By Answer Man

We give way too much power to the coaches in selecting our NBA All-Star teams.

The fans are going to vote on exciting players like Kobe, McGrady, and Kidd. Even without our votes, the coaches will make sure they get on anyway. By voting them on, fans are wasting votes and allowing coaches to select such milqutoast players as Glen Robinson, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Antoine Walker, Ray Allen, Jalen Rose and Jermaine O'Neal.

Therein lies the problem. The All-Star game is an EXHIBITION and not a competition.

Instead of Phi Slamma Jamma, we are stuck watching - Phi Mid-Range Jumpa.

As an illustration, last year we had 2 exciting dunks - one from Kobe and one from TMac. Every play in an All-Star game should end in a dunk.

I say vote for exciting and make the coaches use their selections to get the 14 "best" players. Here are some voting do's and don't's.

DO vote for players that dunk often.

DO NOT discriminate against players on losing teams. This isn't an MVP ballot. Coaches smugly say "Anyone can score on a bad team". Know what, anyone can score in an All-Star game.

DO vote for crazy ball-handlers. This includes Jason Williams, Stephon Marbury, and Jason Terry. We want to see behind the back passes, carries, stutter steps, and over the head lobs.

DO NOT vote for multiple players from the same team. There was nothing worse than the year Horace Grant, Scottie Pippen, and BJ Armstrong all made the team. Yechh - I need to see Horace shoot from the top of the key.

DO vote for John Stockton and Jason Kidd. These two see angles better than anyone and will create high-flying action.

DO NOT vote for players struggling with injuries. Sorry but this includes McGrady, Hill, Baron Davis, Shaq, and Mike Bibby. These guys will not play and you are giving another vote to the coaches.

DO vote for physical freaks. Who doesn't want to see Shawn Bradley, Yao Ming, and Shawn Kemp? It was a huge injustice that Muggsy Bogues never made the team.

DO NOT vote for Karl Malone. He will not play. Giving another vote to coaches.

DO vote for lifetime acheivement. If you absolutely have to vote for someone based on merit, vote for a guy who hasn't been an All-Star but probably deserves it. They will play hard. Sam Cassell in the East and Brent Barry in the West are good choices.

DO vote for Ron Artest. He will play hard because he always plays hard.

For one game this year, pick to watch, not to win.