Oden & Fernandez named to All-Star rookie challenge

Rudy Fernandez will have himself a busy All-Star weekend in Phoenix. In addition to competing participating in the Dunk Contest, Rudy has been named to the Rookie squad that will take on the sophomores. The improving Greg Oden will join him.

Looking at that Rookie team roster really shows how deep the talent of the newest NBA cohort goes. Usually this team ends up with a couple garbage throw-ins to fill things out, but this year there are actually more good rookies than roster spots. The sophomore team is solid as well. Could this game turn out to be *gasp* watchable?

Who says. Rudy Fernandez. Can't Jump? Please make this stop.

As you hopefully know, I am actively campaigning against the inclusion of Rudy Fernandez in the dunk contest. I understand that my effort is likely only a symbolic gesture, Rudy's international celebrity puts him in the driver's seat to win the vote over his more qualified competitors. This is All Star weekend after all, not a stupid meritocracy. Once he wins the vote his fans will be totally excited to watch him painfully outclassed in an event he clearly does not belong in, I guess. I hope you feel good about yourself.

But none of this is enough. The NBA just can't leave it alone, and now they are forcing this man into what they call "rapping." Dear God. Make it stop.

Man, all that publicity is really working

Remember way back when the first All Star ballot returns were released? Brandon Roy was 10th amongst Western Conference guards. Ha!

But that was before he dropped 52. Before a bus driver in Alabama kind of knew who he was. Clearly, it was before we entered the Age of Reason.

Which is why I was interested to see the latest ballot results:



Of course. But how long can he hold off Chauncey Billups?

First All-Star ballot returns: Playing for Portland really does cripple your popularity

Thanks to SLAM for posting the first All-Star ballot returns.

It really reinforces just how off-the radar Portland remains to the mainstream basketball mind. For all Portland's national media coverage, for Brandon Roy's Western Conference Player of the Week, for the great story of the second youngest team being among the best in the West so far, The Blazer's best player is.......tenth in voting amongst guards. Wow.

I know fan voting often has stupid results but again, wow. Tenth? Really? He truly must be only a thinking man's star. But whatever, the coaches will put him in. Right?

Greg Oden makes All-Star ballot

Three Blazers appear on the newly released All-Star Ballot. Of course Roy and Aldridge got on the list. And...Oden?!?!

Yep. Oden is on there in spite of only playing thirteen minutes so far this season. Once the NBA is determined to hype you up, they really dig their claws in deep. The prey may attempt to wiggle free with spastic body contortions or even a death roll, but there is no escape. They must submit to fame and glory. Works every time.

So how long before Blazer fans start a write-in campaign for Rudy?

All Star Quote of the Night

From my man Reggie Miller, in a discussion of the greatness of Chris Paul:

"He has great leadership for his size."

Awesome. By the way, good looking RoyBot.

You're Right, the Dunk Contest DOES SUCK

Just kidding. I won't get too into it again, but I think the evidence that the dunk contest is alive and thriving is pretty clear. I'd like to think this would quiet all the odd All Star Hate, but I'm not sure anything will. I wouldn't be surprised to hear them couch this as an anomaly. At least All Star Hating just got a little harder.

The All-Star Post With an Abraham Lincoln Reference

The cold being here and the NFL finale coming to pass is an exciting trigger for me. Now random sports fans (and people who write words about sports) begin to turn their fickle heads to give the NBA the much desired look-back. Whew, just in time for the upcoming All-Star Game Festivities (when in doubt, capitalize everything).

Unfortunately, if you’re like me and absolutely love the ASGF, this may not go well. Every year I forget that a healthy chunk of these people just want to give a reminder that the league is in a perennial state of decline. I once sat through a conversation with a dilettante who spoke with the confidence of a purist; he enlightened me that the dunk contest was boring and irrelevant. Almost makes me wish it was still football season.

Vince Carter proved that the death of the dunk contest had been greatly exaggerated about eight years ago. A logical person might think that would stop a hater or two, at least for a while. Nope.

You can try to debate the issue. You can try reason. How many classic dunks has this contest given us since Vince? Jason Richardson. Josh Smith. Iggy. JR Smith. Dwight. I’ll stop because I’m tired of putting in links. Still, in my personal history of defending this event, such logic has failed to convince.

NBA haters in general are an odd bunch. Like Lincoln’s obsession to march on Richmond (yes, I’m making this analogy), they launch failed attempt after failed attempt and disregard advice from those advocating another perspective. Of course, Lincoln eventually listened, and the war was over. That would be a key difference. No listening here, and no end in sight. Real haters rarely get out of siege mode.

Talk all you want about the NBA’s growing global profile, about huge stars and great talents that will ensure interest for years. About young teams on the rise, about a changing style, about beauty. It won’t matter.

I’m officially retired from this argument, and I would hope some of those on the other side will grow weary at some point. Perhaps hibernation between the end of the Super Bowl and the start of spring training would be a worthy avenue to pursue. That way you can have sufficient distraction from this loathsome league and spare us your crotchety venom.

We can get back to enjoying our All-Star Game Festivities in peace. The game itself, the dunk contest, 3-point shootout, skills competition, I’ll even watch whatever weird WNBA synergy thing they awkwardly throw on this year (but mostly out of spite).

And next season, Brandon Roy in the skills competition, please.

Roy All-Star

In case you haven't heard. Judging by the fact that it is plastered on the front page of the Oregonian this morning I'd say people are pretty pumped around these parts.

Past Blazer All-Stars.

Obligatory Roy for All-Star Post

Now that the starters have been announced, we can finally take a concrete measure Roy's competition for a reserve spot on the All-Star team. Let's start with the argument for his inclusion. Don't throw up his stats, because honestly there's guys with better stats that probably won't make it. To me, the strength in his case is how surprisingly well the Blazers have played and what he means to the team, which is Everything. The Blazers marketing did their part with the clever iRoy promotion, which got people talking. You can bet the league wants to promote this blossoming star over some veterans that they've already got the public dropping cash on. He's got The Man on his side.

It will still be tough. The voters all may be too old to know how to use their iRoy, and will probably end up getting frustrated trying to get that confounded machine to work. Plus they seem to give the edge to veterans more often, whether those players want it or not.

This NBA.com article does a good job outlining the competition, and the guy actually picks Roy (as does Charles Barkley, although he still thinks the team won't make the playoffs). The homer in me would do the same, and I hope it works out like that. But the boner the voters have for Ginobili and Parker is not to be underestimated. Additionally, with the Hornets shockingly having the best record in the West, I'd think they deserve two All-Stars. I like the chronically unrecognized David West. Baron Davis? Josh Howard? Shawn Marion? Deron Williams? Marcus Camby? This doesn't get easier.

Then again, Roy does the improbable pretty easily sometimes. For now, savor the debate. It's one more unlikely gift this season has provided us.