This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Charles Curtis.
I don’t usually try to put TOO much stock into TV ratings.
But in the case of the MLB All-Star Game, the numbers don’t lie. The ratings hit a record-low LAST year, and the stats got even worse THIS year, according to reports.
The message from fans is clear: They don’t care, especially now that the All-Star Game doesn’t count for anything (and thank goodness for that, right?). And I get it! All-Star Games are neat on paper, but what’s the point, ESPECIALLY when we saw some injuries emerge?
This is simple: No more All-Star games in any sport.
The NHL’s whole thing is lackluster, as our Mary Clarke wrote in February. The NBA’s is a glorified dunk-fest (although gotta love the Elam Ending!). The MLB All-Star Game is actually the best of the bunch, but it’s still just an exhibition. The NFL was so smart to do away with the Pro Bowl game.
Now: This doesn’t mean you do away with All-Star FESTIVITIES. Give me more contests, more skills competitions, more fun. Get everyone together in one place, do more than the Home Run Derby. It’s so simple and the viewership will absolutely be there. You can name All-Stars to hypothetical teams — and in the NBA, you can keep the “captains choose teams” format, because that’s the best thing about the whole event — and leave it at that. Stadiums and arenas around the country can continue host each year.
That’s it. No more All-Star Games. We’re fine with it, I promise!
Quick Hits: The ESPYs! … Dan Snyder and the Jon Gruden email leaks … and more.
— So much ESPYs goodness! Some sharp-dressed athletes were there, we saw Damar Hamlin get emotional after giving an award to the Bills training staff, LeBron said he’s not retiring and Pat McAfee roasted a bunch of people.
— What we learned from ESPN’s report on the Jon Gruden email leaks, including Dan Snyder’s “Blackmail PowerPoint.”
— Markquis Nowell tried a Curry-like lookaway 3-pointer on a bad miss during NBA Summer League. Oops.