The NBA Dunk Contest: Umm, That's It?

One night every year, I make sure I'm somewhere with a TV to be in front of. It's not the Super Bowl, it's not even the NBA All-Star game. It's NBA All-Star Saturday. Since I can remember I've been like a little kid on Christmas on All-Star Saturday, especially with the culmination of everybody's favorite--the slam dunk contest.

Well, crap. I should have gone out last night.

JaVale McGee tweeted it the best:

"Wow... Alot of gimmicks...."

"Get creative pleez..... Jump over overly (sic) thing huh ?"

Last night we were subjected to absolutely nothing that was brand new to us.

Even as Wizards fans, was anyone really surprised to see John Wall miss an off the backboard dunk during the skills contest and miss jumpers? Unfortunately, Wall just added to the arsenal for commentators who hate on the Wizards.

The two highlights from the night in my opinion were Chase Budinger's true blindfold dunk, and...well I guess there was only one. See I thought there was another highlight, but I can't remember. The slam-dunk contest was about as big of a snooze-fest as possible.

The winner? Jeremy Evans. Whose dunking two balls in one hoop while jumping over Gordon Hayword was the crowd favorite.

Didn't JaVale dunk three balls in one hoop last year? And didn't he dunk two balls in two separate hoops?

Yeah? Ok. Just checking.

Last year's contest was definitely an apex for how they've been lately. Blake Griffin jumping over (hoods of) cars, JaVale displaying his wingspan, it just didn't get better.

This year, we had no-namers (kinda). Which posed a problem for the NBA. While watching with a couple of friends last night, they wanted to text in their vote, but then they couldn't remember what any of the people's names were at the end of the contest.

I get it. You want new, fresh faces. Well, save that for the All-Star game or one of the other contests. To cut it down to one round made it less competitive, as well, as the pressure wasn't really felt by anyone participating.

And, fan voting only? Don't get me started on this one.

So, Mr. Stern. I ask you. I beg you. I know the lockout was rough, I know there wasn't as much preparation time; but you've got to hear the cries on Twitter and in the press about the horrendous show that was All-Star Saturday last night, and make an attempt to return it back to one of the most exciting nights in sports.

If not, I'll be on vacation next year without my TV for the first time in my life.