Maybe this would be out in left field Give 7.5 mil to each winning team member and 5 mil to each losing team member for their favorite charities Then have a short presentation ceremony afterwards for each charity
Scrap it all together. In fact, you can cancel all of these antiquated All-Star games.
I'm definitely in the Get Off My Lawn Stage of life and I just don't see any way that we can contrive....manufacture....produce the dynamics from years last that made this Must-See TV.
Unless somebody has a way to dial back the clock to the Encyclopedia Era, and all the entails, it's all gonna feel gimmicky.
And I didn't watch bc I'm still pouting about the Luka trade. NBA can pound rocks for all I care right now. Per previous comments, watch College Hoops before it's ruined by NIL
Let's face it, the entire NBA regular season is on life support. Given the fact, the stars don't really want to play during the regular season. Wake me up when the second round (not the first 💤) of the playoffs starts.
I think the primary problem here is that it isn't 1985. Back then we weren't able to see 10 games every night. In 2024 we are saturated with live sports at any hour of the day. So the thrill of seeing all of these stars has lost its luster. And I don't care how much money you throw at these guys, it is never going to motivate them to play at 100% in an otherwise meaningless game because the #1 reason stars and superstars play sports is to win championships. They have already been paid. The only thing left is that ring. Ask Pat Mahomes why he plays. Ask LeBron why he plays. Ask Joe Montana why he played. It surely is/was not to earn a trip to the all star game (or pro bowl). The RING is the THiNG. Period. That being said - cancel it. Nobody will miss it. Trust me. I canceled cable after the election, meaning I also gave up watching live sports and I have not missed it one bit. Am still able to listen to any game I want by streaming. Frees up so much time. And one more thing I'd like to add here - this is the type of topic you should write more about, Chris. Sports is entertainment pure and simple and nobody is going to hate someone who doesn't agree with you. I am so sick of 24/7 chumpy. I need a break. A very long one. And sports helps fill that void.
How about a tournament similar to what the NHL is doing this season with that Four Nations concept? Like the other all-star games, the NHL version sucked. Playing for your country is a different kettle of fish, however. It means something.
There is a lot wrong with the NBA, with 'greed', to quote George Carlin, "number one and moving higher all the time....". Not sure more 'greed' will push the needle.
Child's favorite $55 million player is coming to town for his only visit of the season. Dad pops $1500+ to take the family. Oops, the 'star' is on the second game of a back-to-back and can't get sweaty two days in a row.
Dad pays 28% interest on his Visa for the next six months.
I totally agree that if you want to have a game, then you must incentive the players to care. The only way to do that is with green cash… however, how about we lose the game entirely? Lean into all-star Saturday night more (skills, 3-point, dunk contest, etc.)… if you pay the players more for those events you will have many more stars show up for those events and the product will be much better
It’s such a shame the state of the All Star game. Those four teams playing to 40 points was an embarrassment to see. It’s crazy how competitive it was in 90s and 2000s when they weren’t making much money (in comparison) and it was more for pride. Grumpy old man in me is activated lol
I know bribing them might work, Might… But I do have more issues with trying to bribe the people with 100-200 million dollar contracts. To give as much effort as they would in a workout or pickup game.
How about rewarding the winning conference with no back to backs the following season? Or with more televised games? Or that the winning team’s players can promote something they want after they win? So many of them have their own brand of something or another or could get super bonuses from their current brands that they promote.
The only halfway decent all star game left is baseball. Since interleague play, even that isn’t great as no pitcher wants to get hurt. In most cases I enjoy local high school all star games more than pros
I think the opposite tactic might work. Take money out of it altogether. Make it solely about fans and bragging rights. They get to be good guys doing a good thing. Appeal to that side of them. They all have it. If I can volunteer to do a good thing, or be paid a mere pittance (compared to what my time is worth), I’d rather volunteer and not be paid. The small amount of money actually disincentivizes. Instead, the opportunity to give back because I want to would incentivize. Maybe I’m naive, but I think it would work. I just think that if it’s about money, there will never be enough.
Ok, this is off track but listening to you talk about the Washington Nationals with Chuck Todd, how would you fix baseball? The disparity there is ridiculous. Mariners fan for reference, great pitching staff, a couple of hittersawsy from competing but won't spent a penny to improve the offense.
Cancel it. Wouldn't bother me. Haven't seen an NBA All Star, ever. Watch college basketball before NIL ruins it.
Want to fix the All Star Game? Look at what the NHL did. Do a mini international tournament.
You could even break up Team USA into a vets/young stars team to not make it fait accompli
Logged in and wrote almost the same thing before I saw your comment!
How about not having an all-star game? NBA and NFL have no reason for the game. As Chris said, "unwatchable."
The NBA is a broken entity - players on load mgt
Salaries are a joke. The last cba ruined the sport.
Maybe this would be out in left field Give 7.5 mil to each winning team member and 5 mil to each losing team member for their favorite charities Then have a short presentation ceremony afterwards for each charity
Scrap it all together. In fact, you can cancel all of these antiquated All-Star games.
I'm definitely in the Get Off My Lawn Stage of life and I just don't see any way that we can contrive....manufacture....produce the dynamics from years last that made this Must-See TV.
Unless somebody has a way to dial back the clock to the Encyclopedia Era, and all the entails, it's all gonna feel gimmicky.
And I didn't watch bc I'm still pouting about the Luka trade. NBA can pound rocks for all I care right now. Per previous comments, watch College Hoops before it's ruined by NIL
Let's face it, the entire NBA regular season is on life support. Given the fact, the stars don't really want to play during the regular season. Wake me up when the second round (not the first 💤) of the playoffs starts.
I think the primary problem here is that it isn't 1985. Back then we weren't able to see 10 games every night. In 2024 we are saturated with live sports at any hour of the day. So the thrill of seeing all of these stars has lost its luster. And I don't care how much money you throw at these guys, it is never going to motivate them to play at 100% in an otherwise meaningless game because the #1 reason stars and superstars play sports is to win championships. They have already been paid. The only thing left is that ring. Ask Pat Mahomes why he plays. Ask LeBron why he plays. Ask Joe Montana why he played. It surely is/was not to earn a trip to the all star game (or pro bowl). The RING is the THiNG. Period. That being said - cancel it. Nobody will miss it. Trust me. I canceled cable after the election, meaning I also gave up watching live sports and I have not missed it one bit. Am still able to listen to any game I want by streaming. Frees up so much time. And one more thing I'd like to add here - this is the type of topic you should write more about, Chris. Sports is entertainment pure and simple and nobody is going to hate someone who doesn't agree with you. I am so sick of 24/7 chumpy. I need a break. A very long one. And sports helps fill that void.
How about a tournament similar to what the NHL is doing this season with that Four Nations concept? Like the other all-star games, the NHL version sucked. Playing for your country is a different kettle of fish, however. It means something.
There is a lot wrong with the NBA, with 'greed', to quote George Carlin, "number one and moving higher all the time....". Not sure more 'greed' will push the needle.
Child's favorite $55 million player is coming to town for his only visit of the season. Dad pops $1500+ to take the family. Oops, the 'star' is on the second game of a back-to-back and can't get sweaty two days in a row.
Dad pays 28% interest on his Visa for the next six months.
Somewhere in the distance a dog barks....
For the NHL the winning TEAM of the ongoing Four Nation Face Off wins the princely sum of 3.75 million.
The NHL stars from the US, Canada, Sweden and Finland are playing there hearts out.
If you doubt that, catch the final on Thursday.
The ESPN commercial is great, too.
I totally agree that if you want to have a game, then you must incentive the players to care. The only way to do that is with green cash… however, how about we lose the game entirely? Lean into all-star Saturday night more (skills, 3-point, dunk contest, etc.)… if you pay the players more for those events you will have many more stars show up for those events and the product will be much better
It’s such a shame the state of the All Star game. Those four teams playing to 40 points was an embarrassment to see. It’s crazy how competitive it was in 90s and 2000s when they weren’t making much money (in comparison) and it was more for pride. Grumpy old man in me is activated lol
I know bribing them might work, Might… But I do have more issues with trying to bribe the people with 100-200 million dollar contracts. To give as much effort as they would in a workout or pickup game.
How about rewarding the winning conference with no back to backs the following season? Or with more televised games? Or that the winning team’s players can promote something they want after they win? So many of them have their own brand of something or another or could get super bonuses from their current brands that they promote.
The only halfway decent all star game left is baseball. Since interleague play, even that isn’t great as no pitcher wants to get hurt. In most cases I enjoy local high school all star games more than pros
I think the opposite tactic might work. Take money out of it altogether. Make it solely about fans and bragging rights. They get to be good guys doing a good thing. Appeal to that side of them. They all have it. If I can volunteer to do a good thing, or be paid a mere pittance (compared to what my time is worth), I’d rather volunteer and not be paid. The small amount of money actually disincentivizes. Instead, the opportunity to give back because I want to would incentivize. Maybe I’m naive, but I think it would work. I just think that if it’s about money, there will never be enough.
Ok, this is off track but listening to you talk about the Washington Nationals with Chuck Todd, how would you fix baseball? The disparity there is ridiculous. Mariners fan for reference, great pitching staff, a couple of hittersawsy from competing but won't spent a penny to improve the offense.
I'm from the UK and we don't have All Star games, but we do have friendlys sometimes.
Rule No1 is DO NOT GET INJURED PLAYING A GAME THAT DOESN'T HELP US WITH THE CUP OR THE LEAGUE.
And, like anyone, the more their getting paid, the harder they'll try, and the more likely they are to get injured.
Wouldn't that be a problem?