Friday, February 12
T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam (9-11pm)- Kevin Harlan, Kevin McHale, Dwyane Wade, Craig Sager

(Rookie Team: DeJuan Blair, Omri Casspi, Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans, Jonny Flynn, Taj Gibson, James Harden, Brandon Jennings and Jonas Jerebko Sophomore Team: Michael Beasley, Danilo Gallinari, Marc Gasol, Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, O.J. Mayo, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook)

All-Star Slam Dunk-In (Half-Time of Rookie Challenge)- Kevin Harlan, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Cheryl Miller

Saturday, February 13th

TNT All-Decade NBA (5-6pm)- Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith
Dunk Defying: Spud and Nate (6-7pm)
H.O.R.S.E. presented by GEICO- Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Chris Webber

NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm (8:30-11pm)

Haier Shooting Stars- Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Mike Fratello, Cheryl Miller
Taco Bell Skills Challenge- Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Mike Fratello, Cheryl Miller
Foot Locker Three-Point Contest- Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Cheryl Miller
Sprite Slam Dunk- Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Cheryl Miller

Sunday, February 14

NBA Tip-Off (7-8:30pm)- Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith; Matt Winer, Kevin McHale, Chris Webber will appear for a segment
2010 NBA All-Star Game (8:30-11pm)- Marv Albert, Doug Collins, Reggie Miller, David Aldridge, Craig Sager

Mascot news has been wild as of late, but this might be the craziest thing I've seen. During the mascot H-O-R-S-E competition during All-Star Weekend, mascots were trying hit halfcourt shots, when Rufus from the Bobcats decided to make one off of the Bucks' mascot's junk. Now that would be amazing own its own, but of course Bango had to take it one step forward by falling through the basket and tearing an ACL. Via BDL....

Man, I can't stop laughing at that one. That was almost like a carnival game....good times!

Video: Bucks mascot tears ACL in knee from groin shot (Ball Don't Lie)

I wasn't one of them, but a lot of people tuned into the NBA All-Star Game yesterday. In fact, the game was up 6% over last year. Via TNT PR....

TNT's exclusive coverage of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday delivered a 4.1 US HH Rating, representing a 6% increase from the prior year, and 6,855,000 Total Viewers, up 8% from last year's telecast, according to Nielsen's Fast Nationals. The West, led by co-MVP's Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, defeated the East Squad 146-119.

The event also delivered ratings growth in Homes (4,665,000), up 8% from last year, as well as key adult demographics, including:

* A18-34 (2,517,000) +10%
* A18-49 (4,033,000) +6%
* A25-54 (3,445,000) +12%

As far as All Star games go, the NBA one is by far the most entertaining, but it's still only about half of what the MLB gets.

The All-Star Game failed to keep my attention once again this year, Shaq-Kobe blah blah blah, but leave it to Craig Sager to dress wild and botch a name or two. This time it was the name of the dance crew Jabbawockeez, and while that was entertaining, not nearly as entertaining as Shaq's dance routine with the troupe....

Went on a little too long, but still very entertaining.

Way for Lebron to go ahead and make everything about him. Nate Robinson and Dwight Howard put on a heck of a show for everyone, with Robinson winning, but Lebron's announcement might have been the biggest highlight....

Dwight Howard was much more impressive overall, and I think the markets their respective teams play in came into play, but not a bad show. In fact, outside of everything that Vince Carter, Dominique and MJ have done, I think that Howard dunk from the side was one of the more impressive dunks I've seen.

But Lebron in a dunk contest? Yeahhhh....sorry Nate "Kryptonite" Robinson.

Kevin Durant is having a pretty good weekend out in Phoenix. He put up a cool 46 points in the Rookie-Sophomore game, and after a slow start, he's taken TNT's first G-E-I-C-O/H-O-R-S-E crown. Here are the highlights and I'll share my thoughts on the otherside....

I don't know if it was the contestants involved, or the pace of the contest, but about halfway through I was hoping they would start randomly giving out letters. It was just too long, and extremely unimaginative on the shot selection end. The "in the stands" shot from Mayo and the deep corner one by Durant were pretty impressive, but the rest were just boring.

Maybe next year they should just change it to P-I-G. Or wait....sorry....J-I-F. Gotta have that sponsor.

(FYI- I should have the other competition's videos up shortly after they're done tonight. Actually, I'll probably combine the Skills and 3pt Shootout, and then do the Dunk Contest on its own.)

The Rookie Challenge and Youth Game is just about the most boring game on the planet, but this year's contest was actually a bit entertaining. There were less terrible alley-oop attempts, an actual semblance of plays being run, and one Kevin Wayne Durant. Not only is the kid having a ridiculous season (25.6 ppg, 6.7 reb, 2.8 assts), but he set a Rookie-Sophmore record with 46 points tonight.

Here is the dunk that capped the whole performance off, and his interview after the game....

Not only did he beat the previous record, but he crushed it by ten points (Amare Stoudamire - 36). Just an amazing kid, and he's now on the "must watch" list with Lebron, Kobe, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. At least that's my list at the moment.

Oh and by the way, as much as I can't stand Lebron as a player, I have to say he was really good on the mic with Kenny and Kevin Harlan. Now excuse me while I pen my next hate column on the lazy, Cavs' Forward.