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Which is the bigger non-event: NBA Dunk Contest or MLB HR Derby?

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gamecockcat

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I get it - it's all about entertainment value. But, I NEVER watch either of the 'competitions' as I don't find them entertaining. Both sports do, however, spend a lot of time promoting these events and I do have to listen to them as I listen to sports radio a lot.

Do either one of these events actually successfully promote the sport? Many years, the NBA dunk contest is won by some no-name (not always) that rarely plays and is basically only known for dunking ability, a greatly overvalued skill IMO. And, hitting HRs off of BP pitching is only completely different than trying to hit real ML pitching. While it does take skill and strength, any correlation between who wins the HR Derby and who is a legitimate HR hitter destined for a great career is illusory. I equate both events to having a long drive contest at the Masters. There's a lot more to winning a golf tournament than driving the ball just as there is more to basketball and baseball than dunking and hitting a BP HR.
 
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CatsFanGG24

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I'd think the HR Derby is more like the NBA 3pt contest...and to qualify for those events, you have shown to be elite in that category the 1st half of the season.
 
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GYERater

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I guess I will go with the Dunk Contest (even though it is usually the 4th best event on all-star Saturday) only because I have never watched a HR Derby.
 
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rmattox

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I detest anything that has anything to do with the nba. That said, from the point of view of a guy that never exceeded 5'9" in height (could almost touch the rim :( )...I'm not impressed by any 6'5" guy dunking a bball. Anyone that tall that is half an athlete should be able to dunk a ball.

For my money, hitting a baseball is much more impressive. I do agree that the 3pt shooting contest would at least give hitting a baseball a run for its money. Still baseball skills are more impressive.
 
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bluelifer

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I'm a fan of the nba, but don't care much for the dunk contest. I haven't been a fan of baseball since the early 90's, but I watched every swing of the HR derby last night. In fact, the only players I had heard of before last night were Pujols and Fielder, and I thought it was fantastic.

Might even start watching baseball again.

 
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domino79

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That Home Run Derby was fantastic last night. Couldn't go to sleep afterward.

And if OP is reiterating Colin Cowherd's opinion, he shouldn't. Cowherd can die in the fire.
 
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wildcatsboston1984_rivals

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Dunk contest.

I value the dunk contest a lot more because of its creativity, although admittedly some years it's lacking in that. Someone is always coming up with a new dunk. On every dunk attempt you never know what kind of dunk they are going to pull off, so there is the anticipation of what kind of dunk the participant is going to pull off.

In the HR derby, it's just homeruns, they are all the same other than distance, but at least the new format rewards bigger homeruns instead of treating a monster bomb the same as one that barely squeaks over the fence. Sort of like how with the dunk contest you get more points for a more impressive dunk. It's not like in the HR derby you are ever going to see a new type of homerun like you can in the dunk contest.
 
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LineSkiCat

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Dunk contest.. I always find it entertaining.

Can you imagine the stuff players would attempt to pull off if it didn't mean a 20% chance of landing on your face.. or worse, miscalculating the landing and twisting your knee 180 degrees? Players don't want to bother because there are ramifications behind it, unlike the Home-run game/batting practice.

It has gotten stale because of this, so here's a fix: Have fans submit video footage of their dunks. Top two are selected to compete against two NBA Players. Either pair them up with the players as teams or winner-takes-all. You're going to get talented guys, who probably play in city leagues/college to begin with, who are willing to do the high-flying dunks. Like Jordan Kilganon or Jacob Tucker for starters..

 
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wildcatsboston1984_rivals

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LineSkiCat said:
Dunk contest.. I always find it entertaining.

Can you imagine the stuff players would attempt to pull off if it didn't mean a 20% chance of landing on your face.. or worse, miscalculating the landing and twisting your knee 180 degrees? Players don't want to bother because there are ramifications behind it, unlike the Home-run game/batting practice.

It has gotten stale because of this, so here's a fix: Have fans submit video footage of their dunks. Top two are selected to compete against two NBA Players. Either pair them up with the players as teams or winner-takes-all. You're going to get talented guys, who probably play in city leagues/college to begin with, who are willing to do the high-flying dunks. Like Jordan Kilganon or Jacob Tucker for starters..

Click to expand...
And literally no NBA player worth a damn would compete in the contest in that format. Almost certainly none would compete that have any endorsement deals.
 
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Get Buckets

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Nov 4, 2007
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LineSkiCat said:
Dunk contest.. I always find it entertaining.

Can you imagine the stuff players would attempt to pull off if it didn't mean a 20% chance of landing on your face.. or worse, miscalculating the landing and twisting your knee 180 degrees? Players don't want to bother because there are ramifications behind it, unlike the Home-run game/batting practice.

It has gotten stale because of this, so here's a fix: Have fans submit video footage of their dunks. Top two are selected to compete against two NBA Players. Either pair them up with the players as teams or winner-takes-all. You're going to get talented guys, who probably play in city leagues/college to begin with, who are willing to do the high-flying dunks. Like Jordan Kilganon or Jacob Tucker for starters..

Click to expand...

That's an awesome dunk.
 
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LineSkiCat

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wildcatsboston1984 said:
And literally no NBA player worth a damn would compete in the contest in that format. Almost certainly none would compete that have any endorsement deals.
Click to expand...

No one worth a damn competes anymore anyways. And why wouldn't they? The only reason would be that the 2 pedestrians would up the ante, and bring it to a level that NBA players may not want to go to. That's possible. But otherwise you could easily work this into something that generates lots of money. Want to enter your chance? Buy a Sprite product. Tons of contest like stuff to get in.

Damn, they have to do SOMETHING.. I'll always watch the Dunk contest but I completely understand why 99% of people don't give a ****.
 
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gamecockcat

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Mashburned said:
lol what a loser...

Go fund yourself some balls and a sack. Maybe watch a dunk contest some time. See how it feels. I'll donate $5 to the cause.
Click to expand...

Not sure why you're such an a-hole to me on this board. If you don't like what I post, don't read it. I've watched a dunk contest before. As another poster stated, anyone over 6'-0" that considers themselves an athlete ought to be able to dunk with ease. I'm only 5'-8" and I could touch rim in my playing days (a LONG time ago, unfortunately). So what if some guy 6'7" can slam? And as many previous winners of the contest bear witness, just because you can gyrate and dunk doesn't mean you're any kind of a player.
 
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CatsFan4Evr

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The HR Derby was exciting. The new format is much better than the old "10 Outs" format. Made for some great suspense at the end - Frazier needed every second of that bonus time to win.
 
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MoreheadEagle

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I think the HR Derby is more exciting because of the limited number of people in the sport who can hit 30 or more HRs. In the NBA, nearly everyone can dunk. The novelty wears off pretty quickly. In the HR derby you're getting the best HR hitters in the league (usually).

A little off topic, but I think the reason I like the MLB ASG better than the NBA ASG, is because in baseball it's almost impossible to play bad defense. The NBA ASG is just a bunch of guys trying to come up with the most creative offensive plays and no one plays defense. NBA > MLB in terms of the overall sport but baseball has the best ASG IMO.
 
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dezyDeco

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MLB home run contest. Pro Bowl events. NBA dunk competition. I don't really care about any of it... but they have to have "filler" mixed in with the rest of the meaningless stuff.

That said, it was nice to hear that Frazier won it. A little something for the hometown fans, since it looks like another dismal season for the Reds.
 
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