1988 All-Star Sunday - A Game For the Ages

This morning I woke up at 7 am and, in my normal routine, I switched on NBA TV. The 1988 All-Star game was playing. While composing my "Tendon-Gate" article, and hearing Dick Stockton doing the play by play in the background, I had to stop and watch.

"Tendon-Gate" was on hold for now...

As I watched, I realized this may have been the game that encompassed everything the 1980's were. As the decade was winding down and the NBA greats of that era were moving passed their prime, this exhibition was extremely hard fought with a blend of fundamentals and gritty determination - qualities that are far lacking in today's All-Star games.

These guys wanted to defeat their peers, they saw this game as less of an exhibition for fun and more of an artistic exhibit of talent in a 5 on 5 competition of who is the best conference - not player.

Until today, I never realized what a bridge year 1988 was. The natural evolution of the game was perfectly displayed in Chicago Stadium on that Sunday afternoon.

As some of you know, I collect NBA basketball 릴게임다이소 . I enjoy watching old footage of 1970's and 1980's basketball. Though I always marvel at the fundamentals displayed in those vintage contests, I can't help but notice how, compared to today's game, the players seem to be moving in slow motion. The harmonious blend of great play-making never lacked in those old games, but the athleticism displayed in today's league was certainly only still a trailor for what the league would grow into.

One aspect that shot out at me during the footage of this game was that the athleticism of the players started to emerge. Early in the second quarter, I was intently typing away at my lap top when I heard Stockton bellow out "Michael Jordan breaks free", I looked up at my plasma and saw Jordan's full sprint down the court on a fast break for another tongue wagging dunk.

The combination of the Chicago Stadium crowd, Dick Stockton's voice and the sight of Jordan's highlight reel dunk, brought back memories of watching games such as these in my grandmother's living room, on her old TV that resembled more of a piece of furniture then it did a piece of technology. I can still smell the sauce cooking in the kitchen and I can remember thinking "please let the sauce not be finished until half time". I didn't want to miss a second of the contest, as every play was a highlight reel of offensive greatness and defensive grit.