All-Star voting needs a makeover

I'm going to break my own rule here, and get huffy about something that doesn't matter much:

I've got no problem with Allen Iverson accepting an invitation to start in the All-Star Game. I have a problem with the NBA not having a problem with how Iverson was selected. And how Tracy McGrady was nearly selected.

It's time to revisit whether fan voting should have sole control over who starts in an All-Star Game. The league disagrees; an NBA spokesman made it clear in a wire story I read that they like things just the way they are.

I'm sure commissioner David Stern will be asked about this during his media availability at All-Star Weekend. I'm sure David will go into trial-lawyer mode, spinning about the people's will and the tradition of this being the fans' celebration of the game and how, at the end of the day, an All-Star Game is about entertainment, not competition.

All that would have a smattering of truth, but it's a diversion. This is about clicks. And in our cyber-generated culture, clicks are the obsession.

Clicks are how you count page views, which is how you sell Internet advertising. And guess what: You could vote (and not just once, of course) via Internet access on nba.com.

Don't get me wrong, I wish I could vote for president and governor and mayor via Internet. The way we conduct elections is so old-tech, it's a miracle citizens stand in line to exercise their vote. What did Patrick Henry say? Give me I-Phone or give me death?

But this one is about collecting page views and global marketing. It's no secret why McGrady - who's played a handful of games this season and is in trade-demand mode - nearly got the nod over Phoenix point guard Steve Nash.

McGrady is a teammate of a certain Chinese center who is out for the season. If you can't vote for Yao Ming half a world away, then at least you know about McGrady. And there are a lot of clicks to be gathered in the emerging middle class in China.

Iverson is another case: He lasted in Memphis just long enough to tour Graceland, then hinted at retirement, then found a landing spot back in Philadelphia. He drew a buzz the first home game in Philly, and since then he's been a shrug, both in improving the 76ers' record and their attendance.

That didn't stop Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski from claiming Iverson deserved to be an All-Star for his "rock star" quality.

Iverson is now a rock star like Roger Daltrey. Note to Gen-X and Gen-Y: Ask your mom about Daltrey; she still thinks he's hot.

I'm not dumping on Iverson, but it's a joke that he's an All-Star starter. That means someone who dominates - Atlanta Hawk Joe Johnson comes to mind - doesn't start. And some deserving reserve - Charlotte Bobcat Gerald Wallace or Hawk Josh Smith comes to mind - forfeits a chance at a unique experience.