Judging by accounts from observers in all walks, the NBA 2007 All-Star Week in Las Vegas was a smashing success.
Considering that the game itself was a 153-132 ho-hum blowout by the West squad, that meant some pretty serious entertainment besides. New York’s David Lee scored 30 (on 14-of-14 shooting) in the Rookie-Sophomore game. Boston’s Gerald Green put on an impressive show of raw athleticism in the Dunk Contest (despite the celebrity judges hosing Orlando’s Dwight Howard), and Miami’s Jason Kapono stared down Gilbert Arenas and Dirk Nowitzki in the 3-point shootout. Dwyane Wade topped Kobe Bryant in the Skills Competition.
Most importantly, Charles Barkley was in the house.
Charles Barkley dunking during a game in the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, many, many moon pies ago. (image courtesy of msn.com)
We’ve all heard about Sir Charles’ legendary race with 67-year-old referee Dick Bavetta, which he would have handily won before showboating to make it interesting. (As a side, Dick Bavetta hasn’t missed a day of work since joining the NBA in 1975, and runs six to eight miles a day, if you believed Ernie Johnson’s intro. This man is as tough as nails. In case anyone tries to tell you he “tripped” going over the finish line, you tell them that the old man laid out for it, like a champion. Cheesy contest or no, this guy wanted to beat Charles. Badly. Dick Bavetta is awesome. Oh, and the best ref in the NBA, too.)
If this week suffered from anything, it’s that there wasn’t enough Sir Charles.
Charles on the $50,000 check presented to the Las Vegas Boys and Girls Clubs by TNT and the NBA: “That’s two blackjack hands’ worth.”
Charles on the attempted comeback of former Chicago Bulls superstar Scottie Pippen: “You retire ’cause you can’t play anymore. So you don’t get better sitting at home. You might feel better, but you don’t get better.” (Of course, Scottie has his own reasons for trying to ball again.)
Sure, there were lots of banter opportunities with E.J., Kenny Smith, and Reggie Miller during TNT’s broadcasts of the week’s events. We still need more Charles. More hijinks, especially if Dick Bavetta is involved.
The NBA just hasn’t been this much fun for a long, long time.