TNT Adding H-O-R-S-E To All Star Game

Tuesday, February 03, 2009


Bill Simmons' dream of H-O-R-S-E being added to the NBA All-Star Game are finally coming true! But wait....there's a catch. The event won't be featured with the Dunk and 3-Point contests, but rather during an episode of Inside the NBA, two hours before TNT's Saturday night. Via TNT PR....

The game will take place on a 45' X 50’ court alongside the network's new NBA on TNT Rig (photo attached) at the NBA All-Star Block Party presented by Right Guard, the NBA's new outdoor All-Star event. The NBA on TNT Rig will also serve as the host set for other studio shows on TNT and NBA TV throughout the weekend. The rig can rise up to 14 feet off the ground and rotate to show views of the arena, downtown area and NBA All-Star Block Party presented by Right Guard, can seat up to 117 guests and will be open to the public on select days. Calling the action from the rig will be Ernie Johnson, along with analysts Kenny Smith and Chris Webber.

The game will use a traditional format in which three players will establish the playing order. Once a shot is made, the next player in the predetermined order will attempt the same shot. If that player misses, he is assigned a letter (ex. H for the first miss, O for the second, etc.). The player following the miss can pick a new shot with which to challenge his competitors. There is no dunking allowed and players will have 24 seconds each to create and mimic shots. Players remain in the game until they have missed five shots following made baskets, thus spelling the word H-O-R-S-E. An NBA referee will be assigned to authenticate the new shots (that the player executed what he announced) and any mimic shot.
The participants have yet to be named, but this certainly has a lot of potential. If Gilbert Arenas wasn't injured, I think he would be a shoe-in as a participant, but alas he probably won't be involved this year. The possibilities are endless though, and you could even get legends involved in the game. I would pay good money to see Jordan, Magic and Bird, playing H-O-R-S-E!

Posted by Awful Announcing at 2:46 PM

8 Comments:

A shoe-in participant in a game of H-O-R-S-E? I love it. But I won't watch.

Steve Smith said...
Feb 3, 2009, 2:51:00 PM  

Hopefully they're not stuck with a bunch of C list guys.

dwhit said...
Feb 3, 2009, 3:44:00 PM  

Bill SImmons' head just exploded.

CoffeeTableBook said...
Feb 3, 2009, 4:00:00 PM  

We already did see that. The prize was a big mac and Magic didn't participate.

Brian Bremer said...
Feb 3, 2009, 4:08:00 PM  

Everyone is stealing Simmons' ideas now! His head has to be a size 15' now.

GMoney said...
Feb 3, 2009, 4:12:00 PM  

If only they would do this right. Let's make it Kobe, LeBron, Dwight Howard, and Derrick Rose. That would rule.

The Genius said...
Feb 3, 2009, 4:37:00 PM  

Not to go too off topic here...but did anyone notice how the cactus in the All-Star logo sorta looks like it's flipping us off?

Chris Tyner said...
Feb 4, 2009, 7:49:00 AM  

What a horrible idea. Watching a game of HORSE has to be the worst thing in the world. People love playing HORSE, not watching it. I always thought it was a stupid idea whenever Simmons brought it up and I cannot believe they're actually going with it. Though I'm glad it's just a test-run sort of thing.

Wouldn't some shooter just huck 3s and win easy?

Sean OLeary said...
Feb 4, 2009, 12:16:00 PM  

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