Byline: GARY WASHBURN P-I reporter
LAS VEGAS -- In this town known for its stars, or at least stars past their primes, Dwyane Wade, all of 24 years old, is king here at All-Star Weekend.
A large caricature of the Miami Heat All-Star covered the Mandalay Bay Hotel as tourists arrived in Las Vegas for the league's 56th and perhaps most spectacular All-Star Game.
There are varying opinions on how this All-Star Game will fare in Sin City, which is using this weekend to audition for more sporting event spectacles and perhaps a professional sports franchise.
'You definitely want to take your time and enjoy the atmosphere,' Sonics guard Ray Allen said. 'There will be a lot going on. But you never want to say you didn't go. I will bring a couple of friends and have a good time.'
And the other perspective:
'Man, you know how I am, do you think I need to be in Las Vegas this weekend?' Sonics forward Danny Fortson said.
It will certainly be an All-Star Weekend to remember and one that may emerge as either another ingenious accomplishment for commissioner David Stern or a regrettable idea from a league trying too hard to keep up with the National Football League.
There are several events this weekend, and some even have something to do with basketball. And there are also several Seattle natives in attendance.
It should be an intriguing few days for the league and its fans.
Today
The opening day of the weekend begins with the NBA All-Star Celebrity game, which is difficult to watch unless you really like seeing your favorite stars display their lack of athleticism. The game includes celebrities such as Jamie Foxx, Nelly, David Arquette, James Pickens Jr., Reggie Bush, Bow Wow, Jamie Kennedy, Carrot Top and Taye Diggs.
The NBA really gets down to business with the Rookie Challenge at the Thomas & Mack Center. Former University of Washington standout Brandon Roy and ex-Gonzaga sharpshooter Adam Morrison will be teammates on the Rookie Team. Both players are vying for the rookie of the year award.
Neither Sonics rookie Mickael Gelabale nor second-year center Johan Petro were selected for the game, which pits the league's best rookies against their second-year counterparts.
New Orleans/Oklahoma City's Chris Paul, who was passed up for the All-Star Game after missing a month with an ankle injury, highlights the sophomore team along with Utah's Deron Williams and most improved player candidate Monte Ellis of the Golden State Warriors.
Saturday
The NBA has long prided itself on All-Star Saturday Night, which features the Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Shootout, the Skills Challenge and the Shooting Stars competition.
In recent years, the Slam Dunk Contest has been criticized for having barely drinking age players trying to make a name for themselves instead of established stars. But former UW sparkplug Nate Robinson brought allure and drama back to the contest with his stunning dunk over 1986 contest winner Spud Webb to take the title last year in Houston.
The Knicks' Robinson, hoping to improve his image after being involved in a Dec. 13 brawl against Denver, will return to defend his title against Boston's Gerald Green, Chicago's Tyrus Thomas and Orlando big man Dwight Howard.
The Three-Point Shootout will feature former Franklin High standout Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks, who will try to best teammate Dirk Nowitzki, Cleveland trash talker Damon Jones, Gilbert 'Agent Zero' Arenas and Miami's Jason Kapono.
The Skills Challenge lost some of its luster when Phoenix's Steve Nash pulled out because of a shoulder injury. Paul will replace him.
The Shooting Stars competition gives fans a chance to see legendary players in a H-O-R-S-E type setting; George 'Iceman' Gervin along with Scottie Pippen, Michael Cooper and Bill Laimbeer will participate.
Earlier in the day at Mandalay Bay, former UW guard Will Conroy, fresh off a stint with the Memphis Grizzlies, will play in the D-League All-Star Game. Conroy is averaging 15.8 points and 10 assists for Tulsa.
Oh yeah, for those of you looking for a reality-show atmosphere, we have the much-anticipated race between portly Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, 43, and NBA official Dick Bavetta, 67. Yes, it's really going to happen.
The duo will race 235 feet, running baseline-to-baseline and then to the half-court line of the court at the Thomas & Mack Center.
'I give the edge to Dick,' Allen said. 'Charles has been doing a lot of sitting around the past few years.'
Sunday
Finally, there is the game, the Sunday night spectacle that will probably be known more for who is not playing because of injuries than who is playing. Several elite players - Nash, Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson and Yao Ming - will be on the sideline.
Allen replaced Nash and will play in his fourth consecutive All-Star Game with Seattle and seventh overall. And then the weekend will conclude. But the question is whether anyone will reveal juicy details or will those tales stay in Vegas?
P-I reporter Gary Washburn can be reached at 206-448-8006 or garywashburn@seattlepi.com.
ALL-STAR WEEKEND
TODAY: Celebrity Game, Rookie Challenge
SATURDAY: Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Shootout,
Skills Challenge
SUNDAY: All-Star Game,
5 p.m., Las Vegas
TV/RADIO: TNT; KJR-AM/950
SEATTLEPI.COM
Check Gary Washburn's blog for highlights and stories from All-Star Weekend in Vegas.
blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/sonics/
