By D. Chip James

Editor's Note: Chip wrote this before the 2003 All-Star game. It's being posted late - still a fun read.

In honor of this weekend’s 52nd NBA All-Star game, here are the 52 greatest things about the world’s best professional league’s mid-season classic:

52- No Denver Nuggets in the all-star game. Not one. (Sorry Juwan)

51- Brad Miller winning the MVP… okay maybe not.

50- Manute Bol and Muggsy Bogues on the same team.

49- Yao Ming needing a breather two minutes in because of the ridiculous pace…

48- Shaq getting subbed in and taking control for the West.

47- No dunking wheel. We hope.

46- Doug Christie and his ridiculous wife, I mean hand motions, won’t be at all involved.

45- The chance that everyone’s goat pick, Antoine Walker, might knock off Peja in the 3-point shoot-out.

44- That T-t-t-tim Hardaway isn’t helping TNT with the broadcast.

43- 3 of the 4 dunk contest participants runnin’ the fast break in the Rookie challenge.

42- The coach-off between Sir Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith on Friday night.

41- Dirk Nowitzki having a legit shot at winning MVP… off the bench.

40- Dajuan Wagner and Jay Williams getting to play an open court game on the same team… watch out Tony Parker and Jamaal Tinsley.

39- Brian McKnight taking Mark McGrath to the rack.

38- Throwback jerseys taking over Philips Arena.

37- Stephon Marbury vs. Jason Kidd.

36- Peja and Dirk on the same team.

35- Stevie Franchise’s handle.

34- Rick Adelman and Isaiah Thomas staying in their seats.

33- Ron Artest’s snub means the chances of someone getting an arm (or leg) broken have decreased drastically.

32- Sue Bird crossing over Nelly, Tim McGraw and Ice Cube.

31- Sam Cassell once again insisting he got snubbed.

30- Taking a week off work so you can stand in line at Club 112… for the entire 7 days.

29- Lisa Leslie erasing Frankie Muniz’s shots.

28- Yao Ming finally putting an end to Vlade’s complementary reserve role out West.

27- Ben Wallace trying to break Dikembe’s rebound record.

26- 5 guys starting Sunday night (KG, KB, Yao, T-Mac, JO) never played college ball in the United States.

25- Four 40-inch verts in the dunk contest…a wide-open race.

24- The possibility of ‘Nique dunking on Magic.

23- The possibility of Magic breaking ‘Nique’s ankles.

22- Guys named Nene, Emanuel, Andrei and Gordon proving their worth in the Rookie challenge…

21- While guys named Dunleavy, Brown, Haywood and Curry sit and watch.

20- Kobe gets to shine without worrying about the ignorant fans from Philly.

19- Amare Stoudemire dunking all over Tyson Chandler in the Rookie challenge.

18- Jamal Mashburn and Shawn Marion…well deserved.

17- Lakers/Celtics clash. Paul Pierce matching up with Kobe Bryant at some point.

16- T-Mac going glass, part 2?

15- Karl Malone – Gone fishin’.

14- The Iverson vs. Francis match up.

13- No 2-Ball!

12- Mark Cuban paying for a highway banner seen by drivers on their way into Atlanta reading, “Where’s Fin?”

11- Knowing that if Isaiah tries to hate on Jordan, all of ATL will jump him at halftime.

10- Kevin Garnett getting his yearly dosage of knowing how Webber, Dirk, Rasheed, Malone and Duncan feel actually having good players around them.

09- The possibility of a LeBron sighting.

08- Having a group that could start (and win) the game – Shaq, Dirk, Nash, Marbury and Marion – come off the West bench.

07- The Jordan vs. Bryant match up.

06- Scrapers like Steve Nash and Ben Wallace.

05- Vince and his hops trying to prove that he belongs. He’s got a lot of work to do.

04- The McGrady vs. Bryant match up.

03- All those voters who chose Yao Ming over the one of the 5 most dominant players of all time to start in the game realizing why the man has 3 titles in the last 3 years.

02- Jermaine O’Neal, Antoine Walker and Tracy McGrady hosting the families of 3 U.S. troops for the weekend.

#1- What’s love? Love is playing every all-star game like it’s your last. Go MJ.

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