The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT

After tuning in to watch the NBA All-Star Game festivities late Saturday, it made me wonder just what happened to the once-great event.

Whether it's the reserves winning the slam-dunk contest, or another of the competitions from All-Star weekend playing horse, it makes me wonder - is this the best they can do?

AS A kid, when I tuned into All-Star weekend, you'd see either Michael Jordan or Dominique Wilkins battling in the slam dunk contest. Jordan passed the torch to Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter before it seemed as though the contest lost all of its luster.

The event, which has since produced champions like Harold Miner and J.R. Rider, has seemed to drop off in recent years with Nate Robinson, a 5-9 guard, dominating the once-popular competition.

As a fan I'd rather watch somebody like LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony square off in the finals instead of a player that doesn't play much getting his 15 minutes of fame.

EVEN THE 3-point competition seems to have lost a little bit of interest with Boston's Paul Pierce winning this year's title.

But to me, it's not like watching the likes of Dale Ellis, Larry Bird and Mark Price - who'd put on a show each year.

Now, it seems like a revolving door of 3-point shooters instead of a consistent group participating each year.

AFTER THE teams had a lockout to begin the 1998-99 season, I stopped watching the NBA on television and since that point, haven't watched much professional basketball on TV - instead paying closer attention to the college game.

Gradually, I've started watching again, but not like I did 10 years ago.

Maybe it was the lack of big-name stars in the Saturday events, but both the 3-point and slam dunk competition are a far cry from what they were in the past.

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Watching Kevin Durant win another H-O-R-S-E title, that is an event anyone could win.

SOME OF the best high school students can pull off the same tricks, as well as shoot the ball just as well from beyond the 3-point line.

Next month, the best basketball athletes in the state will compete in the seventh annual Idaho All-Star Game at Christianson Gym, with many of the same competitions being held.

My guess is that more excitement will take place in those four hours in Coeur d'Alene than at any point during the events in Dallas.

It should be better than the real game.

Jason Elliott is a correspondent for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-0239 or via e-mail at [email protected].