Abolish The All-Star Games?

All sports are different. They are so different, that an athlete succeeding in more than one over a long period of time is one of the rarest things you can find. These differences make these sports great, and the professional leagues here in America reap the benefits. The NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL are some of the most successful businesses in the country. These professional leagues draw fans from around the world to the television and the venue in which they play. But what's one factor all four of these leagues have in common (aside from the fact they're all sports)? Everyone hates the All-Star Game!

Baseball, football, basketball and hockey fans alike all share in the common disapproval of their league's All-Star Game. The lack of effort by the selected athletes during the game seems to be the biggest issue that comes up. Way back when, when sports agents played a smaller role and athletes made much less money, these exhibition games would be full of intensity. Aside from winning a Championship, being selected to represent your team and city in the All-Star Game was another goal, an honor that was highly sought after.

Fast-forward to today. Alex Rodriguez makes more money in a single baseball season than I'll probably see in my entire life. LeBron James is such a captivating athlete whether you love him or hate him, his agent wouldn't dare let him compete in the NBA Slam-Dunk contest. Imagine the PR disaster if he somehow got hurt doing that?

The era of athletes working side jobs in the offseason is long gone. Salaries are only going to go up from here and the contract restrictions are only going to get stricter. So I ask this question: If this is going to be the trend, why not get rid of the All-Star game altogether? Fans are bored by it, athletes don't care about it, coaches try their hardest to make sure their star player isn't utilized.

I'm all for giving certain players "All-Star" status. It's just another notch on the belt, another stat to put on the back of a sports card, another tool for an agent to use during contract negotiations. But leave it at that. If no one cares, there's no use.