With the NFL Pro Bowl and NHL All-Star Game this weekend, I thought now would be as good a time as any to break down the major four sports (NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA) All-Star Games. What makes them good? What are some flaws? Each All-Star Game brings together the best players in each sport, but the effort displayed often does not match the talent level.
NHL
Way Teams Are Selected: Fantasy style draft
Skills Competition?: Yes (Fastest Skater, Breakaway Challenge, Shooting Accuracy, Skills Challenge Relay, Hardest Shot, Shootout)
What Makes It Fun To Watch: Of all the skills competitions in the four major sports, I enjoy NHL's shootout competition the most, with the Home Run Derby in MLB a close second. You get the NHL's most creative skaters going up against the best goalies in the game. The shooters get all kinds of crazy with the shots and approaches they come up with, which usually leaves the goalies hanging out to dry. It's fun, light-hearted, and will often leave viewers with more than a few "Wow" moments. The game itself is entertaining if you enjoy a high scoring, offensive laden game. There is minimal checking, a decreased effort on defense, but still a heightened desire to score. Because of the fantasy style draft, it's also fun to see offensive guys skating against defensive guys who are on the same NHL team, but different All-Star teams.
Flaws: Not too many flaws to be found in this game. I suppose if you are a more defensive minded fan and enjoy the big bruising hits and line brawls, then perhaps this game is not for you. Although it may be fun to see players on the same NHL team go up against each other, the play can sometimes get a little bit choppy due to the lack of chemistry between the players. The final flaw that is a bit out of their control is that the NHL is the only league whose All-Star Game falls at the same time as the Olympics. The NBA and the NHL are the only two leagues that have had to worry about that, but basketball's All-Star Game is long before the summer Olympics. Last year, due to the Olympics, there was no All-Star Game to be had. Having elite NHL talent compete in the Winter Games was sufficient enough compensation, though.
NFL
Way Teams Are Selected: Fantasy style draft
Skills Competition?: None
What Makes It Fun To Watch: For starters, I think the fantasy style draft idea was brilliant when the NFL started that last year. With fantasy football becoming so popular, it was only a matter of time before they carried that idea into the Pro Bowl, where the teams used to be split up into NFC vs AFC. The best thing to watch during the Pro Bowl is the one on one matchups between the elite wide receivers and the elite defensive backs in the NFL. The Pro Bowl has always been a passing bonanza, and I expect that trend to continue. Last year, the two teams combined for 88 pass attempts compared to 37 rushing attempts. Notable potential matchups this year are TY Hilton vs Vontae Davis (Colt vs Colt), AJ Green and Antonio Brown vs Joe Haden (AFC North matchups), Emmanuel Sanders vs Aqib Talib (Bronco vs Bronco), and Randall Cobb vs Sam Shields (Packer vs Packer).
Flaws: Unfortunately, this is probably the most flawed All-Star Game. It might improve a bit this year by moving the Pro Bowl to the Super Bowl site, instead of in Hawaii. Hawaii is nice to visit, but apparently not worth it to check out the Pro Bowl as the crowds were usually not so great. Maybe they can generate more interest by playing the game at the Super Bowl site. The NFL is also the only league that actually makes players on two teams (the two playing in the Super Bowl) ineligible to participate. This is done for obvious reasons, but is still a shame. Darrelle Rivas, Richard Sherman, and Rob Gronkowski would probably be the three names that fans are most disappointed cannot play in the Pro Bowl. The last thing that should be improved is the lack of some kind of skills competition. The NBA, NHL, and MLB all have some kind of skills competition, but the NFL does not. Events like longest and/or most accurate throw, kicking distance and accuracy, and some kind of catch competition would be welcome.
MLB
Way Teams Are Selected: Assigned (American League vs National League)
Skills Competition?: Yes (Home Run Derby)
What Makes It Fun To Watch: As previously mentioned, I find the Home Run Derby very entertaining. The ballpark is usually packed, with fans hoping to grab one of numerous baseballs launched over the wall throughout the course of the evening. This event can sometimes even be more entertaining than the game itself. For instance, Giancarlo Stanton's mashing of the ball in the first round of the Derby last year was probably the coolest thing to watch that entire weekend. Some argue that the Derby is boring and too long, but I felt like the change from ten outs to seven last year helped to speed up the process, but still give fans the thrill of watching sluggers hammer the ball. The MLB All-Star Game also features the most direct one on one matchup of all the All-Star Games with big time pitchers going up against big time hitters. The pitchers are plenty motivated to strike out the best in the game, while the hitters want nothing more than to pop a homer off of a Clayton Kershaw type pitcher.
Flaws: Some people might disagree, probably strongly with me on this, but I disagree completely with rewarding home field advantage in the World Series to the league that won the All-Star Game. I realize that the league was trying to create interest and sell the fact that "this game counts," but I've always felt that was unfair to the two teams participating in the World Series. Consider that the Royals made up a mere 7.5% of the American League All-Stars, yet were given home field advantage because they won the All-Star Game. I get that they want the game to mean something, but I don't think home field advantage is the way to do it. An advantage should not be given in a championship series based on a game played three months prior, that a team barely participated in. The only other negative with this game is that I would like to see them switch to a fantasy draft style. I think selections would be interesting, particularly if the captains have different philosophies in terms of trying to get a lights out pitching rotation or a murderer's row of bats.
NBA
Way Teams Are Selected: Assigned (Western Conference vs Eastern Conference)
Skills Competition?: Yes (Rising Stars Challenge, Slam Dunk Competition, Three Point Shootout, Skills Challenge, Shooting Stars Competition)
What Makes It Fun To Watch: While baseball has the most direct one on one matchup, basketball is pretty close. There were a few times last year where the other players on the court just stood off to the side, as two superstars went one on one. Situations like that are fun to watch, particularly if you back a certain player (LeBron, Kobe, KD, etc.). In terms of flashiness within the game, this All-Star Game takes the cake as fast breaks, alley oops, and highlight dunks happen early and often. If the Slam Dunk Competition ever returned to its former glory, then the totality of this All-Star Weekend might beat out all the other sports.
Flaws: Speaking of which, the NBA really needs to find some way to get the Dunk Competition back to being a must watch event. I thought they actually made it worse last year by making it basically a team event by conference, de-emphasizing the individual players and dunks. Jon Wall's dunk couldn't even save last year's contest. They need to get the big name players to participate, decrease the overall length, and make it a strictly individual event. As far as the game is concerned, the lack of defense is hilarious. It's the worst out of the four games. As a fan of the Chicago Bulls, a team built on defense, it is a bit disappointing to watch players slash and drive the lane with ease. I think it would be cool to see a team lock down a team led by Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Kobe Bryant. Instead, that team of Western All-Stars scored 153 points last year, as only two teams in the last 10 years have been held to 120 points or less.
Current Favorite All-Star Games To Watch
1. NHL
2. MLB
3. NBA
4. NFL
Favorite Games To Watch If All Players Gave 100% Effort
1. NFL
2. NBA
3. NHL
4. MLB
Matty O
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