The All-Star Game Could Help Other Cities in Need

By Bethlehem Shoals
Over the weekend, Brooks suggested that the All-Star Game be held in New Orleans every year. After I got over my shock -- it wasn’t exactly Brooks’ usual fare -- I saw the brilliance behind it. All-Star Weekend’s not much to a city with a real economy, but for NOLA, it’s a major boom. Stuff is relative like that. Plus, keeping the event there would strengthen the league’s commitment to race-tinged issues like fixing New Orleans.
[img=http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1576/lebroncaresfr0.jpg]
See, LeBron cares. His glove says so.
Then I thought about it some more, and realized: New Orleans isn’t the only American city that’s a total mess. Katrina was an unthinkable disaster, but it’s not like the place was doing great before then. I hereby offer a slight variation on Brooks’ idea: Why not make a point of putting the game in places that, like New Orleans, have tons of issues with crime, poverty, unemployment, and urban decay?
There are plenty of houses to fix in Detroit, or Baltimore, or Philadelphia. And while bringing the Super Bowl to town necessitates demolishing parts of a city’s soul, All-Star Weekend just requires a few clubs and a decent arena. A redone downtown to go with all the neighborhoods that need help.
Now, I know that ASW isn’t supposed to be about charity, and that the glitz and glamor are half the appeal. But if this weekend taught us anything, it’s that social consciousness need not stand in the way of ASW business as usual.
Remember, it was Vegas -- America’s playground, the destination for every amped-up dude looking to blow off steam -- that turned into a nightmare. Keep it in cities with problems; it’s good for those places, keeps things in perspective, and gives the NBA instant PR points.↵