All Star Game Hot Topic

What will the HOT TOPIC be at the All-Star game? According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com: "I'd say it's an off-the-board lock that the question every player gets over and over in Vegas will be John Amaechi-related. Or, more specifically: How would you handle an openly gay teammate?

The problem?

This is one of those questions that, hard as anyone tries, probably can't be answered conclusively until there actually is an openly gay NBA player.

There will naturally be plenty of tangible responses to the question to record or scribble down, but this would be one of those subjects where pretty much everyone is speculating. Steve Nash said it pretty well Thursday when he offered: "It's a very difficult situation to envision at this point because we haven't faced it."

No less an expert than Amaechi voiced that uncertainty back in 2002, years before revealing anything. In a Scotland on Sunday interview, Amaechi said at the time: "It would be like an alien dropping down from space. There'd be fear, then panic. [The NBA] just wouldn't know how to handle it."

My suspicion is that, even though he was exaggerating some, Amaechi is not far off, unless you believe something has changed in the five years since he made the argument.

I doubt it. Not inside NBA locker rooms."

Read more of Stein's article.

Carmelo Going to All Star Game Anyway

From ESPN.com: "Carmelo Anthony is going to the All-Star Game after all.

	Howard

	Anthony

The NBA's leading scorer was picked by commissioner David Stern on Friday as an injury replacement and will make his first All-Star game appearance on Feb. 18 in Las Vegas.

Anthony said he was not bothered being named as an injury replacement.

'It's still the All-Star Game, it still feels great, and I'm going to make the best out of it.'

Stern also added Dallas forward Josh Howard to the Western Conference team. He needed to replace Houston center Yao Ming and Utah forward Carlos Boozer, who will be unable to play because of injuries.

Anthony averages an NBA-high 30.8 points, but wasn't voted in by the fans and then wasn't chosen as a reserve by West coaches. He was undoubtedly hurt by missing 15 games when Stern suspended him for his role in the brawl at Madison Square Garden in December.

'I was remaining optimistic a little bit,' Anthony said. 'I wish it would have happened earlier. I didn't want to think about it that much, but I'm glad it happened. It's an honor.'

But Stern said he would not consider Anthony's penalty when deciding whether to consider him for a replacement spot.

'I guess it's a forgive and forget type of situation," Anthony said. 'I'm glad he did.'"

To read more, go to ESPN.com