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Pump up the dunk Five ways to liven up the slam dunk contestPosted: Thursday February 06, 2003 4:52 PMUpdated: Thursday February 06, 2003 7:59 PM
1. Get the best guysNothing against Desmond Mason and Jason Richardson, but they don’t exactly conjure up images of Air Jordan and 'Nique. Vince and Kobe, that’s who we want to see. The problem is the big-name guys don’t want to risk injury or embarrassment for a relatively paltry $25,000. Either raise the pot to $100,000 or, as Steve Francis suggested last year, "Maybe they should give away a car." Great idea, Steve. Park a shiny new Escalade or H2 right there on center court, and a few more marquee skywalkers just might consider it.
2. Keep it simpleOver the past few years, the rules have changed more than the tax code. Time limits? Replacement dunks? The Wheel of (Mis)Fortune? Maybe the reason so few players choose to participate is because they don’t have a med school degree. Sometimes it seems that complicated. Two years ago, Baron Davis blew a chance to win because he didn’t know he had only one replacement dunk. How about making it one dunk in each round, with one replacement for a miss?
3. Let the fans voteNo offense to Kenny, Sir Charles, Ashton Kutcher or whoever else they prop up to judge the event, but you don’t need the Supreme Court on this court. It’s a dunk contest, not an episode of American Idol. Let the fans decide. Just put a hand over the player’s head after each round and cue up the applause-o-meter on the overhead scoreboard. The loudest ovation wins, period.
4. Bribe teammatesTo help make sure the dunks are creative, the NBA ought to cut teammates into the action. No, we’re not talking about having them sit on a chair under the basket as a prop. We’re talking about a little extra gravy for the teammates of the eventual champion. This way, each participant will be sure to arrive at the event with a full catalogue of dunks. "You offer each of his teammates 500 bucks, and I guarantee we’ll help him come up with a good one," joked Sonics forward Reggie Evans.
5. Add 'The Bradley'We don't recall where we first heard this suggestion, but it’s too good to pass up. Since no dunk is quite as tasty without a victim, the NBA should pay Shawn Bradley to come out and try to defend. The player who best flushes one over the 7-foot-6 Mavs center gets a $10,000 bonus and a framed poster for his living room. Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.
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