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An Open Letter to King James,’Melo, Black Mamba and Flash
Do you remember the time?
Dear Ballers,
I know like many of your millions of NBA fans around the nation, you were the unfortunate witnesses of the charade formerly known as the “Slam Dunk” contest this past weekend. The Slam Dunk contest used to be the highlight of All Star weekend and was one of the single most anticipated events of the year that was not a league championship game. In recent years the contest has seemed to fade in the background to all the other festivities of the weekend, and has definitely has had a significant decrease in quality over the years. And I blame you.
The contest has thrived in past years because of the sheer magnitude of the players involved. Legends and Hall of Famers like Dominique Wilkins, Shawn Kemp, Clyde “The Glide” Drexler, Spud Webb, and Julius Erving graced the hardwood to rock the rim. (Pause, I suppose) In modern times, not even Wikipedia knows who half of these assclowns contestants are. These gentlemen are still phenomenal athletes, but I have to admit I’m highly disappointed by the fact that many of our modern participants aren’t even starters on their teams. Granted, there are some players that do not tip off in major markets and are destined to be under the radar, but people shouldn’t be sitting in the stands or in front their TV’s asking “You sure this guy is a Laker?”
While much of what happens in your league is understandably out of your control, this is one instance where you do have control on the outcome of the situation. I understand the logic of wanting to stay healthy for your team and not risking injury on an exhibition for overzealous fans, but let’s be real, these overzealous fans are the ones that pay your salaries. We can try to be coy and say that for some of you, your salaries come from networks that pay the league and your teams gobs of money to broadcast your games and from lucrative endorsement deals, but when you trace the origin of those dollars, they still come from fans. They break their banks to buy season tickets, sign up for NBA League Pass, buy your latest shoe and base their soft drink decisions on your advice. They give you enough expendable income for you to buy hookers and extra guns for your locker rooms enjoy lavish lifestyles and take care of your families. I think it’s fair to say that you owe this to your fans.
Kobe, you only have one Slam Dunk appearance and the rest of you gentlemen have treated the contest the way Tiger treats black women, despite being 3 of the most popular and successful stars of the league since you’ve been drafted. Some of the greats I mentioned earlier participated in and won the contest several times, solidifying their immortal status. Clyde Drexler laced ‘em up five times for the contest and came home empty handed every time, but we sure as hell appreciated his efforts. I’m all for the unselfish attitude and giving other players in the league some time to shine, but save that bullsh*t for practice. When I clear my schedule to be entertained by the top stars in the league, I’m expecting to see the top stars. Acting the fool on the sidelines during the Rookie Challenge and the 3 point contest is cool and all, but put us out of our misery and give us something to really look forward to. Please. If you had the choice between watching average players or Olympic Gold medalists compete against one another, which would you choose? Just the excitement that will be created by the thought of you guys competing against each other while having fun would be worth the price of admission. I guarantee there are 108,000 people would show up for a contest featuring the incumbent Kings of the court.
Gentlemen, please take these humble words under advisement. I know I speak for a large constituency of people that would love to see one, if not all of you in next year’s contest. Yeah, I know this will probably take an opportunity away from another promising star, but it’s not your fault that you’re better than them. They’ll get over it.
Keeping my fingers crossed,
36 Responses to “An Open Letter to King James,’Melo, Black Mamba and Flash”
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Good post.
What I find disappointing about this year’s dunk contest, other than the obvious, was that Shaq challenged all of the big name stars to participate, and they turned it down.
CLEVELAND — Shaquille O’Neal has a plan to save the NBA’s All-Star dunk contest: Bring back the superstars and do it for devastated Haiti.
O’Neal
O’Neal
Following Tuesday night’s win over Toronto, O’Neal was asked if he would like to see teammate LeBron James participate in this year’s event. That’s when he offered his idea. He would like to see former dunk champion Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant and others take part along with James.
“As his manager, I will only allow ‘Bron to do the dunk contest if Vince Carter comes back out,” O’Neal said. “If Kobe comes back out and if another big name comes back out. If we could get a big prize and have half of the money go to the people of Haiti and the other half to the winner.
“The guys that are in it, no disrespect to them, but there won’t really be any competition for LeBron. I want to see Kobe. I want to see Vince and I will allow my client to enter.”
Could he make it happen?
“I’m saying it now,” O’Neal said. “So tweet it. Facebook it. E-mail it and hopefully it gets out. Vince, we’re calling you out. Kobe, we’re calling you out. We’re calling everybody out. If those guys step up in the dunk contest, then I will allow my client to step up.”
James has decided to skip next month’s event in Dallas after originally saying he would participate.
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There’s no way Kobe could participate in the dunk contest at his age. He rarely dunks these days. If Lebron wants to surpass MJ as the greatest of all time he’s gonna need to win a slam dunk contest against another top dunker. But I swear i’m so tired of these marginal stars being in the dunk contest.
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I was incredibly disappointed at the dunk contest. I was so disappointed that I barely watched the all-star game because I wasn’t sure I could deal with another lackluster NBA performance. I believe those who don’t get above a certain score on made dunks should be fined or something. I yearn for the dunks of old.lol.
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You ain’t never lied on this one! I was booored outta my mind! Those dunks were lame…..uninspired, rooky. I could go on…but I won’t. They have to come way better than that next year.
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I think out of all of them, only two were ones that caught my attention.
There have been some contests that have dragged on and on and then there was the one on Sat that was over before you knew it.
I also hate how it seems like they change the rules each year.
But I also figure that there isn’t too much more you can do in terms of making a dunk:
Off the backboard
Aly oop
From behind the backboard
Jumping over people
Taking off from the free throw line
360, 760
Under legs, cross body, switch hands
and the ubiquitous “blind fold”/”no look” dunks
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 9:49 am
some guy on around the horn on monday suggested they set the ball on fire….
I would pay to see that.
Not all Dunk contest are boring. On friday night they let street ball players have a dunk contest and it was exciting. They need to let these And 1 hoopers go to work.
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Patrice Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
It would be sooooo soooo fly to see the ill street ballers dunk against the “stars”! Oh man! I will fly to Japan to see that!!
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Standing Ovation! I agree wholeheartedly with this post. These same names you mention did better dunks in the All Star Game when it was on the fly. Why not participate in the dunk contest? Win some money and make the fans happy. It’s a win-win!
(RCLS with your permission, I would like to post this open letter all over the place, lol)
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RightCoastLex Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Get ya swerve on Edna…
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these prima donna ballers. hmph. its like they have no confidence in their own skills when all eyes are on them.
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I’m sorry RCLS, but Lebron is past the time when he should have done the dunk contest. That is something you do during your Rookie year.
I’m shocked that Dwight did it four years into this career.
You can’t ask Lebron to do it at this point. You have to look at the new stars. Terek Evans should have been it in this year. Wilson Chandler (aka the last good thing Issiah did) is a guy who I would want to see try. Yuong explosive players like Blake Griffen (if it wasn’t for the Clippers curse).
Kobe can still elevate, but I don’t think people realize how old he is! Draft Class of ’96! Plus all those playoff runs. Look at how old the other people his draft year are: Ray Allen, A.I., Kerry Kittles, Jermaine O’neal. Its amazing Kobe still has the ability to jump.
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nyhoop Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 10:05 am
LeBron is only 25, and MANY people have participated post Rookie Year (Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, to name a few…)
I agree Kobe is old now, but he did skip college, so he would have been draft class of 2000
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Can I just see someone east bay funk 360 from the free throw line blindfolded off the backboard alley oop over Yao Ming please?
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Shawn Smith Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 10:13 am
“and he still had on his Timbs…..His Timbs”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXCY1g91QSc
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
LMAO
i heard the boondocks are coming back march 28th.
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Shawn Smith Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Thanks, I was trying to remember the date of their return.
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Yea, the dunk contest was incredibly dreadful. I kept wondering if we were being punked. Even after three shots of vodka it was still horrible.I would say that the only thing worse than the dunk contest was that repeated airing of that Taco Bell commercial. I got pissed everytime that damn commerical came on.
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I’m glad you said what everyone’s been thinking or tip toeing around – these dudes are a bunch of bitches. That’s why Kobe or Lebron will never be Jordan.
#YeahISaidIt
I can understand if Melo doesn’t want to go in because, well, he’s not who I gravitate towards when I think of monster dunks or air time. But Lebron? D. Wade? These guys should surely be in the competition just off the sheer fact that their egos should have them suiting up.
That’s what made Jordan, Jordan. He wanted to dominate everything. Not to mention he wasn’t afraid to show up and show out.
Shawn Kemp, Clyde, Dominique – these guys showed up and gave the crowd what they wanted. Even more than that, they did it for the spirit of competition. All Star Weekend is supposed to be a showcase of the elite talent in the league. For the best of the best to compete for the pleasure of the masses. It’s supposed to be the highest form of game short of the Finals! Especially for individual recognition. You would think most folks would seize that since they won’t be winning a championship anytime soon.
Bottom line, these modern day athletes are chasing the check instead of the glory.
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Shawn Smith Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Co-f’in-sign.
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CHeeKZ Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Aren’t you the same year as Melo?
Are you giving him a pass based off some bond yall made in the frozen tundra known as upstate NY?
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Seattle Washington Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Yeah, he is my year. I rioted on Marshall Street, partied my ass off and drunkenly stumbled to my dorm at the end of my freshman year. However, I’m not giving him a pass because he made my freshman year experience better than most other Syracuse University students’.
I’m giving him a pass because he’s not a dunker. He’s got game, but he’s not Lebron nor is he Wilson Chandler (you see that dunk he did last night?!?! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW6UQIaK2Po&feature=player_embedded)
There’s no bias, Melo just shouldn’t be in the dunk contest strictly based upon his talent.
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nyhoop Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
DOUBLE CO-SIGN!!
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Thank you, Brotha Steele! Honestly, I’m over these spoiled a$$ NBA players. The All-Star weekend/game is about the fans. We do not watch the dunk contest just to see all of the stars looking clean (though Kevin Garnett did look quite tasty). I want to see the best in the dunk contest, and these divas are sitting on the sideline taking pictures and ish. This is part of the reason why I love college ball so much. These boys give it their all 100% of the time, without(NCAA approved)pay.
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i was soooo disappointed. the only dunk that was worth mentioning is the one deroza caught off the side of the backboard. gerald wallace was a fail. the reverse dunk he did was so lame. i can do that without even warming up and make it look better because i’m shorter than he is. he didn’t even bring the ball all the down. smh. shannon brown was also a fail. for all the hops he has, he gave us nothing. earlier in the day i changed my facebook status to “they should let me dunk tonight. i promise i can come in at least 2nd place”. i still stand by that statement.
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@ J-full
I had that in mind when typing the post, but for starters I’m a Lakers fan so that was just me being selfish. But his age aside, his name recognition would help the contest and his “competitive” streak would kick in and hopefully he’d be able to come up w/ some hot dunks. ‘Melo probably doesn’t ring bells when you think of dunkers either, but he brought my alma mater a NCAA ‘chip, so at this point I’m just trying to pad my sh*t talk bank…
@ Cheekz
He may past normal age for certain heads, but ‘bron ‘bron is a f*ckin man child and should still have plenty of springs left. That one dunk he did where he put his hand behind his head on some “I’m chillin’” sh*t…fire! And that’s what I mean, that dunk was no where near a GOAT dunk, but that would light the crowd up in a contest.
If there are any grammatical errors, blame my blackberry.
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Yea…I’m Honorable now. Deal with it.
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The dunk contest was straight WHACK JUICE!!!! I have never been so disappointed and I actually fell asleep before it was over. We need the contestants to bring back the creativity and I would prefer some players who’s names and faces I recognize. I agree with you completely on this post. Hopefully they will do better next year.
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Nice post RCLS! In the words of the great Arch Bishop Don Magic Maic Juan…..”Chuuuuuuch!”
I was there! I wasted over 300 of my hard earned dollars watching a dunk contest that with the exception of one dunk (dude from Portland who caught the rebound off the side of the back board, ducked under the rim and reverse dunked it) could have seen better on any New York ball court. The atmosphere in the arena was absolutely dead. Gerald Wallace of the Bobcats was being interviewed by the PA guy and he actually stated ‘well, my legs are not as young as they were before so we’ll just see what happens, its no big deal either way”. The crowd immediately booing his comments. the hottest part of the night was seeing all the celebrities and even the majority of them were shown on the jumbo screen shaking their heads in disgust or exiting the arena early.
These ballers are so fat and happy that they have no hunger for competition. No desire to say they truly are the best. Shaq actually put up a challenge for Kobe, Lebron and D Wade to get in there and get some revenue for Haiti…each of them wouldnt even comment on the suggestion. Do you realize how much money a “Dunk for Haiti” event would raise? and yet these clowns dont care.
I was disapointed. I was lied to ” this is the most exciting night of the basketball season, each year” , i was robbed!
At least if I go to the dull a$$ NFL Pro Bowl, I’ll at least see their best stars in their skills competitions. so so so so so lame!
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I agree that thsi year was horrid, but everyone should breathe. This has been the first whack one in a minute. Last year was off the chain!
I commend KryptoNate for winning it 3 years. You cant select your opponents and LeBron went back on his word, so I won’t believe shyt that dude says.
Kobe cant compete in that anymore he’s too old.
Lebron needs to be in there and some of the young gunz!
Shannon Brown is a waste of Hops, btw.
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Please excuse this rant:
I had to deal with corny-tail All-”Stars” weekend…now I have to deal with the fact that my heart valve Eddie House (swooooonnnnnn) is being traded for no-show-no-game Nate Robinson…or vise versa, or whatever! I swear the Celtics are trying to secure a place in mediocrity! I mean, come on! I know the C’s learned their lesson with dead-weight Marbury! ARRGHHH!! (Breathe in — breathe out!)
Thanks.
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Streetz Shuttlesworth Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Real Talk Nate Rob > Eddie House so thats a definite upgrade IF this trade goes down
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Patrice Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
It’s going down…it went down. Ugh! I don’t mind getting Nate is getting rid of Eddie that I can’t agree with! Scalabrine has to stay, just because, but Tony Allen…I would help him pack.
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Streetz Shuttlesworth Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
theres no confirmation yet!
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Patrice Reply:
February 18th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
True…
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I mean Lebron is a Bitch, Kobe just got a ring, Dwayne Wade is the truth. I rather not see dwayne in the dunk contest because he’s not really a highlight dunker either.
We did see Dwayne in the skills contest like Two years in a row, smoking more Katz then a Mr.Stirfry.
But then again i realized that if i knew niggas was going to cop my shoes anyway, why the fuck would i want to coon for the public. In Short … Fuck you pay me!
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Hmmmmmmmmmm
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