MLB All-Star Game Paradox: A Fan's Dilemma

I wish there was a way to romanticize this or be more poetic with my point, but Tuesday night's MLB All-Star game was a total dud.  Even devout baseball fans could not bear watching the entire game, most losing interest during the middle innings. 

Unlike other All-Star games, the MLB All-Star game lacked fanfare, luster and excitement.  Every season baseball fans debate the reason for the mundane nature of the All-Star game.  The reason that baseball’s All-Star game lacks excitement is because it’s actually a real game.

Honestly, I’m not a fan of the MLB All-Star game, but I do respect the fact that it is closer to reality than any other All-Star game.  Realistically, an 8-0 MLB score is more likely than a 59-41 NFL score (Pro Bowl), a 152-149 NBA score (NBA All-Star game) or a 12-9 NHL score (NHL All-Star game). 

The fan's love/hate relationship with the MLB All-Star game is quite a paradox.  Sports fans hate other All-Star games because they aren’t real games, but hate the MLB All-Star game because it is a real game.

As fans, there are two choices in regards to the MLB All-Star game mentally, chuck it or be engaged. Either way, you have to respect it. 

Is it too long? Yes. Are there players that don’t deserve to be there? Yes. Is it a popularity contest? Yes.  Has anyone actually watched the WHOLE game over the last five years? Probably not. But it is still as close to having All-Stars play a real game as we are going to get.  So PLAY BALL!

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