The Chris Moeller Archives

Some thoughts on the NBA All-Star Game - by Aaron Moeller

Admittedly, as a Philadelphia 76er fan, I had little to no interest in this year’s NBA All-Star game, held two nights ago and televised on TNT. No Sixer made the team, having shipped perennial favorite Allen Iverson to Denver last month, and they didn’t have anybody in the 3 point shoot-out or dunk contest either. (Kyle Korver could have qualified for the shootout as he did two years ago and Andre Iguadala was positively robbed in last year’s dunk contest and was granted the further humiliation of not even being invited back, as last year’s pint-size faux-champion Nate Robinson was.) The only person I had to cheer for this weekend, besides my favorite athlete from childhood and dunk contest judge, Julius Erving, was Sixer "All-Star" cheerleader, Kimmie.

Part of my disinterest this year stems from the event being staged for the first time in Las Vegas. I’m sure only Miami’s Super Bowl earlier this month has ever hosted a larger group of celebrity hangers-on, self-deluded, self-described big shots and Entourage-inspired wannebes. No, thanks. (I love spotting celebrities at Laker and Clipper games as much as anybody but I never warmed to Las Vegas as personal tourist destination.)

Still, the NBA All-Star game, even though it remains a meaningless exhibition (unlike baseball’s midsummer classic), is still the best and most entertaining All Star event among America’s team sports. The football Pro Bowl is a joke, simply a chance for the best football players in the world to drink tropical drinks and try hard not to hurt each other. The baseball All-Star game is the original All-Star game. It might consist occasionally of a legendary, formidable batting lineup, or a comical moment like John Kruk refusing to step in against Randy Johnson, or a once-in-a-generation Carl Hubbell or Dwight Gooden, who strike out five or six Hall of Famers in a row. But who, ultimately, cares to see the game's top pitchers throw one inning each and the best position players in the world removed from the game by the 4th inning?

The National Basketball Association, however, is tailor-made for All-Star games. In no other sport are different skills and even style put so clearly and consistently on display. When you buy tickets to see Kobe Bryant play, you know he won’t go oh-for-four. He may have off nights, but you can usually bet on him leading the Lakers in scoring every night. You may see an amazing buzzer beater one night, 72 points the next, then watch him miss the game winning shot on a different night. But the best players are always in the spotlight.

And most importantly, in no other sport are those skills and style asked to intermesh with other players as in hoops. The 21st century Association is a league as interesting psychologically as physically. Each star has his own "game". Kobe and Iverson play with chips on their shoulder. Nash elevates everybody around him. Yao is the gentle giant, continually establishing his presence. One would never say that in baseball. Some are quiet. Others are certainly fiery and tempermental. But the teamwork aspect is different. Each player is ultimately alone in the batter box.

Albert Pujols may be the world’s best baseball player, but he doesn’t have his own "game". It’s a style. It’s an aesthetic. And basketball has more of it than any other game. This is not a knock on baseball or football players, but it’s the reason you could attend an All-Star game and see David Ortiz go hitless in two at-bats and realize you’ve witnessed the typical oh-for that any ballplayer could accomplish. That’s just baseball. The best players fail most of the time and greatness is established by who is the most consistent. Peyton Manning, as he barks his audibles at the line of scrimmage, definitely has his own style, but his success is only half of the Colts success. The defense and other specialists have to hold up their end too. As a football fan, it doesn't bother me much that Dan Marino, my favorite all-time player, never won a championship. It wouldn't in baseball either. As good as you are, you still have to have a running game. And a couple good starting pitchers and a consistent bullpen. It does, however, bother me that Iverson and Barkley never won championships. It's a blemish on their "games".

The NBA All-Star weekend also generally offers pretty well-rounded TV entertainment. And not just if you’re a hip-hop fan and enjoy the yearly contributions of the Christina Aguileras, Mary J. Bliges and Ushers of the world. The dunk contest is the only contest in American professional team sports that actually rewards points for style. The 3 point shoot-out, when guys are lighting it up, is as entertaining an event as anything in sports. The Skills Competition is interesting too. The only thing that could improve on the Saturday night festivities would be – as many have clamored for – if the top players in the world would compete in a game of H-O-R-S-E. It’d be fun. There’d be almost no risk of injury. Who wouldn’t watch that? Let's make it happen.

That being said, the first three quarters of any NBA All-Star game are as pointless as any other exhibition game. You can count on some hot-dogging, some incredible shots, passes and dunks, and absolutely no defense. No one ever raises an eyebrow when an All-Star team drops 140 or more points on their opponent – even though it’s almost 50 points more than the single game league average. But nearly every year, the NBA All-Star game holds the promise of witnessing a close game in the 4th quarter and the ideal situation of seeing ten of the best basketball players in the world competing against each other at their very best for 12 minutes. Challenging each other. Guarding each other tough. Leaping over one another. With athletes as physically different as Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson trying to raise their "games" above and beyond their peers, one truly knows you’re seeing a sport in its full flower.

This year we didn’t get that. The West jumped out by 20 in the second quarter and never looked back. Steve Nash, the top point guard in the game was out with an injury, but it didn’t keep the Western Conference from setting an All-Star game record with 52 assists. Shaq’s a shadow of his former self. Iverson, still my favorite player in the league, was also hurt. But I’ll be back on board next year, most likely following Andre Iguadala, who smart money says will be making the first of many All-Star appearances.

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One more basketball note:

Happy 44th Birthday, Sir Charles!

When I was ten years old, Dad took Chris and myself to watch the 76ers beat the Chicago Bulls in an overtime game at the old Chicago Stadium. Charles Barkley was a rookie that season, sharing the court with future Hall of Famers Julius Erving, Moses Malone and Maurice Cheeks, and would become the most dominant Sixer during the prime years of my basketball-loving childhood. A patron saint as well... I, too, was an undersized rebounding machine.

Speaking then as someone who spent the All-Star weekend at home wearing my retro Charles Barkley #34 jersey, I’d be remiss if I didn’t comment on his weekend victory. I’m proud to say the aging Hall of Famer, the slightly out-of-shape, former Round Mound of Rebound defeated 60-plus referee Dick Bavetta in their sideshow foot race, though both embarrassed themselves by losing their footing and sliding down the court. Neither actually crossed the finish line. Charles may not have a championship ring, but he’s still got winning in his blood.

posted by Anonymous @ 9:15 PM