Always be prepared. Isn’t that what they always say? Well the city of Orlando sure is following those words of wisdom. The farthest thing from the minds of the NBA players, owners and fans is probably the 2012 All-Star game, but the Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the city is still getting ready to host the event as if the mid-season scrimmage is still going down.
“Although the 2012 NBA All-Star Game is in grave danger because of the league’s ongoing labor dispute, employees from the NBA, the city of Orlando and the Orlando Magic are proceeding as if the exhibition will be played as scheduled.”
A lot would have to go right in a very short period of time for us to have an All-Star game this year. Even if they did get the season going at the earliest possible date, the odds that they would have time to take a whole weekend off at the end of February to play an exhibition game is pretty slim. Back in 1999, the All-Star game was cancelled in the midst of the shortened season, which would probably be the precedent for this year. Of course, that’s still assuming we even have a season.
Luckily for the city of Orlando, if the game is cancelled, all is not lost. They would get the next open slot, which is in 2014 and city officials say all the planning would go to that game instead.
Even though it seems highly unlikely we’ll have a season, and even more unlikely we’ll have an All-Star game, it’s always nice to see a little optimism. Like the player that stretches and warms up in the pouring rain even though it looks like there won’t be a game that day. It never hurts to be on the ball, a little positive thinking goes a long way.
