The NBA All Star game used to be cool, but not any more. It seems its all about the party now, not the game. And that is made more evident this week with the taking taking place in the ultimate party city, Las Vegas. I remember when the game used to be televised on a Tuesday night, prime time, and it was a big deal. One year, I hadn't done my homework that night, and my mom punished me by not letting me watch the first part of the game. It was brutal! My favorite player, Hal Greer of the 76ers, was playing, along with Chamberlain, West, Baylor, Russell, Robertson and a host of other future hall of famers. Back then, it was a big deal. Now, its just a show and a chance for the league to wine and dine clients and sponsers and for the players to just go through the motions. Sure, Mehmet Okur of the Jazz is excited to be there, and Carlos Boozer was flattered to be seleceted by the coaches, but the game means nothing and the players know it and they treat it accordingly. Defense... what defense? And would somebody please tell the NBA to drop the hokey slam dunk contest and 3 point shooting contest? If the best dunkers and the best shooters don't even care enough to particpate, why should the fans care about watching it? Give it a rest. The All Star game has lost its luster. Let it die a peaceful death. Just give the players 3 or 4 days off to recharge for teh 2nd half of the season, and let us watch something really entertaining, like Grey's Anatomy or whatever else is on ABC 4. Its got to be way better than a phoney game that means nothing.