Viewpoint by David Jackson/reporter
All-Star voting in professional sports should be in the hands of players and coaches rather than the fans.
As was apparent in the recent NBA All-Star Game, the fans who did vote did not get it right; many worthy stars were slighted. Granted, the fans select only the starting five while the coaches choose the rest. That still makes it tough when some players are starting who shouldn’t be.
Fan voting seems good until someone’s favorite player doesn’t make the team. The All-Star Game is a popularity contest, which is proved every year when Yao Ming is the leading vote-getter and he’s out of action four-to-six weeks because of injuries. Shaquille O’Neal is a leading vote-getter in the Eastern Conference, and he has barely played this season.
In many years fans have voted unfairly. When Magic Johnson admitted he had HIV, he was selected. This robbed another player of that honor.
If the NBA and Major League Baseball were more like the NFL, we wouldn’t have as many problems with the All-Star games because the players and coaches have a better idea of who should play than fans.
Players and coaches know what other players are capable of.
Fans base votes on the glamour and glitz that players provide.
Vince Carter is on the All-Star team every year because of his dunking capabilities, which was also true of Dominique Wilkins during his playing days.
If fans want to see dunks, they should watch the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
As a fan of the NBA, I admit that I vote for my favorites rather than well-deserving players. I voted for Allen Iverson a few times when I should have voted for Gilbert Arenas.
I understand how fans vote, and I partially blame endorsement companies like Nike that promote athletes with tons of commercials. Fans want to vote for these guys because their shoes are cool.
Elton Brand with the L.A. Clippers has made the All-Star team only once because he doesn’t have a major shoe endorsement. Despite his outstanding talent, he can’t be an All-Star.
Fan voting is a bad idea, and I wish the NBA and Major League Baseball would get rid of it. I still love the two sports; I just don’t care for fans having too much power.
