New All-Star Weekend Idea: Big Man's Skills Challenge

A new idea for All-Star Weekend: the Big Men's Skills Challenge.

All-Star Weekend is just seven days away.

We all know we love it really, however much we love to gripe and moan sometimes.

This year we even get treated to a new game: the long-awaited H.O.R.S.E game.

And while that is sure to be a hit, I am going to propose not a new event all together, but an adoption of a current one.

The Skills Challenge.

The Skills Challenge was brought in six years ago now, with Jason Kidd edging out Gary Payton in the finals. (I know, makes it seem like an age ago doesn't it?).

And the challenge has been a staple at the weekend extravaganza ever since.

Now, let me involve Shaq in my idea for a moment.

Every year, Shaq brings something new and different to the All-Star Game.

The shoe-phone?

The remote control shoe?

So with the game being in Phoenix, let's honor the big man's tradition.

Instead of having guards run through the skills challenge course, let’s have the league's best big men do it.

How hilarious would it be to see seven footers pulling out the dribble moves, trying to thread a bounce pass or nailing a jumper?

Let's say this was the lineup for the event:

The Magic's Dwight Howard

The Suns' Shaquille O'Neal

The Rockets' Yao Ming

(I would say Andrew Bynum, but he is now injured)

The Bobcats' Emeka Okafor?

(Who would your four be?)

Now obviously, the rules may need some tweaking.

Perhaps only having three chances at a jumpshot at the top of the key, or something along those lines? But overall, I think this could be a really fun event for both fans and players.

Not to mention, with Shaq and Howard taking part, it would actually be fairly competitive.

I'm not saying we have to get rid of the guards' challenge, they can have theirs too. But I for one would love to see this event, if only for the one time.

Or perhaps, instead of having current big men, we could have a Legends Skills Challenge?

What better scenario for Sir Charles' return from his little “vacation” than being victorious in the skills challenge over perhaps David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, and Hakeem Olajuwon?

Even legendary guards would be good fun!

Trot out Magic Johnson, Kevin Johnson, John Stockton, and Nick Van Exel and see who wins?

Or perhaps a mix of these possibilities I've listed.

It's up to us people.

After years of campaigning, us fans have been granted the H.O.R.S.E game we so desired.

We must strike while the iron is hot and persuade the league to include this event, which would surely be the funniest highlight of the weekend.

(Unless someone dunks on Dirk again, because that's always great).

Together, we can make this happen.