All-star dilemma
Andy Buss
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports
Gone are the days of inter-league rivalry, all-star passion and the best players playing the best on the biggest stage. In all of the major professional sports, the All-Star events have become a footnote at best - obviously some are better off than others. But overall, All-Star weekends have become no-one-cares weekends.
In MLB, remember the famous tie a few years back in Milwaukee? A tie?! This action was a mockery to baseball. There are no ties in baseball. The All-Star game used to matter; it used to include bad blood between the leagues. Bud Selig tried to remedy the problem by staking home field advantage for the World Series on the All-Star game, but that hardly seems fair to a team in the losing league with a better record than their Series opponent. This needs to be re-evaluated.
As for the NFL, the Pro Bowl has turned into a game that stars avoid as to steer clear of possible injuries. It's not played like a real game, and the only interesting or meaningful part is the flowered leis around the coaches' necks. To increase interest, next year the game will be played during the off-week before the Super Bowl. But this will automatically discount the pro bowlers from the two best teams in the league. Oops. I think the NFL needs to have something on the line in the game. What? I'm not sure. Maybe an extra seventh round pick for each team in the winning league.
When it comes to the NBA, I'm conflicted. Part of it, the three-point contest and the slam-dunk contest, are classic and fun to watch. At the same time, the game is a joke. There is absolutely no defense. Shaq runs point half the game. All this, combined with the hip-hop madness and dancer frenzy to start the game, makes for more of a concert than a basketball game. It is aimed toward a niche audience. It's lost its "awe-factor" and turned into a party.
Mm, the NHL. I think the NHL has an All-Star game. It may be a whole weekend actually. I wouldn't know though, since it's television's and ESPN's big secret. It's sad, but no one cares about the NHL - let alone it's All-Star events. Sydney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk. These guys are insanely gifted and do things Gretzky only dreamt about. Still, the NHL needs to get back on the national radar before the All-Stars get recognition. I'm not sure if the format is officially set now, but in the past, the "world vs. North America" was a horrible idea. Fans felt no loyalty.
All in all the world of sports is slowly losing celebrations of the greats. The players are better than ever, but these All-Star events are less than sub-par. Hopefully each league will take a good look at its doings and fix this before All-Stars are no more.
In MLB, remember the famous tie a few years back in Milwaukee? A tie?! This action was a mockery to baseball. There are no ties in baseball. The All-Star game used to matter; it used to include bad blood between the leagues. Bud Selig tried to remedy the problem by staking home field advantage for the World Series on the All-Star game, but that hardly seems fair to a team in the losing league with a better record than their Series opponent. This needs to be re-evaluated.
As for the NFL, the Pro Bowl has turned into a game that stars avoid as to steer clear of possible injuries. It's not played like a real game, and the only interesting or meaningful part is the flowered leis around the coaches' necks. To increase interest, next year the game will be played during the off-week before the Super Bowl. But this will automatically discount the pro bowlers from the two best teams in the league. Oops. I think the NFL needs to have something on the line in the game. What? I'm not sure. Maybe an extra seventh round pick for each team in the winning league.
When it comes to the NBA, I'm conflicted. Part of it, the three-point contest and the slam-dunk contest, are classic and fun to watch. At the same time, the game is a joke. There is absolutely no defense. Shaq runs point half the game. All this, combined with the hip-hop madness and dancer frenzy to start the game, makes for more of a concert than a basketball game. It is aimed toward a niche audience. It's lost its "awe-factor" and turned into a party.
Mm, the NHL. I think the NHL has an All-Star game. It may be a whole weekend actually. I wouldn't know though, since it's television's and ESPN's big secret. It's sad, but no one cares about the NHL - let alone it's All-Star events. Sydney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk. These guys are insanely gifted and do things Gretzky only dreamt about. Still, the NHL needs to get back on the national radar before the All-Stars get recognition. I'm not sure if the format is officially set now, but in the past, the "world vs. North America" was a horrible idea. Fans felt no loyalty.
All in all the world of sports is slowly losing celebrations of the greats. The players are better than ever, but these All-Star events are less than sub-par. Hopefully each league will take a good look at its doings and fix this before All-Stars are no more.
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