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The All-Star game is broken, and it has a LOT of problems, two of our writers, David Snipes and Dan Vachalek, solve the worlds problems here at ISC.
Topic 1
All Star game voting got a LOT of press due to the candidacy of Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson, is it broken?
David: NO. Let me give my first point here, The Fans are expected to drop a hundred bucks on a ticket, plus double hotel bills and five hundred for some of the ugliest jerseys seen since they were wool, I WANT to see AI and T-Mac and Vince and Kareem and Magic even if undeserved- If I miss out on seeing Brook Lopez and David Lee and Nene, oh well- I can wait for my team to play Denver and the rest. Give me Shaq being goofy, maybe Kaman can learn watching him.
Dan: I don't think that it's totally broken, but, of course, like everything, there needs work involved. People think that the All-Star game has no meaning and there is no point to watch it. That's like that in multiple sports. They need to add an incentive to this game. That would be throwing the BEST talent into the game. The players having better years than the rest of the league. You can't have Tracy McGrady in there. He's been injured for a while, and his year hasn't been good. Allen Iverson hasn't had a good year. Why are they in the All-Star game? That's why this game has lost meaning. Players like McGrady and Iverson are in it. Right now, I'd have the fans vote for the starters. Whoever they select is reviewed by a committee. If an Allen Iverson or Tracy McGrady get in, the committee removes them from the top, and places the DESERVING starter over them.
David: And who picks this committee? You? Jordan? Spike Lee? And who is to say who is and is not deserving? You may think Dirk should be starting over Duncan or Paul is having a better year than Steve Nash? I can agree that there should be a minimum games quotient, but still- why should I pay enough ducats to meet the payroll of a Nike Factory in Cambodia to watch Mo Williams throw lobs over Al Horford's head while Derrick Rose and Kevin Garnett are sitting in the stands talking to Charles Barkley? Lets also keep in mind one of the best moments on All-Star history involved someone who played 6 games LESS than Tracy did this season. You want to take away Magic in 96?
Dan: Well, I would want David Stern, the commissioner, picking the committee. And they would base it off of statistics. Break down the stats, and compare them. Use all the stats that are avaliable to see who is the better pick. If Williams and Horford were the better players this year and deserve it over Rose and Garnett, then so be it. I'm not here for a glamour show. Look at the MLB All-Star game... it's a great performance of top talent in the MLB. They are all facing each other and it has gone into extra innings the last 2 years. What you want, a 150-130 showing or a 150-148 overtime game? You want people actually trying or just playing half-ass?
David: So that's it? 12 highest P/R/A/S gets it? And major flag on the play bringing in baseball here- but it seems every year that there are a TON of baseball players whining about "snubs" Baseball lets its stars in as well, I seem to recall Ripkin getting a lot of press about being selected- but a short search gives me these jewels.
Do you recall when the Cincinnati Reds stuffed the ballot box and elected 7 Reds players to start in the All-Star Game that one year? How is that different than letting China elect the starting 5 of the Rockets?
In 1989, How about Mike Schmidt - who was elected to their game when he was RETIRED?
1988 the immortal Terry Steinbach?
In 2006, eight of the nine starting players for the American League team at one point in the balloting were members of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox?
Baseball's system is FAR from perfect- but the result is the same- people get to CHOOSE who they want to see.
Dan: You use every stat that you have available to you to use. That way, the All-Star game has deserving players in it. A lot of people like to just vote for whoever is on their team. And it seems like the teams are encouraging that, which they need to stop. I was watching the Bucks earlier this year and they said "vote now for your favorite Bucks' players to make the All-Star game!". That is just saying to fans to vote for players for the WORST reason. If teams stopped doing this, yes, a lot of people would stop voting, but there would be even more unnecessary players getting in. Yes, there is going to be snubs in every scenario you look at. But you can avoid having HORRIBLE selections like the NBA is having. At least for the MLB, you can make an argument for the guys who have been getting in (recently). I can't see an argument made for Iverson OR McGrady. Something NEEDS to change... PRONTO!
Topic 2
Slam Dunk Contest
 David: ok, lets get the first thing out of the way- YOU CANNOT FORCE STARS TO DO THIS- the days of Jordan vs Nique are LONG TIME GONE- Unless Nike and Reebok decide to co-promote this and each shoe brand puts up a star- not gonna happen (All I know is don't bet on the Converse rep) Other than that marketing dream, get used to a parade of borderline all-stars and rookies in this. That being said- Lets drop the time limits. You get 1 shot at the dunk - say 5 attempts- best 3 scores count per round.
Dan: I think that they should keep it the way it is, but don't force stars to do this. It needs to be by volunteering themselves only. Yeah, people want to see Kobe vs LeBron in a dunkoff, but too bad. It's more fun seeing the lesser known guys coming in and being a shocker to the fans watching at their dunking ability. They way they have it is fine. It gives the contestant enough time to complete the dunk as well. Plus, it's not their fault if the person throwing them an alley oop throws the ball too early or a tad too late and they can't complete the dunk at the exact moment. But they should take points off if it takes too long... like if it's based off of 1 minute time to make a dunk, take points off every 15 seconds. If it's off of 2 minute time, take points off for every 30 seconds.
David: Even if they do that- you still are looking at 20 minutes of standing around watching one guy just throw the ball. The Lobs have BEEN DONE already anyway- under my system- people can make the first two dunks- then they have 2 chances to blow a lob before needing a do-or-die third score. These guys are PROFESSIONAL basketball players, we shouldn't have to wait 10 minutes watching Chris Anderson self lob to himself.
Next up the Judges. Quit with the 50s already! With today's judging the 88 contest would still be going on tiebreakers. How about the judges watch both dunkers- then hold up a card with the players face on it for the vote- majority advances.
Dan: You aren't looking at 20 minutes of anything. It takes 1-2 minutes to make the dunk. They don't make the dunk in that time limit, they fail. If you add in, at most, 5 minute set-up, that's only 6-7 minutes of time. Add 2-3 minutes of commercial and you have 8-10 minutes there with one guy. Of course, MOST players will take less than that 1-2 minutes to make their dunk, though. So you don't really spend a lot of time watching. Yes, professional basketball players are great and all, but they still aren't perfect at everything. Are you perfect at your job? It's your profession! You should be perfect, but you aren't. There are going to be mistakes. The judges should continue with what they are doing. Let's say there are 4 judges, 2 judges holds up Chris Paul, 2 judges holds up Deron Williams. Who advances? I agree, though, the judges need to be more critical of the dunks. It isn't going to cut it with them giving every dunk that looks cool a 10, when they deserve a 7 or 8 or less most of the time.
David: 2006 Nate Robinson took over 9 minutes and attempted the SAME DUNK FOURTEEN TIMES. I will also state for the record I am Frikkin AWESOME at my job. And I have not been doing it 10 hours a day since I could walk. Let go with 5 judges as an easy answer to your 2 wanting Deron 2 wanting Paul point- like Dr J and Magic have better things to do, not to mention last years contest had 5 judges anyway- or the 5th judge could be the fan vote for all I care- even though that means Kobe or LeBron could shoot 5 three pointers from 3/4 court and win the dunk contest. Last year Dwight Howard had 2 50 point dunks to start off. The Lowest score last year was a 41, there were no 7s at all. There has never been a made dunk score less than a 7 in All-Star history.
Dan: You can't take over 9 minutes to complete a dunk. 1-2 minutes is FINE. If you can't make a dunk in that amount of time, you aren't going to complete the dunk. Yeah, you might be "Frikkin AWESOME" at your job, but you could still use a little bit improvement. Again, everyone could. 5 judges works, but they HAVE to be more critical. There have definitely been dunks that were a 3 or 4, yet are ranked a 7 or 8 is embarassing. The judges need to stop making everyone feel warm and fuzzy on the inside and actually JUDGE the dunk contest. They should take after the American Idol judges and actually be critical. Downgrade people if they take too long (15 second deduction for the 1 minute time limit; 30 second deduction for the 2 minute time limit). If the big time stars like Kobe or LeBron want to participate, then they should be definitely be allowed, but you can't just rate them high because they are star athletes (which they will definitely do). The judges have to be FAIR. Those are the 3 biggest problems in the dunking contest. 1. Judges aren't critical enough. 2. Judges don't take biases out of their mind. 3. It takes too long and there isn't a set time limit for each dunk.
3 point Contest
David: No Problems here- This is the best part of the All-Star game weekend other than the games itself.
Dan: The 3-point contest is good right now. I think to make it better, you should add a couple more competitors. I think if they do that, it will take a little bit longer, but it'll be more entertaining, which should be the NBA's goal at the All-Star Weekend.
David: More? I got not issues. I'm thinking 8 people in a tourney setting - and just for the heck of it a WNBA player and a HOF.
How about this bracket.
 |
Dale Ellis
(Retired) |
\ |
VS |
| Daequan Cook |
/ |
|
| Danny
Granger, |
\ |
VS |
| Jason Kapono |
/ |
|
| Rashard
Lewis |
\ |
VS |
| Roger Mason |
/ |
|
| Channing
Frye |
\ |
VS |
| Katie Smith
(WNBA Finals MVP) |
/ |
|
Hows that? Maybe next year have Reggie and Chreyrl Miller in round 1?
Dan: I have no issues with that at all. I like the addition of the WNBA player and retired player. It would be really interesting to see how well a HOF can compete against some of the 3-point shooting talent currently, and how well a WNBA player compares to a NBA player...
Submitted 2/8/2010
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