7 Things We Missed This Weekend

Due to our extended absence covering the NCAC Swimming Championships in Canton, OH, there is a lot in the sports world that we need to get caught up on RSS nation! I will say that we had a better than expected time at the swim meets, and I discovered that swimming may be the toughest sport to do play by play for! Luckily we survived, and it actually was quite fun. While Snowmageddon 2010 continues in central Ohio, here's 7 Things We Missed This Extended Weekend!

1. NBA All-Star Game

-The largest crowd ever to watch a hoops game showed up at Jerry Jones palace for the 2010 All-Star Game. The NBA's version of the ASG is by far the best and most entertaining in all of sports and Sunday night's game showed why. The spectacle was one of the cooler sights that I've seen, and it takes away from David Stern's news that the league will lose 400 million dollars this year! (BTW, don't be surprised if we hear about both NBA and NFL labor trouble soon). The game was its usual barrage of highlights until late fouls made it a free throw shooting contest. Dwyane Wade won MVP and the East won 141-139, roll the highlights!

2. Slam Dunk Contest

-While the ASG is better than ever, the slam dunk contest is coming off perhaps the worst competition in the history of the event. When your star for the evening is Nate Robinson, you know there are issues. In looking at the lack of star power in the field, you knew it would take something awesome to make this a memorable slam dunk. In the end, it underwhelmed completely as Lil' Nate took his 3rd title. The dunk contest doesn't need fixed, just like the HR derby or any other skills contest. The actual nuts and bolts are still as good of an idea as ever. What it does need are the stars of the game to step up and save it before it fades away into oblivion. The dunk contest won't be able to survive the Nate Robinsons and Shannon Browns of the world too much longer. Wait a sec, wasn't this guy supposed to be in it?

3. Daytona 500

-A pothole?? At Daytona?? Seriously?? NASCAR is coming into a make or break year as far as its popularity on the national stage and 2 hours of delays during your Super Bowl of racing is not the best way to start the year. Could you imagine last week if Peyton Manning and Drew Brees had to sit in the locker room for an extra 2 hours (let alone wheeling The Who on and off stage) because of a hole in the turf? Jamie McMurray was able to hold off Little E in an exciting end, but two more problems arose for NASCAR. Another year without a big name winner, and more calamity and the end of the green/white/checkered finish. NASCAR has always been ahead of the curve (get it?) as far as rules and standards go, and they'll need to revisit plenty in the coming weeks.

4. College BBall Comings & Goings

-Coming: KU and UK - 1/2 in the polls and still with only 1 loss. They both beat Top 15 teams this week in Texas and Tennessee respectively.

Going: Texas - 5 losses out of 8 to drop them from #1 to #17 in the polls.

Coming: Ohio State - blowout win on the road at Illinois. With POY candidate Evan Turner healthy, the Bucks are a legit darkhorse

Going: West Virginia - two losses to ranked Big East teams, while tough games, this team may not be a true title contender

Coming: Big XII - Texas A&M and Baylor make the Top 25 this week while they also have strong teams like Missouri and Oklahoma, they may be the deepest conference in the country.

Going: Cornell - sorry Nard dog, the Big Red's stay in the Top 25 lasted about as long as your engagement to Angela. Maybe this video will make Cornell fans feel better...

5. NHL = No Hockey League... For 2 Weeks At Least

-Is the Olympic break a good or bad thing for the NHL? Being a casual hockey fan who checks out the occasional game and tunes in for the Stanley Cup playoffs, it's a good thing. I'll watch a lot more hockey at the Olympics than I would during the regular season. I'll get to know players that I would not care about seeing during the regular season. The Winter Olympics gives hockey a much needed attraction and attention that a normal regular season schedule would not bring. It would be foolish for the NHL to abandon the Winter Olympics because the NHL gets more focus when they aren't playing this time of year. On another note, we were at this sweet game in the 5th row yesterday between the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets. The NHL actually does put on a good show at times!

6. Epic Oprah Fail

-What could possibly put a damper on the Saints winning the Super Bowl? How 'bout Oprah trying to wipe Drew Brees' birthmark off his face...

7. Epic Torch Fail

-What could be even more awkward than #6? How 'bout an epic fail with hundreds of millions of eyes watching, and Canada's greatest athlete looking like he's going to set a stadium on fire with the Olympic flame, check out the hilarious link and Gretzky's reaction about a minute in.

A Home Run or a Slam Dunk?

With the HR Derby tonight, what better time than to ask the age old question: Home Run or Slam Dunk? Both acts can bring any crowd to their feet. Both competitions have left us with sporting memories that can last a lifetime. Everyone from Sosa and McGwire to Jordan and Wilkins and new stars such as Hamilton and Howard have showcased their talents on their sports' biggest stage. But which All-Star showcase event is better, dunk contest or derby?

In terms of a better show, and a more exciting night, NBA All-Star Weekend slam-dunks the competition (too easy of a pun?) . Sure, Josh Hamilton's show last year was impressive, but do you remember who won the HR Derby last year? Of course not. (Leave a comment with the answer and win a prize!) The Slam Dunk Contest and All-Star Saturday is a much better show than the derby for many reasons:

1. A Matter of Time - The entire HR derby lasts upwards of 3 hours. I have enjoyed the great individual performances over the years, but do I also want to sit through batters that "wait for their pitch" and hit 3 HR's in a round? By the time the finals come around at 12:30 at night, I'm ready to see a pickle or stolen base competition instead. The dunk contest is done in a reasonable amount of time, and comes at the end of an evening filled with other interesting competitions which keeps the NBA's All-Star showcase fresh.

2. Anticlamacticism - We remember performances like Sosa, McGwire, and Hamilton...but who won those years? Do we remember? Do we care? The HR Derby winner means absolutely nothing beyond the night it happens. The contest is traditionally an anticlimactic affair with an ending that does the showcase little justice. With the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest, the event usually comes down to the final dunk and the winner of the event is usually always the star of the show.

3. Chris Berman - Berman has the ability to drag any event's watchability down to the level of shows like Daisy of Love or Dance Your @$$ Off. There's only so many times you can hear "back, back, back" and his overdone schtick. On the other hand, Kevin Harlan, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith are some of the best in the business and greatly help the enjoyment levels of All-Star Saturday Night.

4. Atmosphere - The Slam Dunk crowd is filled with rabid NBA fans and other players who all get jacked up for the biggest dunks. There is nothing better than seeing Shaq or Lebron rise out of their seats in awe, even if it is Nate Robinson or Freddie Jones. Compare this scene to the HR derby where players are seated around the diamond looking on disinterested at best. The greater derby crowd is usually half asleep by the time the actual derby concludes as well.

Do you agree with these reasons? Or do you firmly believe that everyone digs the long ball and the Derby is better entertainment? Perhaps there are some NHL diehards out there as well. Leave your feedback and let RSS know what you think.