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.
Post je objavljen 16.02.2011. u 07:47 sati.