Every professional sport has an All Star Game that serves several purposes. Often times it a chance to showcase the leagues talent, serve as a break for the athletes during the season or a chance for specific athletes to be label as the best in the business. In one case (though this was recently repealed), the All Star Game in MLB even decided who had home field advantage for the World Series. These games have become a mainstay and a tradition in each of the respective leagues.
In the more recent future fans have had the opportunity to have their say in who participates in these games. Each league is a little different, but fans can cast their votes online or via social media to see their favorite players and team represented in these showcases. The problem arises when fans decide to vote for someone because of blind loyalty or as a joke. Recently in the MLB All Star Games (where starters are selected solely off of fan vote) teams like the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs saw their entire team dominate the votes and hold down positions that frankly all of the players didn't deserve. In the NBA players like Zaza Pachulia led other more deserving players in fan votes due to the copious amount of Warriors fans that have surfaced during their recent success. So the question that arises from all of this is, should fans be able to help decide who plays in these games?
To eliminate fan voting simply due to the fact that they are biased isn't really fair. Coaches, players and sports writers are all biased in their own right. Bias isn't the problem, the problem comes when the fans have such a large say in what happens. In my opinion I like the way that the NBA has adopted a percentage of fan vote, so that it only makes up a portion of the decision. Or as the NBA does have the fans vote in the final player on the roster so fans still have a decision and buy in for the game.
At the end of the day if the fans could get it right, then they should have all the say. However fans are passionate and love their teams which causes them to not think clearly. If there was a way to make fans' vote with their brains and their heart then I say we give the fans the reins.
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