As I’m catching the closing bits of the NFL Pro Bowl, I am thinking to myself…

“Now I see why the NFL has such an issue with figuring out what to do with this game…”

There’s always the dilemma in all-star type events of a lack of intensity.  Is there any motivation for the players to play hard?

Major League Baseball thinks they have come up with something - but I think it’s pretty ridiculous to have an all-star game decide home field advantage in the World Series.  But when comparing the NFL Pro Bowl with the NBA All-Star Game, the NFL certainly comes up short.

The reason why?

Quite frankly, both games are void of any defensive effort.  That alone basically strips the game of any general sense of competitiveness.  But the NBA wins out easily because of the ability to execute spectacular plays.

In the NBA’s midseason extravaganza, there are always breathtaking dunks, no-look passes, long shots…and even in a non-competitive exhibition those moment of athletic brilliance will make the most casual fans jump up out of his seat in appreciation. 

How spectacular can a Pro Bowl play be?  A touchdown in a non-intense game is fairly unspectacular.  As a matter of fact, any play in football becomes rather plain without the all-out effort from players on both sides of the ball.  The reason is simple – - at its core, football is truly a team game.  The structure of the game itself makes it very difficult for individual excellence to be demonstrated.  The more individualistic game of (NBA) basketball lends itself to fantastic exhibitions of its greatest participants.

So, what should be done with the Pro Bowl?

Well, at the very least, don’t make me watch it before the Super Bowl.