Sunday Six Pack

1) The NBA All-Star Game! Tonight the best players in the NBA (minus Kobe) do battle, East vs. West. The big thing about this one is the fact that it is in Dallas at Cowboys stadium, where nearly 100,000 people will be watching (with binoculars probably). So tonight we watch the big event!

2) Since Kobe is a injured scratch from todays game...two Dallas Mavericks benefit. The obvious pick to replace him in the starting lineup is Dirk Nowitzki. George Karl the coach of the Denver Nuggets, and today the coach of the Western Conference All-Stars. So it was Karl's decision to allow Dirk to enter the starting lineup. I am elated at this news because as I wrote about previously about Dirk not starting in the game, it was a travesty to have Duncan beat him out and start over him in Dirks (adopted) home town. Dirk has been dubbed an honorary Texan who's hometown is Dallas! Anyway so with Kobe out, Dirk starts...not too bad if you ask me. And on a side note...I must apologize to George Karl because when I heard Kobe was out, I immediately thought "here we go, Karl will start Chauncey Billups." And I was wrong. So Thank you Mr. Karl, I am sorry for doubting you!

3) The second Mav to benefit from Kobe's injury is Jason Kidd. Kidd was not elected to the All-Star game even though his numbers are just as good if not better than some of the players that were elected into the game. But never-the-less Kidd was recalled from his Phoenix golfing trip to play in his 10th All-Star game! And when I say "recalled from golfing" I literally mean he was on the golf course when he got the call, so he asked Cuban "can I come back tomorrow? I've got to get one more game in."

4) Nate Robinson became the first ever 3 time Slam Dunk winner last night. The contest this year, lacked the creativity and pizazz that typically give fans a reason to watch. But there were no big names this year, no Dwight Howard, and no LeBron James. Only Nate the Great and the nobodies. And they dunked like nobodies. Nate Robinson was the only dunker with experience (Gerald Wallace in '02 doesn't count) so naturally he played the crowd a bit and did his little man thing. But this was nothing compared to the last few years of great showmanship and spectacular dunks. If only Vinsanity would come back...or Dominique Wilkins.

5) Dirk Nowitzki needs to play well tonight. He needs to win the MVP. He already won the Shooting Stars competition with Becky Hammon and Kenny Smith on team Texas last night. Dirk shot well and hit the game winning half court shot to complete the circuit in 34 seconds! So what could make it sweeter than Dirk winning the All-Star MVP award? Maybe...the Mavs' going on a 10 game win streak after the break!

6) Danica Patrick. She's racing in her Nascar Debut today at Daytona...but she wrecked about halfway through. It was a 12 car wreck so at least she didn't plow into the wall all by herself. But hey, she's hot so hopefully she does well in the future!