Ah, the All-Star Game; is an event that has lost its popularity and glimmer over the last 10 years. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I remember as a child that All-Star games were just a tad bit more exciting than they are nowadays. Sure, the NBA’s All-Star Weekend is still must-watch TV, but aside from the NBA, the other North American professional sports leagues lack variety and entertainment in their all-star games.
The NHL did its best in trying to make their game more exciting by implementing 3-on-3 play, but I could tell you as an NHL fan that nobody really cares about NHL all-star weekend. The MLB All-Star game is just…ya, I don’t even have words for it. And do people still watch the pro bowl? The point here is that these games are roughly 2 hours long, and they don’t convince us to sit and watch them for those 2 hours. They’re boring!
So, what can these leagues do to spice up their all-star games? Well, that is what I’ll be looking at in this article. We’ll cover ideas from playing for 1st overall picks, for home-field advantage, and even a wild card idea I might feel like sharing with you all. So strap in, buckle up, and let’s see how these leagues can save their all-star games.
NHL
I remember watching the NHL All-Star game as a child and being entranced; I think it’s because I was a kid and all my favorite players were in-game at the same time. Now, the NHL All-Star game has lost its excitement, its pizzazz. They did their best trying to make a 3-on-3 tournament style of play to grab our attention, but let’s be honest, the players aren’t into it and neither are we.
So, what could we do to the format to make it more exciting? Well, I would definitely love to see a series of 3 against a team comprised of the best international players; those playing in all the leagues overseas (DEL, Liiga, SHL, Czech Extraliga, British League). Who says no?
The NHL players would get a chance to play against some overseas competition; guys who actually want to prove that they have what it takes to come to North America and play in the NHL. NHL teams also get a look at players they might want to sign in the off-season, finding overseas talent in the process. It’s a win-win.
NFL
The NFL’s pro-bowl is absolutely atrocious with all due respect. I’ve never watched a full one, but from the highlights I’ve seen, the play is sub-par at best, and why wouldn’t it be? These guys just put their bodies through hell for an entire NFL season, and now we expect them to put on a “show” for the fans, in a game that doesn’t count towards anything? No wonder all we get is mediocre (at best) football in these games. Where’s the incentive?
So, the only way possible to fix this game is to host at the same time of the year they do now ( a week before the Super Bowl) but have it pit the last two teams in the NFL against each other, and have them play for the #1 overall pick. Wouldn’t you want to see that? I sure would. Imagine two teams playing for a franchise player that could turn their franchise around. The ratings for this game would be through the roof!
MLB
The MLB all-star game has a simple fix, making the game a heck of a lot more exciting. The MLB all-star game should be played for home-field advantage come playoff time. I believe they used to do it at one point, and they should do it still to this day. Also, they should give a huge cash prize of a million dollars to the winning team. I don’t about you, but one of the biggest motivators in the world is money, and hopefully, it could motivate the players to put on an exciting show.