You have H-O

All-Star games are usually boring, and the days leading up to it can be just as bad (except if you are going to the parties). The skills competitions, rookie challenges, even the dunk contest at the NBA all-star game has gotten stale.

For the past few years, media heavyweights Bill Simmons and Tony Kornheiser have been pushing the NBA to add the school yard game HORSE to the fan night festivities. Well, they have finally stepped-up and done it. With the help of TNT and GEICO, players will compete in a game of HORSE, but instead of spelling out horse, they will spell out GEICO. The rules will be simple, 24 seconds to make a shot, no dunking and a ref is on hand to verify and authenticate the shot. I don't think I am going out on a limb here saying it will be the most watched part of the NBA all-star weekend in Phoenix.

The players who will participate in GEICO haven't been named yet, but if the Sandwich Shoppe could hand pick the contestants I would go with the following three, in no particular order;

1. Kevin Love - Minnesota Timberwolves
Love is known for hitting full court shots during warm-up and I don't think there is any other NBA player that could keep up with his consistency. He is also a good shooter and is athletic enough to keep up with the smaller players acrobatic routines.
Kevin Love Full Court Shot


2. Morris Peterson - New Orleans Hornets
MoPete gets in the competition simply because of this shot during a game a couple of years ago;
Peterson Trick Shot

He is also a good shooter and after playing with Vince Carter and now Chris Paul he will have a good background of trick shots piled up.

3. Chris Anderson - Denver Nuggets
"The Birdman" is a wild card entry. He is a former dunk competition participant, plays with alot of flair and even if he doesn't make the shot he will look goofy trying it and I think that is a big part of the competition.

Honourable Mention: Gilbert Arenas. If Arenas was healthy he would have definitely been part of this competition.

Could other sports incorporate a game of horse into all-star weekend? Football could have the kickers go at it from different distances, angles, kicking backwards. Hockey could do trick shots without goalies. Baseball could do a throwing/hitting competition of some sort, but I don't think any of them work as well as basketball. Enjoy the show!