There are three reasons Almost Stars miss the game.(All-Star basketball game players)

Some of us are staying away from the All-Star Game this year because, like Michael Jordan, some of us have an aversion to watching basketball in Washington. There are others who want to go but were not among the chosen. We have a place for them here.

Actually, the players excluded from the All-Star Game each year by the league's coaches usually fall into one of three different categories. The first is a collection of supremely gifted players who happen to be knuckleheads, or players with indelibly bad reputations. Anthony Mason and Latrell Sprewell graduated from this group this year, whereas Dennis Rodman never could.

Another group consists of those who emerged so quickly that the coach can't bring himself to make the selection. Thee Ratliff used to be one of these sudden stars.

The third bunch comprises younger guys who just have to wait their turn. Until this season, Stephon Marbury and Antonio McDyess were annual members.

Here are the 2000 Almost Stars:

The Rodman club

Antoine Walker, Celtics. If it were only about talent, he's there, because he is as gifted an offensive forward as you'll find. If it were only about numbers, they would lay down the red carpet for him. But this is Walker, the same guy most coaches have branded a selfish player whose bad behavior and end-game blunders are impossible to overlook. But since Jim O'Brien took over, there hasn't been a better player outside of San Antonio.