NBA All-Star Wknd in Vegas - A Failure

Taking into account the random acts of violence that occurred in Vegas during the NBA All-Star Weekend makes you think that martial law would be needed when the 2008 game is held in New Orleans.

The All-Star Game between East and West was meant to display the excellent performance of our basketball players, but instead it gave Commissioner David Stern a 72-hour headache.

If you can get a hold of the list of all the criminal activity that have transpired during that weekend, you can make a couple of made-for-TV movies. Out-of-control parties, gunplay, violence, weed, smoke, and general mayhem, and the lack of respect to the Vegas residents themselves.

With the way things were going, Las Vegas ought to drop any attempt in attracting an expansion franchise from the NBA.

It is alleged that NFL player Pacman Jones and Nelly were at the Minxx Gentlemen's Club where three people were shot. There were so many fights and one parking-lot shootout at the MGM Grand that hotel guests fled the premises for their safety. Even walking down Las Vegas Blvd. was discouraged. Even at the majestic Wynn Hotel, there were reports of a brawl between rappers and police.

A total of 403 arrests were made by police. Officially, there were four shootings related to the NBA weekend. Of course, more than half of the arrests were vice-related.

Las Vegas residents report a general rudeness among the NBA fans themselves. Reports of people walking out on their bills, lack of respect for casino rules and other players, and other acts of violence showed us that this type of clientele are better off going somewhere else. Vegas probably got some sort of positive economic benefit from the game, but there were other factors such as President's Day Weekend, and Chinese New Year. I think if you take the NBA out of it, the hotels and casinos would have still done a good job.

But something needs to be done to end the violence that comes with every NBA All-Star Game. Something that the young, hip-hop hoodlums would find another event to terrorise. We need a game without the Bloods, Crips, and hookers and hoes. It's been three years since the Ron Artest's fan brawl. It did not get any better after the Knicks-Nuggets brawl last year.

We have to be afraid of this and action must be taken, serious action. With the 2008 game in New Orleans and close proximity to Mardi Gras, you are asking for widespread looting and lawlessness. Do we want to give Big Easy the final nail in the coffin?