Which pro sports all star game is the worst?

Image Courtesy of Bing

As MLB gets ready for this year's all star game, I thought I'd resurrect an article I did about all star games in general.

For years, the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB have seen a decline in the popularity of their all star games.  While some of the leagues have tinkered with the format of their star games, the product has been diminished.  Having said that, here are the four major sports all star games ranked by the viewing experience:

NHL All Star game

Over the years, the NHL All Star game had devolved into a non-contact shooting drill, with no back checking played at three quarters speed.  So what did the NHL do?  They went to a gimmick.  A series of three on three games played between all stars of each division.  Here’s the shocking part.  The product actually improved.  Of course, last year’s game was helped immensely by ……

John Scott

Over the years John had acquired a reputation as a goon.  Oh, all right, in a nod to political correctness, an enforcer.  Fans got the idea that voting John into the all star game might be good for a laugh.  As it turned out, John played well enough to be named MVP.  John’s temperament helped make the game even more enjoyable. Unless John makes it back this year, the game probably won’t be nearly as much fun.

MLB’s All Star Game

MLB has tried to copy the NBA’s all star experience by adding a homerun derby.  It was interesting at first, but now it’s getting tired.   How many times can you hear Chris Berman say, “Back, back, back’ and still enjoy it? Many years ago, it seemed that the leagues actually played the game to win.  Now it’s just a myriad of players making cameo appearances in a meaningless exhibition.

That point was really driven home when the 2002 game ended in a tie.  The game lasted 11 innings and was declared a tie when both teams ran out of pitchers.  Then commissioner, Bud Selig, moved swiftly to compound the problem.  Starting in 2003, the winner of MLB’s all star game would get home field advantage in the World Series.

Baseball keep trying to hammer the theme that the game mattered, but nobody bought that.  Not the fans, not the managers, and not the players.  The 2017 all star game will not determine home field advantage for the World Series, rendering the game meaningless.  As it has been for years.  So, why is the MLB All Star game the second highest rated of the four all star games?  Because the others are even worse.

NBA All Star game

Back in the 80’s, the NBA All Star game was semi-entertaining.  There was at least a façade of defense played.  Now the game as devolved into a fiasco that has less defense played than a Harlem Globetrotters- Washington Generals contest.  I’m glad that NBA players get along, but watching their buddy buddy act on the court isn’t entertaining.

The NBA All Star Week used to be a little bit of fun.  Thirty years ago there was some interest in the dunk contest.  Of course back then, the contest had some players the average NBA fan could recognize.  Not so much anymore.  The three point shooting contest is, perhaps, the most enjoyable vestige of what used to be a decent spectacle to watch.

But when it comes to train wrecks of all star games, one game stands out as being the biggest fiasco of all.  That would be the………..

NFL Pro Bowl

Would somebody please put a DNR order on this turkey?  Even the players voted to go to this game act like they’re being called for jury duty.  After tinkering with the format, the league has gone back to the NFC vs. AFC format.  Be thanking for small favors.  The idea of captains choosing up teams was ridiculous.  Plus, watching Michael Irvin mug for the camera is a viewing experience not to be repeated.

The Pro Bowl has moved from Honolulu to Orlando.  Shrewd move.  No doubt the players would much rather go to Orlando than Hawaii.  That’s the type of thinking that has given rise to this monument to non-violence.

How little hitting is there in a Pro Bowl game?  Bill Ray Cyrus has more hits than a Pro Bowl game.

Whether people like it or not, times are changing.  Pro sports all star games are a reflection of that.