NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
A few weeks ago, when the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association held its annual convention and tradeshow at the Phoenix Convention Center, I wandered through the building and was surprised to find live bulls and broncos roaming about its lower level.
Star of "Chuck"
I figured that was as surreal a scene as I was likely to see in a downtown convention center until I walked into the same building Friday night and witnessed Magic Johnson and Julius Erving exchanging pleasantries in the center of a full-size basketball court as a half-dozen NBA mascots flipped about like Mexican jumping beans and that guy from Chuck ducked a camera boom to bump fists with Stuart Scott.
It was like 1982 NBA Finals meets Pan’s Labyrinth. Or maybe SportsCenter meets Hollywood Squares. Either way, it was weird.
The occasion for all this frivolity was the McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, which brought together NBA legends, TV and film stars, and (refreshingly) members of the Harlem Globetrotters for an evening of light-spirited hoops.
I won’t bother recapping the game, but in the spirit of Oscar season and obligatory blog snarkiness, here's a list of highly unofficial awards that recognize the evening’s best personalities and performances. Enjoy.
- T.O. and Dr. J
Best Athlete on the Court: Terrell Owens. T.O., who won his second consecutive Celebrity Game MVP award, could log productive minutes at small forward for several NBA teams, including the Suns. Come to think of it, being on the receiving end of Steve Nash’s passes rather than Tony Romo’s might be better for his stats and his ego.
Chris Tucker
Fan Favorite: Chris Tucker. His voice is higher than his vertical and he’s a few sacks of rice heftier than his Rush Hour heyday with Jackie Chan, but Tucker still knows how to solicit laughs and cheers.
Awww, That’s Too Bad Award: To former “Human Highlight Reel” Dominique Wilkins, who couldn’t quite elevate for a dunk under the basket. When it comes to old guys and windmills, Dominique now plays second fiddle to T. Boone Pickens.
Chivalry is Dead Award: To Arizona alum and Harlem Globetrotter Eugene “Wildkat” Edgerson, for waylaying Lisa Leslie. Edgerson, who is 6-foot-6 (6-foot-11 with afro) and 245 pounds, rumbled from one end of the court to the other to swat the shot of the spindly WNBA star, sending her into photography row. That’s no way to treat a lady, especially on the eve of Valentine’s Day.
Biggest Bruiser: Micahel Rapaport. If it moves, Rapaport (Beautiful Girls, Mighty Aphrodite) will foul it. Then he will complain about the call in an over-the-top Brooklyn accent. This schtick was pretty funny the first seven times, but by foul No. 8 even his teammates seemed tired of it.
Ageless Wonder: Dan Majerle. Phoenix’s favorite adopted son scored 13 points and hit 3 of 4 shots beyond the arc. If you don’t guard Thunder Dan, he will make you pay. Still. (And he serves up a fine burger to boot.)
Best Mike D’Antoni Impression: To East team coach Julius Irving, who seemed to have little use for some of his reserves, particularly Zach Levi (Chuck) and James Denton (Desperate Housewives).
Hardest Theoretical Question: Who would win a celebrity smile-off between Magic Johnson, Curly Neal and Rick Fox? It's a tough one, but I have to lean toward Neal, the legendary Globetrotter. He's pure happiness in a red warm-up suit. I found his smile infectious when I was 7 years old, and it got to me again Friday night. Basketball could not ask for better ambassadors.
All-Star is officially game-on
NBA commissioner David Stern held the opening ceremonies of All-Star weekend this evening, alongside Mayor Phil Gordon, Suns owner Robert Sarver, Leandro Barbosa, the Suns Gorilla, etc. They held the ceremony right in the middle of Jam Session, though it was filled with kids and families all around partaking in all the action.
At the opening, Mayor Phil Gordon turned to Stern and committed that it will not be long until the next All-Star game is back in PHX. Stern concurred, saying it was a beautiful destination and how much the players love coming here.
Immediately after the opening, it was off to the "Where Amazing Happens" court to see the "Got Milk?" team unveil the new Chris Paul and Diana Taurasi ads. As a pillar of fitness himself, CP3 joined the unveiling, where he told selected kids from area high schools about staying in shape. He was extremely personable, down-to-earty, and really inspiring to the kids. He talked about how his parents always encouraged him to stay active every day, and now, he tries to tell the kids in his extended family the same thing, and CP said, "They don't listen to me; they would listen to Kobe, though." Everyone laughed at that.
Then the big moment to unveil the new ads, CP3's looking pretty fierce and Taurasi's looking intense! Then it was time to take the court with some students, with the Minnesota Timberwolves fitness coach. He and CP3 showed kids "active stretching" to warm up at the same time. This is all for a "Fit by Finals" campaign, encouraging kids to trim down before the playoffs. See details and tips at: bodybymilk.com.
The fun didn't stop once CP had left. On a different court, the Harlem Globetrotters were giving tips to some kids on how to perform their skillz. Absolutely hilarious!
This is a trampoline dunking game - you should have seen how high everyone was getting! This, among tons of other games. While the whole place was packed, there weren't any lines on anything!.
It's been a fun day - more inside event access tomorrow!
Cheuvront's
I love wine. I love cheese. I love Cheuvront's. Situated in downtown Phoenix (and sits directly on the light rail path), a very comfortably hip Cheuvront's is convenient for those needing to savor something delicious after a hard day's work, or before a very fun night. They have an amazingly extensive wine list for all price points (snobs and savers alike), but really the accompaniments they recommend are outstanding. Their menu has an entire page for cheese, and their small plates really do pair perfectly with their libations. If you don't know what you want, their staff is very helpful in suggesting something you'd like.
The atmosphere is hip but casual, and comfortable though spacious enough to seat a lot of people (read: no or very short wait time). A perfect stop before or after First Fridays, a Diamondbacks or Suns game, too. Their happy hour deals are great!
Located on Central Ave, two blocks south of McDowell (and directly across from Burton Barr library). http://www.cheuvront.biz/
First look: Jam Session presented by Adidas
The tape is still on the sign on the floor, but JAM SESSION is here! Here's a sneak peek...
500 people. 100 semi trucks. 7 days. That's what it takes to put together the Jam Session at the Phoenix Convention Center. They're setting up the NBA stations, basketball games, the Kids Zone, the NBA Store, the Cartoon Network village, and tons of mini-courts for basketball games, drills, workshops and more.
One notable element to this Jam Session is the use of technology. HP is hosting an area with wireless computers and printers where anyone can print out their digital pictures. Cisco is hosting booth that looks like a clear orb where a person can go in and chat live on a TV with their favorite NBA player who is at a different location. These are only a couple of the really cool technological things to see and do. Of course, the court games still apply - the adidas court is hosting 3-on-3 games. You can even play their "house" team!
The official court is on the second floor of the convention center, which is where the McDonald's celebrity game will be played on Friday night (separate ticket required).
The Jam Session really is cool - anyone could easily spend hours there. Tickets are at the door and cost $20 for adults and $12 for kids 3-12. Jam on it!
Hiking Camelback Mountain
Every time someone new comes to town, they're usually very surprised that our mountains are actually in the city, adn that it doesn't take a long drive to get there. One of the most frequented mountains is Camelback Mountain, the backdrop for so many resorts and multi-million dollar homes. You can hike Camelback from opposite areas on two different trails: Echo Canyon and Cholla trails. Now, there are a couple paths at the base of CM if you just want a little stroll, but Echo and Cholla trails are the real deal. Jeans, loafers, khakis should all stay at home. This is the time to break out hiking shoes or good athletic shoes, a hat, sunglasses, athletic gear, etc. It's a good idea to wear extra sunblock and extra deodorant too.
Both trails are extremely rewarding with viewpoints throughout and the extraordinary perspective from the top. Echo Canyon is more out-right difficult, with boulders acting as a natural StairMaster, poles to let your arms help out on steep parts, and some narrow passes. Going up and back on Echo could take about 3-4 hours; less if you're in great shape. You'll see people running up and down in a half hour, but don't be intimidated.
Cholla trail is a more traditional path, but that doesn't mean it's easy. The final quarter is steep narrow passes through huge slabs of boulders, making you work for the visual reward at the pinnacle. Cholla takes about 1.5-3 hours, depending on your condition.
If you have two cars, I'd recommend hiking up Echo Canyon and down Cholla, as Cholla is easier on the descent because there aren't as many boulders to step down. Or, try both of them on different days. If you can't get to the top the first time, the reward of both the viewpoints and the experience is just as great. One thing - make sure to bring a lot of water. It's not uncommon for first-timers to run out and have to use the water of other people on the trail, which nobody likes to do. Make sure to bring a couple bottles or something to wear on your back with a water bladder.
The link below has a map and more description for the trails. Happy hiking!
http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/hikcmgud.html#echo
Rust ‘N Roses
This weekend, I stopped by Rust 'n Roses as I usually do every month or so to see all their new stuff. Last month, I would have told you that they specialize in "found" home decor, with cool furniture and dishware, and that it's a secret great place for children's gifts. But this month, I am happy to report that they also opened they're new outdoor section, and I'm always on the hunt for unique thingeys for my backyard, so I was ecstatic.
Not only do they have one of the biggest selections, but I gotta tell ya, the prices were amazingly reasonable. To the point that I texted friends in the area and told them to come over pronto! Though enamored with the patio goods, I wound up purchasing matching vintage lamps from the Westward Ho, one of the oldest hotels in Phoenix (where the new "Psycho" movie was filmed also). The owner, Shelly, made sure the lamps worked properly, that they were in good shape and even gave us advice on the shades to put with it. It's definitely a place to go when you're looking for home and garden decor, and it's centrally located in the Melrose district on 7th.
