Pro Bowl

[dew1679666265]

And yet, we still don't see that many great plays in the ASG. To me, it's not about seeing the occasional great play. It's about overall game quality, and neither game is all that good at that. The ASG is probably better, but not by that much. They're all exhibition games that don't (or shouldn't) be anything more than a time filler.

 

it's not even close. in baseball, the odds of getting hurt while playing at full speed are relatively small - most pitchers just get hurt in long-term stuff and a lot of position players get hurt in random hamstring pulls or getting hit by a pitch. there's no contact so basically pitchers throw the same pitches at the same speeds that they do in "regular" games and hitters try to do the same things that they do in "regular" games. the scores of mlb all-star games are very similar to scores of other baseball games - some are high-scoring, some are low-scoring, but if you take the long-term average, it's very close to the average scoring in games. nfl, nba and nhl all star games are have very little of the contact and defensive commitment that characterize "normal" games in those sports, and scoring is far higher than in regular season games.

 

I'll agree the ASG is better, but not to the extent that it's significantly better than the Pro Bowl. My point isn't so much to bash the ASG - because I watch and enjoy the ASG. Maybe it's just personal preference, but I don't see the huge difference in the quality of the games.

[bukie]

I think the biggest difference between the all star games in the sports is that they all inevitably break down into one-on-one matchups. Fortunately for baseball, the normal sport is like that. For NBA, NHL and NFL, the game is more team oriented (well, should be), and the difference is most pronounced in the NFL game.

[SpongeWorthy]

I think the NBA ASG and the weekend in general is the best. Pro bowl is by far the worst. The most fun I've had watching something related to the Pro Bowl was when Vinateri and I think Rackers played HORSE through field goals.

[Sammy Sofa]

I agree and I already pointed out that the ASG actually has a point now since it means something. However, that has been forced onto it and the inherent nature of the game is a pointless exhibition - just like the Pro Bowl.

 

Yes, but the critical difference is that you have far more of the "best" players opting out with the Pro Bowl than with the ASG. It's simply not the same thing. There's basically no point to the Pro Bowl because more often than not most of the truly best players in the NFL have nothing to do with it.

 

That's where, I think, having the game before the Super Bowl is even worse. With the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl, guys like Brees, Peyton, Clark, etc. who would play can't because they are in the Super Bowl.

 

It's not like it was significantly different when played afterwards.

 

Plus with basketball and baseball you at least have things like the home run derby or the slam dunk contest if the games aren't good. Football has nothing of the sort.

[dew1679666265]

I agree and I already pointed out that the ASG actually has a point now since it means something. However, that has been forced onto it and the inherent nature of the game is a pointless exhibition - just like the Pro Bowl.

 

Yes, but the critical difference is that you have far more of the "best" players opting out with the Pro Bowl than with the ASG. It's simply not the same thing. There's basically no point to the Pro Bowl because more often than not most of the truly best players in the NFL have nothing to do with it.

 

That's where, I think, having the game before the Super Bowl is even worse. With the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl, guys like Brees, Peyton, Clark, etc. who would play can't because they are in the Super Bowl.

 

It's not like it was significantly different when played afterwards.

 

Plus with basketball and baseball you at least have things like the home run derby or the slam dunk contest if the games aren't good. Football has nothing of the sort.

 

Skills competitions would definitely help the Pro Bowl out. Like Spongeworthy said, have the kickers play HORSE or a fastest man competition and stuff like that and it would become more than just a lackluster game.

 

And having Pro Bowlers from the Super Bowl teams would help the star power immensely most of the time, but you are correct that it would still be an exhibition game (like they all are).

[Roast]

Haha, I like little air guitar/piano that samuel did after the INT.

[Sammy Sofa]

Skills competitions would definitely help the Pro Bowl out. Like Spongeworthy said, have the kickers play HORSE or a fastest man competition and stuff like that and it would become more than just a lackluster game.

 

Skills competitions would never work with football because it's a game were injury slurking around every corner moreso than the other points. Nobody is going to risk a player hurting something through a meaningless display. Look how little they try for the Pro Bowl itself; you really think they'd get anyone trying to push things to the limit in a skills competition? Besides, look at what you're reduced to suggesting. Baskteball has the dunk and baseball has the home run as their sideshow. Football gets kickers doing ANYTHING? Fastest man? Please. Everyone's barely jogging in the Pro Bowl itself. No chance this ever happens.

 

And having Pro Bowlers from the Super Bowl teams would help the star power immensely most of the time, but you are correct that it would still be an exhibition game (like they all are).

 

Of course they're all exhibition games. The difference is that football has to basically play a lazy version in regards to all the critical parts that make the game popular. Crappy tackles, crappy blocking, crappy running, crappy kicking, mundane passes, etc., etc.. I can't think of one thing that these players do during the Pro Bowl that's up to snuff. At least with basketball you still get guys trying to outdo each other will ridiculous shots and moves in the lane and dunks during the ASG and that requires some skill. Baseball you still have guys having to make the pitchers and defensive plays because they can't just roll over without it being glaringly obvious. You still have guys who have to hit off of the best pitchers in the game actually trying to get them out. With the Pro Bowl the most excitement you get are from pumped up scores due to guys trotting across a wide open goal line because nobody is trying. At all.

[UMFan83]

I think the NBA ASG and the weekend in general is the best. Pro bowl is by far the worst. The most fun I've had watching something related to the Pro Bowl was when Vinateri and I think Rackers played HORSE through field goals.

 

NBA All Star weekend is their signature event and it is well done. It is the NBA's Super Bowl/Winter Classic.

[17 Seconds]

i turned on the pro bowl and saw that david garrard was playing. then i turned it off.

[Tracer Bullet]

And yet, we still don't see that many great plays in the ASG. To me, it's not about seeing the occasional great play. It's about overall game quality, and neither game is all that good at that. The ASG is probably better, but not by that much. They're all exhibition games that don't (or shouldn't) be anything more than a time filler.

 

it's not even close. in baseball, the odds of getting hurt while playing at full speed are relatively small - most pitchers just get hurt in long-term stuff and a lot of position players get hurt in random hamstring pulls or getting hit by a pitch. there's no contact so basically pitchers throw the same pitches at the same speeds that they do in "regular" games and hitters try to do the same things that they do in "regular" games. the scores of mlb all-star games are very similar to scores of other baseball games - some are high-scoring, some are low-scoring, but if you take the long-term average, it's very close to the average scoring in games. nfl, nba and nhl all star games are have very little of the contact and defensive commitment that characterize "normal" games in those sports, and scoring is far higher than in regular season games.

 

I'll agree the ASG is better, but not to the extent that it's significantly better than the Pro Bowl. My point isn't so much to bash the ASG - because I watch and enjoy the ASG. Maybe it's just personal preference, but I don't see the huge difference in the quality of the games.

 

You clearly really love NFL football, but I can't believe you're really making these arguments.

[dew1679666265]

And yet, we still don't see that many great plays in the ASG. To me, it's not about seeing the occasional great play. It's about overall game quality, and neither game is all that good at that. The ASG is probably better, but not by that much. They're all exhibition games that don't (or shouldn't) be anything more than a time filler.

 

it's not even close. in baseball, the odds of getting hurt while playing at full speed are relatively small - most pitchers just get hurt in long-term stuff and a lot of position players get hurt in random hamstring pulls or getting hit by a pitch. there's no contact so basically pitchers throw the same pitches at the same speeds that they do in "regular" games and hitters try to do the same things that they do in "regular" games. the scores of mlb all-star games are very similar to scores of other baseball games - some are high-scoring, some are low-scoring, but if you take the long-term average, it's very close to the average scoring in games. nfl, nba and nhl all star games are have very little of the contact and defensive commitment that characterize "normal" games in those sports, and scoring is far higher than in regular season games.

 

I'll agree the ASG is better, but not to the extent that it's significantly better than the Pro Bowl. My point isn't so much to bash the ASG - because I watch and enjoy the ASG. Maybe it's just personal preference, but I don't see the huge difference in the quality of the games.

 

You clearly really love NFL football, but I can't believe you're really making these arguments.

 

I guess it's just personal preference. I don't really get that excited for any of the all-star games, so maybe that's clouding my judgement.

[Cubswin11]

I think the NBA ASG and the weekend in general is the best. Pro bowl is by far the worst. The most fun I've had watching something related to the Pro Bowl was when Vinateri and I think Rackers played HORSE through field goals.

 

NBA All Star weekend is their signature event and it is well done. It is the NBA's Super Bowl/Winter Classic.

The NBA All Star weekend is a lot of fun to watch and entertaining, until the actual ASG which sucks. If I want to watch an organized open gym I will go down to my local YMCA.

[OleMissCub]

I think the biggest difference between the all star games in the sports is that they all inevitably break down into one-on-one matchups. Fortunately for baseball, the normal sport is like that.

 

+1

 

definitely an important distinction which makes baseball's ASG the best.

[Tracer Bullet]

And yet, we still don't see that many great plays in the ASG. To me, it's not about seeing the occasional great play. It's about overall game quality, and neither game is all that good at that. The ASG is probably better, but not by that much. They're all exhibition games that don't (or shouldn't) be anything more than a time filler.

 

it's not even close. in baseball, the odds of getting hurt while playing at full speed are relatively small - most pitchers just get hurt in long-term stuff and a lot of position players get hurt in random hamstring pulls or getting hit by a pitch. there's no contact so basically pitchers throw the same pitches at the same speeds that they do in "regular" games and hitters try to do the same things that they do in "regular" games. the scores of mlb all-star games are very similar to scores of other baseball games - some are high-scoring, some are low-scoring, but if you take the long-term average, it's very close to the average scoring in games. nfl, nba and nhl all star games are have very little of the contact and defensive commitment that characterize "normal" games in those sports, and scoring is far higher than in regular season games.

 

I'll agree the ASG is better, but not to the extent that it's significantly better than the Pro Bowl. My point isn't so much to bash the ASG - because I watch and enjoy the ASG. Maybe it's just personal preference, but I don't see the huge difference in the quality of the games.

 

You clearly really love NFL football, but I can't believe you're really making these arguments.

 

I guess it's just personal preference. I don't really get that excited for any of the all-star games, so maybe that's clouding my judgement.

 

Sure, everyone likely has a preference. But I'm just surprised that someone watching last night's pro bowl would argue that it's comparable to the MLB ASG. I wouldn't say either is "exciting," but the ASG more accurately reflects an actual MLB game. Pedro striking out McGwire, Sosa, and whomever with nasty stuff 10 years ago. Bonds being robbed of a HR (and then picking Hunter up in jest afterwards). There are all-out efforts in almost every MLB ASG. In the Pro Bowl players just can't do that.

[illiniguy]

I think the NBA ASG and the weekend in general is the best. Pro bowl is by far the worst. The most fun I've had watching something related to the Pro Bowl was when Vinateri and I think Rackers played HORSE through field goals.

 

NBA All Star weekend is their signature event and it is well done. It is the NBA's Super Bowl/Winter Classic.

The NBA All Star weekend is a lot of fun to watch and entertaining, until the actual ASG which sucks. If I want to watch an organized open gym I will go down to my local YMCA.

Where the hell do you live?

[jersey cubs fan]

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

How many all-star games have been on cable?

[Sammys Boombox]

I think the main thing that makes the Pro Bowl lag behind all the other All Star games is that the best players actually want to be in the other All Star games. Even when it's in Hawaii a lot of the players bow out and now that it wasn't in Hawaii even more players didn't play. I haven't watched a lot of NHL and NBA ASGs, but at every MLB ASG there are many players that are very excited to be there and for some of them it is a dream come true. I don't get that vibe from the NFL at all. Also, I think the MLB ASG is very similar to a regular MLB game other than the mass number of substitutions.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think the main thing that makes the Pro Bowl lag behind all the other All Star games is that the best players actually want to be in the other All Star games. Even when it's in Hawaii a lot of the players bow out and now that it wasn't in Hawaii even more players didn't play. I haven't watched a lot of NHL and NBA ASGs, but at every MLB ASG there are many players that are very excited to be there and for some of them it is a dream come true. I don't get that vibe from the NFL at all. Also, I think the MLB ASG is very similar to a regular MLB game other than the mass number of substitutions.

 

It's not to the same extent, but guys complain about the MLB ASG all the time.

[Cubswin11]

 

How many all-star games have been on cable?

Is the NBA ASG on TNT? Or do they just have the rookie challenge/dunk contest/skills challenge/etc.?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

How many all-star games have been on cable?

Is the NBA ASG on TNT? Or do they just have the rookie challenge/dunk contest/skills challenge/etc.?

 

I think you're right, it is on TNT. It was on NBC for years though, much like the Pro Bowl and ABC I believe.

[Derwood]

every other ASG is mid-season, while the NFL's is after anyone cares about football anymore

[Tracer Bullet]

every other ASG is mid-season, while the NFL's is after anyone cares about football anymore

 

good point. no one's been talking about football these last two weeks.

[Derwood]

every other ASG is mid-season, while the NFL's is after anyone cares about football anymore

 

good point. no one's been talking about football these last two weeks.

 

they've been talking about the championship game, which is the most important game of the season. Trying to make people excited about the LEAST important game of the season at the same time is a losing strategy. What would happen if you put the MLB all star game between the LCS and WS?

[Tracer Bullet]

every other ASG is mid-season, while the NFL's is after anyone cares about football anymore

 

good point. no one's been talking about football these last two weeks.

 

they've been talking about the championship game, which is the most important game of the season. Trying to make people excited about the LEAST important game of the season at the same time is a losing strategy. What would happen if you put the MLB all star game between the LCS and WS?

 

right, but that's not the same as "after anyone cares about football." it used to be after the SB, when your statement would have been true. So they moved it up to right before when NFL popularity is at it's peak. If you want to drum up interest and having it in the middle of the year isn't an option, this week is as good as it gets.