NBA All-Star Weekend Triumphs All, Plus Frye Beyond The Arc

As we approach the most exciting part of the NBA season (the All-Star break), Channing Frye was named to participate in the 3-point Shootout in the Jerry Jones Mansion. The 6'11 center will stand much taller than his opponents because he's, well... a center. It's rare to see the big guys throw up the three because it normally looks like one of Shaq's free throws. When we do get to see a power forward or a center go for it, it's always exciting. The Channing Frye's, Rashard Lewis', and heck, even Matt Bonner's of this world are spectacles nowadays. Having these guys around is great for the league. On a side note, the Suns look like one of the most offensive offenses in the league. In fact, they are, scoring the most points per game of any NBA team. Three of their players are among the Top 10 three-point shooters in the league (Frye, Nash, and Dudley). Sharpshooters like Jason Richardson and Leandro Barbosa help too. And what about Amare and Lopez inside? Beast mode. Their blend of youth and veterans will keep them dangerous for a long time.

The whole Channing Frye thing allows me to talk about the All-Star Weekend. I hate the NBA and find it incredibly boring to watch. Maybe it's because I live in the East and if I want to watch a game, I have to settle for the Knicks or Nets, who would each be the two worst teams in the West. It was even tough for me to watch the first quarter of the Lakers-Celtics game yesterday, and I'm a Celtics fan and this is one of the best match-ups anybody could ask for (Still, I watched it all and was heart-broken when Kobe was Kobe and hit a contested mid-range jumper). All anybody needs to watch is the last four minutes. However, I love the players and the All-Star Weekend. It's by far and away the most fun. The Pro Bowl doesn't quite work out because it's a contact sport. The NFL needs a skills competition. However, nothing triumphs the NBA Skills Competition though. I don't even know what they call it, but the event PlayStation sponsors with the guards is cool. The celebrity game and the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge are both interesting for five minutes. The Three Point Shootout and the Slam Dunk Competition are awesome. But, that's not even the best part.

The best part is watching Kobe and KG react when someone like Gerald Green blows out a candle above the rim. The best part is hearing five seconds of playful smack between Nate and Dwight. The point is, every fan likes to think they know these superstars, but they really don't. The NBA All-Star Weekend gives fans a glimpse of some of the players personalities because the players can let loose and have fun. The camera crews know it, which is why they zone in on Shaq's fedora right after anything exciting happens instead of the guy who made LeBron James jump out of his seat (one of the highest honors in sports). It's not embarrassing to want to see all of this. I think it's awesome because I have the same idea as every other fan: that I know these guys so well. The NBA All-Star Weekend gives me something like a combined half hour of seeing what the players are really like off the court. That half hour is like eating your favorite food for every meal for a week. It tastes so good and I would be willing to watch at least twenty first quarters of NBA games to have it. The everyday fan craves to know athletes. And that is why no league can beat the NBA when it comes down to an All-Star break.