The gods of the sports world have really blessed us fans recently. They have worked it out so that in eight days we, the ever so grateful sports fans, will be treated to, not one, not two but three professional All-Star games.

I don’t know about you, but when I look at All Star games one question comes to mind, “Who the hell cares?” Sunday, the National Hockey League and the National Football League each held their respective games and looking back on them, it makes one wonder why the events even take place.

Of course the leagues say that the game is for the fans, but is a 14-12 hockey game, which by the way had only one recorded check, really what true hockey fans are looking for? Hockey fans go to the games to see the physical contact and the toughness of the players If they wanted to see a sport on ice with no contact they would watch figure skating.

The NFL didn’t do much better. They provided their fans with a 38-17 AFC victory over the NFC team in a game that was almost as exciting as jock itch.

As a sports fan, I don’t get excited over watching players go through the motions (I get enough of that every Sunday watching the Bears). And in essence that’s all that these All-Star games are, players giving a half-assed effort for us fans. Thank you sports gods.

This weekend is really the culmination of what All-Star weekends are all about, as the NBA puts forth their best thank you to the fans, starting with “All-Star Saturday.”

The festivities begin with the much anticipated 2-ball competition. For those of you that don’t know, the 2-Ball competition is where a player from the NBA and a player from the same cities WNBA team pair up in a shooting contest against other pairs.

So let me get this straight, I am supposed to be excited to see David Wesley (Charlotte Hornets) and Dawn Staley (Charlotte Sting) shoot against Trajan Langdon (Cleveland Cavilers) and Eva Nemcova (Cleveland Rockers)? Are you serious?

The fans will also be treated to the much over-hyped Slam Dunk Contest. Now I have to admit, last years contest was amazing. Vince Carter wowed everybody all with a wide array of nasty dunks and he had some stiff competition in Steve Francis and Kobe Bryant.

But what a difference a year makes, now, Vince, Stevie Franchise and Kobe all have taken a pass on the event leaving the likes of Jonathan Bender, Deshaw Stevenson and Stromile Swift to become this years Kenny “Sky” Walker.

Between the Bender, Stevenson and Swift there is a whopping 3.1 points per game average and a stellar 9.9 minutes per game average. Maybe these three should try to actually get on the floor during a regular season game instead of coming up with new dunks.

Finally, on Sunday, we will be treated to the actual game. It will be the Western Conference squad, led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant against the Eastern Conference led by “Air Canada” Vince Carter, Alonzo Mourning and Grant Hill.

Oh wait, Mourning and Hill are out for the season while Carter and O’Neal are talking about sitting out of the game because of injuries. Bryant has said he would rather sit out and rest up for the second half of the season.

There still are a lot of talented players who will show up to Sunday’s game in Washington. The problem is they’re all on the Western conference team. Minus Allen Iverson, the East is a collection of better-than-average players in a water-downed league. Among these “All-Stars” is Allan Houston, Anthony Mason, Theo Ratliff……Theo Ratliff? What is going on here?

Ratliff is Iverson’s personal rebounder and strictly a role player in Philly and he’s an all-star? It’s no wonder why the fans voted in Grant Hill and Alonzo Morning. Those two guys with the bum ankle and kidney infection could still out play anyone on the East.

The only semi-interesting things that could happen this weekend are the 3-point shootout; featuring Steve Nash, Ray Allen, Dirk Nowinski, and Peja Stojakovic, and the Rookie versus Sophomore game; featuring rookie Darius Miles vs. second year pros Elton Brand and Steve Francis.

This parade of lackadaisical exhibitions is really a great way to thank the fans. But if the players don’t care and the fans don’t care then why even bother? I think that the NBA has thanked fans enough by not putting the Chicago Bulls on national television anymore.