The crowd of 18,325 at yesterday's NBA All-Star Game
was the "biggest" ever at the Oakland Coliseum, according to
Ann Killion of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, who writes that
"at times on Sunday it was as quiet as the Warriors' usual
home gathering." Suns G Jason Kidd: "It was corporate. I
was just happy to see they had people in the seats" (S.J.
MERCURY NEWS, 2/14). In San Jose, Mark Purdy writes that the
sold-out crowd "witnessed an afternoon of reasonably fine
entertainment, including a deafening halftime spectacular"
that included L.L. Cool J, who managed to rhyme the phrase
"NBA dream" with "vanilla ice cream" (S.J. MERCURY NEWS,
2/14). NBC's Bob Costas said after the halftime show, "In
thirty-plus years, the league has gone from hippies to hip-
hop" ("NBA All-Star Game," 2/13). In Boston, Steve Bulpett
writes that during All-Star Weekend, the NBA "gives you 'The
Ed Sullivan Show' with all its variety and borderline
weirdness. ... The NBA All-Star Game is not so much a game
as it is a three-hour infomercial" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/14).
NOTES: Michael Jordan watched Sunday's All-Star Game
with Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley and
Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis (WASHINGTON POST, 2/14)....West
team coach Phil Jackson was sporting a "Bradley for
President" button before the game, "but by game time it was
tucked into his jacket pocket." Jackson: "I wasn't told to
take it off, but there was friendly persuasion." One NBA
official was overheard telling another after a conversation
with Jackson, "Boy was Phil (ticked)" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS,
2/14)....NBC's Jay Leno, on the All-Star Weekend: "You know
what game I like, the day before when they have the Father-
Illegitimate Son Game" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 2/11).