Here Comes All-Star Weekend

     The annual all-star weekend is here! It is sure to be a night filled with fun, laughter, and suspense.

     The weekend kicked off with the "Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game." Usually these games are very sloppy, but this event proved the previous statement to be false. While there was some general sloppiness, the game was very close until the final minutes, and proved to be extremely entertaining. The game was highlighted by the performance of Arne Duncan, our current Secretary of Education. He scored the most points in celebrity game history with 20, and added 11 points and 6 assists to go with his performance. The fans voted previous two-time MVP winner Kevin Hart as this years MVP, but he chose to defer his award to the much deserving Arne Duncan. Next up on Friday was the "BBVA Rising Stars Challenge." Grant Hill and Chris Webber squared off the teams they had drafted previously. Hill's team beat Webber's, but the most interesting part of the game was when Tim Hardaway Jr. (36 points) and Dion Waiters (31 points) went head-to-head during a certain stretch of the game. The two exchanged buckets while receiving "oohs and aahs" from the crowd. However, the MVP of the game went to Andrew Drummond who had a masterful performance with 30 points and 25 rebounds (new record).

     This night, the all-star weekend will cater to multiple events. The first of which will be the "Sears Shooting Stars Challenge," where a team consists of a current NBA player, and ex-NBA player, and WNBA player. These teams will go against each other in an shooting-based event. Many interesting teams have been formed this year including players such as Tim Hardaway Jr., Tim Hardaway Sr., Chris Bosh, Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Durant, Karl Malone, Ella Della Donne, Stephen Curry, Dell Curry, etc. The Next event is the "Taco Bell Skills Challenge," where a guard has to go through an obstacle course in the shortest amount of time. Individuals such as Goran Dragic will look to dethrone last years winner, Damian Lillard. Then comes the "Footlocker 3-Point Shootout," individuals such as Stephen Curry, Aaron Afflalo, etc. will look to dethrone last years winner, Kyrie Irving. The final event today is the "Sprite Slam Dunk Competition." This will probably be the most watched as everyone will have their eyes toward all the contestants as they will look to dethrone Terrance Ross.

     Finally, on Sunday, is the main attraction, the All-Star game. The East will look to defeat the reining champion West. Many individuals will also be gunning for the all-star game MVP which was won by Chris Paul last year with his 20 points and 15 assists.

     So far, the all-star weekend has been very entertaining. Let's hope the rest of the events will prove to be as entertaining, as well.

By Sreevatsa Gottada
Entertainment Editor