Photo: Getty Images, Mike Ehrmann
- Troy BallardThere is a stark contrast between the NBA's All-Star weekend, and the NFL's Pro-Bowl -- while one is enjoyable and anticipated, the other is dull, boring, and a waste of time.
It's interesting to think that as the Pro-Bowl has slowly been decreasing in entertainment value, while the NBA's All-Star weekend seems to grow and get better each year.
A new addition to this season's NBA festivities, (despite a condensed season), is the modification of the traditional 'rookie vs. sophomore' game. This year, the NBA allowed for both first and second year players to mix, and be chosen by two celebrity coaches to form squads -- Team Shaq and Team Chuck.
And what did the NFL do new this year? Nothing.
Roger Goodell, I do pity him, but his lack of involvement in trying to better the Pro-Bowl is sickening. NFL fans deserve an end of the season bash just as much as NBA fans deserve a mid-season celebration of talent. The difference between the two events creates such a polar-opposite feeling, the two can't even be put onto the same platform.
While the NBA encourages players to excel and succeed with the reward of being an All-Star, the association also allows the chance for talented athletes to compete in a series of skills competitions. Whether it be the backboard shattering throw-downs in the slam dunk competition or the grace of stroking a shot in the three-point challenge, there is more to look forward to than any other sport.
The NFL used to do all sorts of off-field skills competitions too. There were sprints, catching drills, throwing accuracy, and all forms of different jazz. This made the Pro-Bowl a totally enjoyable event to watch as it led up into the actual game. But this has since been boycotted due to injury issues, as the NFL is becoming more conservative than ever.
Unfortunately, the Pro-Bowl as a whole has never been all that great to watch. It features a bunch of NFL stars hardly attempting to play the game of football. Everything wrong with the Pro-Bowl can essentially be summed up as -- a walk through. Defensive lineman don't pursue the ball, the linebackers play light, receivers don't break in cuts, offensive lineman hardly push forward, and running backs jog.
Again, a large contrast from the NBA's All-Star game, which generally consists of a high-octane offensive frenzy. It's not uncommon for scores to break 110, and the game is exciting, riveting, and is a flat-out display of the most athletic basketball players in the world.
Another huge difference between the two games is that the massive rule changes in the NFL Pro-Bowl, as opposed to the NBA All-Star game, where everything remains status quo. Of course, football is a much more physical game, but the rules are totally constricting to how players should be allowed to play.
No blitzing. No formations on offense without a tight end. No press coverage.
The Pro-Bowl rules are a total joke. Beyond a joke.
I look forward every single season to the NBA's All-Star break, as it provides a series of fun and entertaining events that reward both the players and the fans. The NFL's Pro-Bowl, not at all. The least we could hope for as fans of both the NBA and NFL is that somewhere Commissioner Goodell has his notepad out, and he's jotting down ideas for next season.
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