Star Weekend, Chicago fans get a treat of watching their Bulls play San Antonio, the best team (in terms of record) in the NBA, at home. So for all those fans that claim they don’t pay attention to the NBA until around the All-Star Game, they should probably pay attention to this matchup.

Should be a great game.

Technically, it’s not part of the weekend, but the NBA website features that game on its event schedule, so I figured I’d include it too.

Dunks, threes and challenges, oh my

This Friday, the Rookie Challenge (rookies vs. sophomores game) will feature two of the league’s most exciting rookies, John Wall and Blake Griffin, against last year’s Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and Brandon Jennings. For what it’s worth, Bulls forward Taj Gibson will also play.

There’s also the celebrity all-star game. You guys can watch that if you want. Honestly, I’ll pass. I think I watched enough of that on MTV’s Rock ‘N Jock in the 90s.

Man I miss the 90s.

Anyway, Derrick Rose will look to take back his NBA Skills Challenge title Saturday after Steve Nash won it last year. Wall, Russell Westbrook, Evans, Tony Parker, Stephen Curry, Baron Davis and Derek Fisher (Derek Fisher?) are also set to perform.

I’ll take Westbrook in this one, but Wall’s speed is incredible.

Anyone else love playing the 3-point shootout on video games as a kid? This year’s shootout features last year’s champ Paul Pierce, along with Ray Allen — the league’s all-time leader in three-point field goals — makes me about as giddy playing those games way back when.

And no, that’s not just because I’m a Boston Celtics fan. OK, maybe that does have a factor in it, but it should be fun to see those two go head-to-head.

Kevin Durant also brings this year’s contest a superstar quality that I think has been missing. Some other guys I don’t care about will also play.

Then there’s my favorite event: The Dunk Contest. This event could use some more star power, but at the very least, we all get to see Griffin dunk again and again.

Maybe he’ll cradle an opponent’s head while dunking over them. Again. Hopefully the dunks aren’t as lackluster as last year’s.

I’ll take a pass on the D-League “All-Star” game — you’re not an all-star if you’re in the D-League, sorry — and sharp shooter competition.

On Sunday there’s something called the Magenta Carpet. I have no idea what that is.

Just a game, nothing more

Then finally, the All-Star Game itself. And here’s what I like most about it. The game doesn’t pretend to be something that it’s not.

The NFL got it wrong years ago by claiming it’s the “last final last game” because no one cared about it. Then they moved it to the week before the Super Bowl and all it does is make you want to watch a real football game.

MLB’s All-Star would be fine if it didn’t count for homefield advantage in the World Series.

The NBA’s version is just a bunch of players showing off their skills in a five-on-five team format. And even though the league says the game is played under normal NBA rules, I’ve seen more travelling in that game than at a first grade basketball tournament.

And while we won’t see Shaquille O’Neal try to dance, or fail at crossing Dwight Howard over or something else completely silly, the game will just be a display of athleticism and fun.

Even though the all-star game isn’t what it was, there’s still plenty to enjoy. It’s a lot better than staring at the black cloud hovering over the NBA and the NFL.

D.C. police are investigating an allegation that Washington Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth sexually assaulted a waitress in a D.C. hotel over the weekend, a source within the department said Monday.

Haynesworth's agent, Chad Speck, confirmed that his client was the subject of the complaint but denied the 29-year-old defensive tackle is guilty of any wrongdoing.balklänningar


"There seems to be no truth to these allegations," Speck said in an email. "We are currently evaluating facts and considering our own legal action against those involved."


When reached for comment, Redskins senior vice president Tony Wyllie said, "This is the first I have heard about this. We are gathering further information."

According to the police report, a waitress at the W Hotel stated that her hands were full as she cleared a table Haynesworth was sitting at around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

The report said Haynesworth, identified as Subject 1, tried to give the waitress his credit card and asked if he could place it in her blouse. The waitress nodded, and Haynesworth placed the card into her blouse and began caressing her breast, the report says.


While Haynesworth is not named in the report, the police department source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Subject 1 referred to the Redskins lineman. The report, which was filed at 5:15 a.m. Sunday, describes the suspect as a "heavy/fat/stocky" black male with a goatee, and about 6-feet-6 or 6-feet-7.

Charges have yet to be filed, as the investigation is ongoing, police said. The allegation was first reported Monday by WRC Channel 4.

The accusation is the latest negative development for Haynesworth, whom the Redskins suspended without pay for the final four games of the season in December, citing conduct detrimental to the team.

On Saturday, he was formally charged with assault in connection with an alleged road rage incident that took place on the Fairfax County Parkway in Reston on Feb. 2. A driver accused Haynesworth of hitting him while he was sitting in his car. Haynesworth was scheduled to appear in court on March 31.

At the completion of his suspension, Haynesworth reported to Redskins Park on Jan. 3 to take a mandatory physical, but he refused to meet with Coach Mike Shanahan.

The Redskins are expected to try to trade Haynesworth if a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached between NFL owners and the NFL Players Association.