Time for a makeover

Some thoughts about the NBA All-Star game ... if you want to call it that ...

1) The whole weekend seems to be a large waste of time and effort, especially if the league is going to stage it in Jerry Jones' cavernous stadium in Dallas. More than 100,000 people stuffed their way in to see what looked like ants in short pants running around on the floor. Great revenue, yes. But not a worthwhile experience for about 80 percent of the fans.

2) Speaking of things that aren't worthwhile, will someone ever have enough courage to say, "Enough with the idiotic slam dunk competition?" Charles Barkley of TNT came close by saying it needs a makeover. It's at least 27 years old – reborn here in Denver, as a matter of fact. What we see one night during the all-star weekend is what regular fans of the league see every night. There's nothing new ...

3) It was nice to see the NBA's best take a page from the NHL or another perennial loser of an all-star game, the NFL's Pro Bowl, and not play defense. That's what fans want. But it's no better than the end of the first hour of a pick-up game in your yard and doesn't make for a good use of 2 1/2 hours.

4) A halftime concert now? Glad I have a good book to read.