Wishing on a star for meaningful games.(Brief Article)

"It just doesn't matter! It just doesn't matter!"

Words to live by during All-Star February from Bill Murray--who last was seen whacking away on CBS at Pebble Beach, the most relevant game in this month of sports purgatory. He uttered the mantra in his cinema verite Meatballs, not while addressing the Pro Bowl or NBA/NHL All-Star games. But now, pointblank, we ask: What's the point of all-star games?

NBA on NBCs Mary Albert wouldn't touch that question. (C'mon, it's his first All-Star appearance since ... ahem.) Ahmad Rashad, landing in D.C., replied, "It's a lovefest. It isn't like the circus coming to town; it IS the circus coming to town!"

Yeah. Well, circuses don't play well on TV.

Neither do All-Star games.

Not only were NHL and NFL All-Stars punked by golf, their Nielsens only flossed NBC's XFL. Then, with no fear of suspension, viewers dodged the NBA All-Star Game like Kobe Bryant couldn't. Even TiVo turned it down.

Still, this is Sweeps Month. I watched the circuses so you didn't have to.