millbank Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Jason Whitlock Mayhem From Article: The game is a sloppy, boring, half-hearted mess. The dunk contest is contrived and pointless. The celebrity contest is unintended comedy. And, worst of all, All-Star Weekend revelers have transformed the league's midseason exhibition into the new millennium Freaknik, an out-of-control street party that features gunplay, violence, non-stop weed smoke and general mayhem. All weekend, people, especially cab drivers, gossiped about brawls and shootings. You didn't know what to believe because the local newspaper was filled with stories about what a raging success All-Star Weekend was. The city is desperately trying to attract an NBA franchise, and, I guess, there was no reason to let a few bloody bodies get in the way of a cozy relationship with Stern. Plus, the NBA's business partner ESPN didn't have time to dirty its hands and report on the carnage. I'm sure ESPN's reporters were embedded in the rear ends of the troops -- Shaq, Kobe, King James, D-Wade, AI and Melo. But there were multiple brawls, at least two shootings, more than 350 arrests and a lot of terror in Vegas over the weekend. There were so many fights and so many gangbangers and one parking-lot shootout at the MGM Grand that people literally fled the hotel in fear for their safety. I talked with a woman who moved from the MGM to the Luxor because "I couldn't take it. I'll never come back to another All-Star Game." There are reports of a brawl between rappers and police at the Wynn Hotel. Vegas police were simply overwhelmed along The Strip. They were there solely for decoration and to discourage major crimes. Beyond that, they minded their own business. After this weekend, I'm convinced he's losing the battle. All-Star Weekend Vegas screamed that the NBA is aligned too closely with thugs. Stern is going to have to take drastic measures to break that perception/reality. All-Star Weekend can no longer remain the Woodstock for parolees, wannabe rap artists and baby's mamas on tax-refund vacations. This was not a byproduct of the game being held in Vegas. All-Star Weekend has been on this path for the past five or six years. Every year the event becomes more and more a destination for troublemakers. -not your typical sports article. The man certainly states his opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 I can't say I'm surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Rich Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 What does anyone expect in a league overrun w/ adolescent millionaires, many of whom have no clue as to how to behave? Not only has the All Star weekend become a joke, the NBA has become a joke. It's little more than dunks and 3 pointers nowadays. Treat yourself to a good college basketball game instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewPort71 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 "Treat yourself to a good college basketball game instead. " Amen ...or go see the local HS play... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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