Gab Session: The First Vegas All-Star Game
Article by Brian Gabrielle
n every sport, All-Star Games have long since outlived their usefulness. Need proof? Do you think the basketball world is abuzz because its constituents are thrilled to be playing the NBA All-Star Game in the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV? Does the drinking water at that venue taste particularly good there? Uh, no.
The NBA is dancing in the streets because its stars and its celebrity hangers-on get to rub elbows in a city where sin is the norm. Since most of these multimillionaires already live their lives adorned by ostentatious jewelry, grotesque tattoos, ,000 sunglasses, bottomless bottles of Kristal, and hot-and-cold running women, this just means that these guys can finally debauch in a city that reflects their true values. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, except when an NBA player leaves. Then it travels around with him like a three-ring circus, per usual.
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, a.k.a. the Midsummer Classic, used to be the only chance we got to see stars from the AL and NL bang heads, but inter-league play has ruined that. The Pro Bowl happens one week after the Super Bowl, and is so anticlimactic, Godfather 3 looks entertaining by comparison. Hockey’s All-Star Game allegedly took place a couple weeks ago, but that’s just a rumor.
Meanwhile, Michael Wilbon jokingly refers to the NBA All-Star Game as “black Thanksgiving,” but given that the game will take place in Sin City this year, it should probably be called “Saturday.” The drunken nonsense, the booty-squeezing, the limo-cruising, the exclusive-nightclub hanging, the Playboy-Bunny-schtupping, the all-hours partying…why, that’s exactly what these guys do on an average weekend, right? What’s so special? Okay, so Shaq gets to live it up with Gilbert Arenas and Kevin Garnett, an opportunity regularly afforded these guys only in the offseason. But rookie Tyrus Thomas has already come out and said the Slam Dunk Contest is only interesting because of the money it’ll pay him, and the game itself will feature about as much defense as the French army on the way to Paris.
Yawn. No thanks. Let the fellas party it up in Vegas this weekend. I’ll be busy cleaning the gutters and eating Velveeta on toast. Now that’s living.
What do you think of the Wade Phillips hiring by the Dallas Cowboys? Are you as under-whelmed as much of the rest of the sporting world?
BoDog Bookmakers, BoDog.com: It was worth a big yawn at most. It seems that Wade Phillips is likely just holding this spot for Jason Garrett.
Duke lost its fourth straight game, against Maryland, on Sunday evening. Obviously, they’ll make the NCAAs, but do you see them as a candidate for a first-round upset? Why?
BDB, BoDog.com: Considering the results they’ve been getting lately, Duke could go out in the first round. Coach K has done a tremendous job bringing in new recruits and maximizing their potential; however this may be the year that he looks like somewhat less of a genius.
I may have written a stupid piece about how the Colts couldn’t win the Super Bowl, but I also wrote an NBA preview piece telling folks that the Boston Celtics would be the worst team in basketball. Do you think they go on to top the worst losing streak ever? They’re at 19, and the record is 23.
BDB, BoDog.com: Boston plays the Bucks and then starts a trip out west. They’ll be hard-pressed to come up with a streak-breaking win on the road. They almost had it in Minnesota, but former Celtic Ricky Davis hit a game-winner to hand the Celts yet another loss. I’m predicting the losing stops Wednesday against Milwaukee.
Sunday is the Daytona 500, the “Super Bowl” of NASCAR. Is this an event you’ll see a lot of action on? Whom do the bettors favor most?
BDB, BoDog.com: The Daytona 500 is the one race where non NASCAR bettors will put some serious action on the race. We expect to have record handle on the 500 this year. Casual fans will follow the drivers with whom they’re familiar: the Dale Jr.s and Jeff Gordons. However, the avid fan will do there research and make the best choice based on their findings.
About the Author
Brian Gabrielle is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at www.procappers.com/Brian_Gabrielle.htm
|