On the All-Star Game...

[Eugene]

Actually, the whole weekend impressed me. The Hoop-It-Up 3 on 3 was good for what it is -- a novel sideshow to the Three-Point Shoot-Out and the Slam Dunk Contest. It was nice to see Nique throw it down. Danny Ainge: "Magic should've gotten called for a 3-second violation on that drive." Classic.

The Rookie Challenge was also nice. It was good to see Jay Williams play well, even if it was just a Rookie game.

Three-Point: Brent Barry's little jig when he hit the last money ball was classic. They should try to market this guy as much as possible -- he's humble, funny, personable.

Slam Dunk: There's been enough said on this topic that I don't need to add anything more than this: the bar has been raised for the first time in a long time.

Now, to the heart of this topic -- the All-Star Game.

What is all this commotion about Michael's storybook ending being ruined? Jermaine O'neal messed it up for Michael? Kobe messed it up? The refs messed it up? Isiah made a coaching mistake? What is the big deal?

Did he (Michael Jordan) or did he not hit the shot?

What was it like at that very moment when Michael hit that fadeaway over Shawn Marion?

Because to me, that last play for Michael pretty much embodied what I felt about Michael and what he's meant to me as an athelete of whom I am a fan.

Michael Jordan, over the course of his career and distinguished career, was never perfect. There have been moment when he seemed perfect, as if he could do no wrong. But, there have also been moments in his career when he appeared far from perfect -- mostly the past two seasons -- when he's struggled and sometimes when he outright failed.

But you never really fail until you give up. And he never did. Not during his career and certainly not during the All-Star Game.

Yes, he did take an inordinate amount of shots and only hit nine of them. Yes, he may have taken more shots than he should have. He may have even felt a little selfish, arrogant, whatever. He may have been a ballhog. He never really forced a shot, really. He didn't make them like he used to, but I don't really think he took away from the other players. Regardless, he went out there to compete. And finally, when he was given the chance, he came through, and in that moment, he shined like the superstar that he has been all throughout his career.

I felt elated, excited, that Michael hit that shot. It was an amazing shot. That it came at the tail end of a 33% shooting night meant little to me, because that made it even more meaningful. Because at that moment, Michael Jordan turned back the clock and showed that he could still play the game, and still do what he always did. That while he may have lost a step or two or even several, some things just don't change. That he had missed the last potential game winner, had the courage to take the shot again and had the determination (stubbornness, for the cynical) to make sure he wasn't going to miss twice.

I believed in that moment, when no one else would (my friends certainly didn't), that Michael Jordan could make that shot. And when he did, I got up and said, "What did I say?" In that moment, I was a fan again, and Michael was the great player he'd always been.

And has that ending been messed up because the game continued afterwards, like it games are supposed to? Because players continued to compete, like they are supposed to? Because the West won? No. Absolutely not. The game happened like it was supposed to. No one reneged, least of all Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson even. Certainly not the refs. They made that call because that's what the game requires of them. To not oblige to the demands of the game would have been a true travesty, and not worthy of Michael Jordan's last All-Star Game. Not worthy of Michael Jordan's final shot in the All-Star Game.

The game goes on with or without Michael. I'm just thankful for all the moments filled with meaning that Michael Jordan has left us with.

By the way, the All-Star Game was exquisite. I've never seen better passing, more unselfishness, better scoring distribution, more competitiveness, in an All-Star Game. Especially the passing, because the league needs that. Kids have to understand that passing is a crucial part of the game, and the stars did a great job displaying sound ball movement and unselfishness.

The game was competitive and meaningful. Low-scoring, perhaps, but entertaining nonetheless. Anyone who says the game was disappointing is not a true fan of the game of basketball.

Because you could have had a storybook ending for one player, or a good competitive, thrilling, meaningful run for all the players. Me? I choose the latter.

All the best,

Eugene

[Bill Russell]

Yeah, I jumped off my couch when MJ hit that shot too, it was awesome.

I agree with you on the passing, but the minutes weren't fairly distributed amongst the players. Some of them, like Ilgauskas and Walker, played less than 15 minutes...

Day after day, I'm less of a Vince Carter fan. The gap between him and Kobe & T-mac is growing quickly. Kobe and Tracy have really improved their games, while Carter seemed to stop in time. Even Iverson is better than Carter, though compare him with VC is not fair, they have different playin' styles.