GET THE VOTE OUT: ALL-STAR GAME OR POPULARITY CONTEST?

          In Baltimore, Peter Schmuck writes that while All-Star
     fan balloting "is the one real opportunity for the paying
     customers to play a decision-making role" in MLB, it is
     "[o]bviously not ... fair."  Schmuck, citing players
     including Cubs P Kerry Wood who were omitted from the game,
     asks, "What if [MLB] were willing to shorten the regular
     season by a couple of games for the sake of an All-Star Week
     celebration that included two games?  The sport could hold a
     five-day festival -- not unlike Super Bowl Week -- that
     included both a 'People's Choice' and 'Players' Choice' All-
     Star Game" (Peter Schmuck, Baltimore SUN, 7/5).  
          ALL-STAR NOTES: Tonight's game will attract "about" 450
     media members to a temporary press-box in the right field
     seats.  Rockies Dir of Field Operations Kevin Kahn said that
     the total number of reporters, photographers and camera
     operators "could reach" 1,000.  TV crews from Japan,
     Venezuela, Mexico and Canada will also broadcast the game 
     (DENVER POST, 7/5)....MLB and its licensing partners put out
     a special line of All-Star apparel in "fashion colors,"
     ranging from "soft raspberry to bright neon green."  All-
     Star caps, jerseys and outerwear in non-traditional colors
     are available throughout the All-Star events (DENVER POST,
     7/4)....All fans at tonight's game will receive a red, white
     and blue Ty Beanie Baby bear named Glory (ROCKY MOUNTAIN
     NEWS, 7/4)....Aramark, the vendor at Coors Field, selected
     two "Vendor All-Stars" from each of its nine MLB stadiums to
     bring to the game.  Each received all-expense paid trips to
     Denver, and will work at the game (Aramark).