Here is a simple solution to fix the slam dunk contest?Twelve guys on the All-Star ballot in an added section and the fans vote in four or five they want to see compete and if they refuse the fan?s invitation, then they?ll have to answer to them directly.  

My nominees for next season:
Josh Smith: Defending champion.

Jason Richardson: Two-time champion.

Vince Carter: Former champion and still has it.

Kobe Bryant: Read Carter.

Desmond Mason: He'd fit in nicely playing along with Nash.

Fred Jones: Former champion.

LeBron James: He's an overrated dunker until he shows himself here.

Gerald Wallace: Capable of

Mickael Pietrus: His left hander on Eddie Griffin is one the best dunks of the year.

Ben Gordon: Baby Wade.

Dwyane Wade: One of the quicket jumpers in the world

Andre Iguodala: He might just be the favorite.

Now on the game from Denver?

Like every other All-Star that has ever been played, the first half was about showmanship and the second half was about getting the victory.  There was no stat padding whatsoever, with no player scoring more than 17 points and that was reserve Ray Allen, and seven players in double figures for both the East and West.

Allen Iverson was the game?s MVP, with his 13 points, 9 assists and 5 steals.  With seven players in double figures for both the East and

The West were up early, but Greg Popovich couldn?t play his twin towers at the forward spots in Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan down the stretch, due to their nagging injuries.  The rivalry between Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant has apparently vanished and was not part of the West's demise on Sunday.  The two were prepared to brawl earlier this season and they were laughing and joking with each other during the game.

If nothing else, this year?s All-Star game ushered in a new era of the NBA.  With Lebron, Wade and Amare coming on so strong, they will be the players passing the torch to the new crop in ten year?s time, as Shaquille O?Neal and Allen Iverson have done this season, even though A.I. is just 29 years of age, he is considered a grizzled veteran.

On Friday night, Iverson and Shaq sat beside one another during the Rookie Challenge, leading me to wonder how great A.I. would be if he had the Diesel to play with.  Just look what he has done with Wade.  Poor A.I. has been in Philly for almost a decade now and has never played with a great player.

Finally, I agree wholeheartedly with my colleague Kostas Bolas? proposal of having a USA versus the World All-Star game.  The international spectrum is the present and the future of the NBA and this will showcase this new realm of basketball.