Two Moving All-Star Weekend Storylines

Let's not kid ourselves: we watch sports as much for the stories, the drama, as the execution of offenses and defenses. For a sporting event to really capture the imagination, it needs a hook. And this coming weekend, there are two notable ones to watch.

First, the positive. As MJD already told you, Dwight Howard had some major plans for the Dunk Contest. It turns out that, according to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel, this was part of Howard's master plan for the weekend:

He has the kind of charisma that could, oh, appeal to some major corporations who will be wined and dined at the event. Dwight Howard hopes that big grin ends up coming into your living room often, pitching all kinds of products.

Goodwin has been patiently waiting for Howard's game to catch up before he unleashes what he believes to be a total package. Now it has.

If it goes the way Camp Howard hopes, Dwight Howard, when he returns, no longer will belong to just Orlando. He'll belong to the world.

I don't know about you, but I love it when hyped-up "good guys" like Howard or Wade reveal that they want greenbacks as much as the next man. Go for yours, giant gentleman, go for yours!

In more somber news, perennial FanHouse favorite Gilbert Arenas is looking to get his mojo back on track after a string of bummers. In a video from the indispensable DC Sports Bog, Arenas explains why his poor shooting percentage makes him the favorite for the Three-Point Shoot Out. Which, oddly enough, is exactly what myself and MJD had said on the subject.