LAST MONDAY morning (Philippine time), the NBA All-Star Game took center stage in Salt Lake City, and fans were primed for a showcase of the league's top players. What really happened, though, was a shameful game without any fierce rivalry, a far cry from the illustrious past of basketball greats like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. The competition resembled a friendly shootout more than a titanic struggle, with competitors disregarding the competitive character of the game and opting for individual glory and spectacle over substance.
