All Star Games Have Become a Waste of Time (Except for MLB)

This weekend both the NHL All Star Game and the NFL Pro Bowl will be taking place. In two weeks time NBA All Star Weekend. I can honestly say over the last few years I’ve grown to care less and less about each sports All Star Game. They have become such a waste of time and lack any real effort it would really take to win a game.

Let’s look at the NBA All Star Game and it’s festivities. I can’t remember the last time I actually saw defense played in the game. Oh wait it was back in 2005 when the Detroit Pistons were in the All Star Game. The Pistons prided themselves on winning by defense. This is the way the All Star Game should be played. Even the festivities before the game have gone down hill. I remember when I was a kid I’d be inspired by the shooting abilities of Larry Bird and Glen Rice and I would be in awe as Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins would take flight for the Slam Dunk Contest. These days you have virtual unknowns participating in these events while the big stars of the sport sit on the sidelines. Why watch the events if my favorite players aren’t involved with them. I think the NBA needs to offer more incentives to the big stars of the sports to compete in these festivities. I think it would make for better ratings and would increase interest in the weekend once again,

The NFL Pro Bowl is also ridiculous when it comes to having a high scoring game. There is very little defense played and you don’t get the best efforts. The one thing I absolutely hate about the Pro Bowl now is that it’s the week before the Super Bowl. So if your team is playing in the Super Bowl no one from those two teams can play in the Pro Bowl. I guess there is one way to look at and that is I’d rather be playing in the most important game of the year then playing in a game that doesn’t mean a thing. However let’s put this in perspective. This year there were ten Carolina Panthers voted into the Pro Bowl but because they are in the Super Bowl that is ten replacements you have to find in order to complete the rosters. They have less then a week to come up with the replacements so can you honestly say the best of the best from the year are really playing?  I say move it back to the week after the Super Bowl and let the best of the best from that year have their fun. 

I think the NHL All Star Game has the potential to be the most competitive of any of them but this year they are getting really foolish. They decided to make it 3 on 3 this year in hopes that more goals are scored. If we are going to do that then let’s make it 6 on 6 with no goalie. Lets see how many goals can be scored without any defense, no hard hits and no fights. Let’s have a scoring free for all. Do you see how ridiculous that sounds? When I think of what an All Star Game should be it is the best of the best playing to their absolute best potential so their side can earn a victory. The NBA, NFL and NHL all lack that definition. 

When it comes down to it, the best All Star Game is the played by Major League Baseball. Baseball has it right. Whoever wins between the American League and National League gets home field advantage for the World Series. The Home Run Derby features the best of the best in terms of home run hitters. A lot of money towards charity and fan participation is involved with the Home Run Derby which makes that much more fun to watch. Baseball also has the Futures Game which features the top prospects from around the world and it also features the Celebrity Game. From an all around point of view baseball does it best. The NBA and NHL could learn a thing or two from Major League Baseball. Whether or not they ever become competitive remains to be seen. Until they do I am not going to get myself emotionally invested and waste my time caring about who competes and who doesn’t When I watch a sporting event I want to see competition and an All Star Game should be the ultimate form of competition.