The loudest conversations regarding this season’s NBA All-Star Weekend surrounded all those who weren’t pleased with what transpired. LeBron James chose not to participate, then walked out as the competition proceeded. Draymond Green gave the format a zero – on a 1-to-10 scale – and declared, “It sucks.” The annual dunk contest was won by a player who’s not even in the league. Talk host Rob Parker said WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark “ruined” the occasion by choosing not to participate in a 3-point shootout with Warriors legend Steph Curry.
Sports are supposed to be fun, right?
The All-Star Game is supposed to be a celebration.
POHNL: All-Star Game needs more hoops, less hoopla
To be fair, there still are events and parties and fanfests and the like. But the avalanche of negativity about the central events to All-Star Weekend demonstrated that what had long been a showpiece for the NBA has devolved into perfunctory exercise that dominates the city and venue that happen to play host in a given year but entertains few who live beyond those borders.
Who ever would have thought the solution to this conundrum would be found in the NHL? Professional hockey doesn’t get much right, but the 4 Nations Face-off tournament that replaced the…
