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Ten years ago it was hard to find any international players at an All-Star media session. This year, it was truly a global affair - Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and the list goes on.
First to enter the zoom-lens and tape-recorder gauntlet were the participants of the 'got milk?' Rookie Challenge, NBA.com Slam Dunk presented by RealOne , 1 800 CALL ATT Shoutout and 989 Sports All-Star Hoop-It-Up.
Some, like Sacramento dunker Gerald Wallace, looked a little lonely at first as the media gorged on such international delights as Memphis' Pau Gasol, San Antonio's Tony Parker and Utah's Andrei Kirilenko. But in the end, the spotlight spared no one.
Kirilenko professed his love for steak - "America's dish" - as he called it, but when push came to shove, he confessed to being a Borscht man. Kenyon Martin professed his favorite dish to be anything his mom cooked. Jason Kidd's dishes were probably Kenyon's next favorite.
The media's appetite for star entrees wasn't just limited to NBA All-Stars. A wide variety of international celebritites stepped into the fray. *NSync's Justin Timberlake was cornered soon after arrival, while film star Jamie Foxx held court in the other corner of the room. Foxx revealed in not-so-hushed tones that if Michael Jordan can come back, he saw no reason why he couldn't come back and reclaim his celebrity dunk title.
"It's all in the mind. Which is good, 'cause if it was in the legs, I wouldn't stand a chance."
Sharpshooter Steve Smith mused that a one-on-one game would be a great addition to the All-Star weekend, but a game of H-O-R-S-E would only result in one winner - himself.
An hour in, the appetizers were done and the players filtered out.
On to the main courses - the All-Stars.
The media tide pooled around one door as All-Stars strolled out to a sea of flash-bulbs and reporters eager to get first dibs.
Hometown boy Kobe Bryant - clad in his father's No. 23 Philadelphia jersey - seemed to be the media's favorite dish, while injured All-Star Shaquille O'Neal was a close second. The media's hunger for Kobe was only rivaled by Philadelphia's hunger for cheesesteaks. The crowd around Kobe were four deep, just like Geno's on a Friday night.
The international flair was still evident, with such foreign All-Stars as Steve Nash, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki getting their fair share of microphones in the face. Nash opted for a cranberry juice to wash down the media attention after rethinking his suggestion of a beer. Probably looking for an import.
The Rockets' Steve Francis almost suffered another bout of vertigo from all the media attention.
"Wow all these questions about my migraines are starting to bring them on! No joke!"
Steve's migraines may have subsided but the media onslaught continued unabated until the end, nearly two hours after the first players came in.
Not even coaches were spared. Eastern Conference and Nets head coach Bryon Scott must have felt like it was Showtime all over again as explained the Nets' great start to the season. Probably one of the few people genuinely glad to be answering questions.
All in all, the players offered up some tasty quotes and the media went home full and satisfied.
The basketball media's version of Thanksgiving in February.
