Obsolete?

The NBA had its All-Star game yesterday, or was it three? No, four? Who knows, who cares? It doesn’t matter the sport. All-Star games just don’t matter anymore. It’s reached the point where NFL Pro Bowlers play a game of flag football. Whoopee, and no, thanks. Baseball is a little different. The NBA has its slam-dunk contest, MLB Home Run Derby, which is probably the more popular. Still, the game doesn’t generate the interest it once did. Again, regardless the sport, players basically don’t want to risk injury for an exhibition contest. In the olden days before free agency, the respective sports had distinct personalities, e.g., AL vs. NL or NFL vs. AFL. American Leaguers really disliked National Leaguers and vice versa. The one non-stupid move Bud Selig made during his time as MLB commissioner was to give homefield advantage in the World Series to the league that won the All-Star Game. No more. I don’t blame the players for wanting to protect themselves. That said, I miss the intensity of the old MLB All-Star games. Maybe next life.