By Zion Guillory |Staff Writer|
NBA All-Star Weekend is a highly anticipated event every year.
The weekend is highlighted with the league’s best shooters competing in a three-point shooting competition, a skills competition between the best point guards, the rip roaring dunk contest between the league’s high flyers and is ultimately capped off by the All-Star Game between the top players from the Eastern and Western Conference.
Millions of basketball fans tune in to watch their favorite players duke it out on the court.
Surprisingly, many students here on campus were not too fond of this year’s dunk contest or All-Star Game.
“It really sucked,” said student A. J. Jones, when discussing the All-Star Game. “I get excited every year about this game and I was definitely disappointed.”
As you may know, the fans are the ones who vote for the players they want to see in the game.
This year’s starting lineup for the Eastern Conference featured Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose, Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade and LeBron James, New York Nicks’ Carmelo Anthony, and Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard.
These fan favorites could not compete with this year’s Western Conference lineup, suffering a four-point loss with a final score of 153-149.
The Western Conference lineup featured Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, who was named the game’s MVP.
It would seem that with such a dynamic and powerful group of players on the floor, the match-up would resonate more excitement and positive reaction with campus fans.
“Honestly, the most exciting part of the game was when Kobe passed up Jordan’s record in scoring,” said student Jasmine Jackson, who is a die-hard Laker fan. “But then again, it’s Kobe, so there is no surprise. It’s just nice to see him dominate yet another record.”
Bryant, who fractured his nose after a hard foul from Wade, needed 19 points to surpass Michael Jordan’s all-time scoring record of 262 points in the All-Star Game.
Despite the negative opinions offered on the All-Star Game this year, the competition still excites fans year after year.
With this in mind, one must question whether or not it would be a good idea for Division II basketball to host an all-star game, where the most prolific stars of the conference are showcased.
The possibility of the best Division II players going head-to-head is intriguing.
What would be more exciting than watching our student athletes displaying their skills against the best competition the conference has to offer?
“I think it would be a great idea,” says Jones.
“I mean, watching the pros are cool, but it seems robotic for them, like they know they are getting paid to do it so they have to. But if the college players play, you could probably feel their energy from your seat. They would be playing to be respected and recognized.”
Yet others seem to believe that it would be pointless for our division to have an all-star game. “It would be a waste really,” said student Aaron Banks.
“No one would probably go anyway. We don’t have enough school spirit, so it would be pointless.”
A Division II All-Star Game would allow college athletes to show what they are really made of on a national stage.
Whether you agree with the idea or not, it is safe to assume that most people would love for these players to get the opportunity to be recognized as the stars of their division.
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