With so much talk about how the Pro Bowl is irrelevant, and with the NBA's All-Star Game this weekend, I felt it would be a good time to discuss the highs and lows of each of the Big Five's—yes, I counted soccer—superstar showcases.
The Pro Bowl
Highs: It takes place in warm weather.
Lows: The Pro Bowl is irrelevant in too many ways to name them all so I'll cite the glaring problems. First, it's not exactly an ""all-star"" game. Over 40 players declined invitations to this year's all-star display. 40. Unlike other pro sports showcases, nobody wants to play in the Pro Bowl. This is understandable because of the risk of injury, but it makes the game a joke when the league's stars refuse to play. Second, the Pro Bowl action itself is nothing like a true NFL game. The intensity is pitiful and no defense is played because players don't want to hurt each other. And third, there is nothing to this event other than the boring-ass game. You would think the NFL could find some way to incorporate a skills challenge into the scheme of things, especially when they have such freakishly talented athletes.
NBA All-Star Game
Highs: It's not just a game—it's a weekend event. The NBA combines the game—basically a highlight reel—with the (usually) fantastic Slam Dunk contest, a 3-point shooting competition and other various skills challenges. Fan voting is another plus because it truly is about the fans. NBA favorites such as Allen Iverson or Tracy McGrady can still be voted in even if they are playing poorly or hobbled by injuries because of this. The only reason this isn't a low is because: 1) it's what fans want; and 2) I love watching A.I.'s cross-over.
Lows: The Slam Dunk Contest. The creativity is gone, which has led to ""innovative"" dunks being ones where players jump over people or wear a superhero cape. What's next, Batman and Robin showing up this year? Also, the game's most gifted dunkers, like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, no longer want to compete for fear of injury. This puts a damper on the excitement when a player like Chris ""Birdman"" Andersen takes their place. I do see his appeal, though, since his NBA legacy is a two-year ban for drug use and missing an obscene number of attempts in the 2005 Slam Dunk Contest.
MLB's Midsummer Classic
Highs: Although I absolutely abhor watching baseball, they do have the Classic right in many ways. First, it's located right in the thick of the season. MLB's seemingly never-ending 162-game epic season needs some spice right around midseason to keep fans interested, and the All-Star Game does just that. Also, the fan voting is incredibly popular as well, with a record 223.5 million votes cast for last year's game. And you can't bring up the Midsummer Classic without talking about the Home Run Derby. Watching the best, albeit sometimes juiced, players crank balls out of the park is awesome, even if you aren't a baseball fan.
Lows: The fact that this game is supposed to ""matter"" by giving the winning team home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Is it really fair to put playoff implications in the gloves of a handful of players while the rest of their teammates can only sit and watch? What a joke.
NHL All-Star Game
Highs: For recent years at least, fans have seen Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby team up to take on fellow NHL superstars. Granted, they are the few hundred people who actually watch Versus, but I'll give credit where credit is due. The SuperSkills competition is also something to behold with its various events. Talents such as who can skate fastest or shoot hardest are things every hockey player enjoys watching.
Lows: It's shown on Versus. Shouldn't a sport that is considered one of the ""Big Four"" actually have its de facto exhibition game nationally broadcast? Also, the game isn't played in Olympic years so fans will have to settle for Team USA in 2010.
MLS All-Star Game
Highs: They compile enough stars for one team and then take on a world-class club like Chelsea FC, Celtic FC, etc. This is a great idea since the MLS doesn't have enough talent on its own to comprise two exciting teams and it's also a way to stir up interest for the sport by bringing in a high-profile squad. Heck, most people probably watch it to catch a glimpse of overseas stars rather than the MLS' talent.
Lows: The MLS still doesn't have enough talent to create two teams worth watching. While I like the format they have it's still embarrassing that the U.S., which has the top leagues in every other major sport, can't attract enough quality players to have only MLS star in the game.
What do you think of the all-star games? E-mail jack at jpdoyle2@wisc.edu.
