A curious idea for All-Star weekend

I love the NBA All-Star Saturday night.

Dunks, threes and, in recent years, the skills competition make it one of my favorite sporting events each year.

However, there is one aspect that is becoming stronger that I don't like so much.

Fans and viewers were given the opportunity to vote for the winner of the dunk contest before the final round even started.

Now, I like the fact fans are given the chance to decide the winner of the dunk contest or other subjective events, but it shouldn't be before the contest is over.

In all actuality, the fans may end up picking a winner who has the lesser of the dunks or one who is unable to compete the slams altogether.

In recent years, the Super Bowl has also been allowing fans to vote for the game's MVP, starting at the beginning of the fourth quarter when the game may still be in doubt.

I understand it may be tough to open voting for the Super Bowl MVP after the game and allow enough time to garner a sufficient amount of votes, but I have an alternate proposal for the dunk contest.

I think they should add one more event after the dunk contest which would allow fans to choose a winner based on performance rather than who they are rooting for.

And this event would not only keep the fans watching, but provide some more fun to the night as well.

Pull out the trampolines and rings of fire and let the mascots show what they can do in their own dunk contest.

Mascots have been wowing the fans and young children for years, and the NBA has some of the most recognizable costumed cheerleaders in all of sports.

Bring in the Phoenix Go-rilla, Turbo from the Rockets, Boomer from the Pacers and Benny the Bull and let then provide some additional high-flying acrobatics to put an exciting, and somewhat comedic, end to the night.

During this time, fans will have the chance to pick the winner of the NBA dunk contest with some legitimacy.

The night, after all, is about the fans and they deserve their say in what many consider the highlight of All-Star Weekend, but lets eliminate the risk of making a mockery out of the dunk contest.