The actual game started 45 minutes after its scheduled 8 pm start; rightfully, some in-game booing remained from the preceding Sears Entertainment Showcase. Every stoppage in play provided an excuse for Kia, All State, and whoever Kyrie Irving ages for, to advertise with a musical act. Excessive theatrics and commercials aside, the game itself was very touchy; the frequency of airborne players getting shoved deterred the star power. For perspective, even Kobe Bryant passed up open jumpers, so you know.

Commentators have long insinuated that an All Star Game player agreement exists to defer to the host. Knowing this, was it me or did James Harden, Houston Rockets star, act like a prima donna? He walked the ball up and generally looked frustrated coming off the bench again. Bosh didn't appreciate being embarrassed either, which could have been another Houston connection problem. I tried switching to the D-League All Star Game between acts, only to be reminded of the talent gap; ultimately skipped the final quarter, and imagine the final two minutes of play dragged on for half an hour.

At least the three point contest remained somewhat pure after all of these years. When I heard Terrence Ross ASK Jeremy Evans to keep the final round of the Dunk Contest prop free, my choice was made for me; of course this request was made before Evans trotted out a painting of himself. This year’s dunk field was so impressive on paper, that last year’s winner, Jeremy Evans, should have been the worst dunker of the bunch. Even though we were robbed of a Terrence Ross vs Gerald Green Finals because of the lame East vs. West gimmick, James White’s dejected face was gold! Also, if we must allow multiple attempts, then at least subtract a point per missed dunk from the dunker’s final score! Jason Richardson remains the best All Star Game dunker after Vince Carter, followed by Gerald Green, Andre Iguodala, and Terrence Ross in some order.

I should have watched the bad zombie television show instead… If you’re wondering who won what contest this weekend, then you’ve missed the point; we all lost.

It's Sunday, the Super Bowl is too large to ignore! Please note my Patriots over the 49ers Super Bowl pick from the Conference Round, unlike pre-game talking heads, I own my losses; of course, when I win, you must never forget that I celebrated President Obama’s second term before he won! My record for the new year so far: one win, two losses.

I would like to make the sentimental pick here: Ray Lewis’ bon voyage season concludes with a Championship ala Michael Strahan and Michael Jordan; it would probably help if his name were Michael Lewis. The problem with the sentimental pick is that it flies in the face of the better team. After dominant wins over dominant teams, and despite a few hiccups, the 49ers were arguably the best football team all season. And yet, there are logical reasons to side with sentiment. The 49ers did fall to far lesser teams, and the Ravens did pull out victories over two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in games they were favored against. Sentiments are emotional though, the pick is still tied to the dream of a fairy tale ending, instead of inexcusable confidence. Colin Kaepernick has played like a veteran, crushed a playoff quarterback rushing record, and won on the road when it mattered against the league’s best home team.

There’s more sentiment, my anti-sentiment towards the polarizing arrogance of Jim Harbaugh. I was a Jim Harbaugh fan in his playing days, I was also a Jeff George fan, a Warren Moon fan, and a Ken O’Brien fan… Basically, I rooted for quarterbacks who kept losing, liked the allure of the upset, and wanted to be inspired by the underdog. Today, Captain Comeback has reinvented himself as the hard-nosed coach who revitalized football in San Francisco, previously the home of west coast finesse. We both changed in this equation, and there is a solid discomfort associated with coming full circle.

Sentiment aside, I’m picking the 49ers to win, and even my record for the year; I’m going to need the clean slate before the NBA Playoffs. An on-field Ray Lewis collision with Colin Kaepernick’s immediately dislocated hip would still make my evening; and somehow, I find myself worrying more about Lewis’ miracle recovery being derailed. Flukes aside, give me second string Alex Smith over Joe Flacco anyhow. I win either way, just know, I care more about my record than a story. Enjoy the game and chime in with my tweets during the game!

G4 coverage was unnecessary, whoever took a 3 - 1 series lead would inevitably close out at home. Last year the Thunder were my choice to win it all this year, then the season began tailor made for the Heat, and two weeks ago the Spurs were suddenly my predominant choice. Ultimately, I chose the Miami Heat to win this series, and I really didn't want Durant to have this loss on his resume; alas, what follows are my game notes in reverse order.

• #nbafinals @miamiheat may not have beaten the world, but I will respect their claim as world champions until USA loses another world tournament
• #nbafinals G5 final @miamiheat 121 / @okcthunder 106
• #nbafinals no doubt, Lebron James is the Finals MVP, one more and he historically puts Kobe Bryant in his rear view
• #nbafinals garbage time resembles the @nba development league showcase
• #nbafinals Eddy Curry will receive an NBA Championship ring, the shame...
• No joke, may watch Nashville on @abc, always intrigued by the makings of an original drama
• ‏@Jaxn_CEO Kevin Durant is a great scorer. Not defender, not passer, not leader. Retweeted by Jorene Rene
• #nbafinals @miamiheat up twenty six with a minute left in the third, tuning out for a bit, unlike @okcthunder, to be productive
• #nbafinals new G5 catchphrase, @miamiheat blocks Westbrook!
• #nbafinals when Bosh shoots imaginary bullets your way after knocking down a three pointer, then takes a foul on the other end #gameover
• #nbafinals @miamiheat up nineteen with four minutes left in the third, @okcthunder making off-season plans
• #nbafinals Van Gundy and I are looking to each other wondering about these calls, let them play ball refs
• #nbafinals last @okcthunder possession ended with Sefalosha to Ibaka for the shot #losing
• #nbafinals lead down to five, lead up to eleven, @miamiheat lead remains the constant
• #nbafinals play resumes with a three from Durant, commentators immediately suggest a comeback... #unnecessary
• #nbafinals G5 half @miamiheat 59 / @okcthunder 49
• Sneaker commercials are the worst, random numbers that may or may not be statistics, and comical graphics with a catch phrase #gameon
• #nbafinals we're finally calling moving screens on Perkins? He almost carried Chalmers out to mid-court on the last possession.
• @brittquita Mike Miller is already back from the dead, any performance is already astounding for him
• #nbafinals these James Harden bailouts and flops are doing nothing to counter his memorable backdrop to Kobe's summer game winner
• #nbafinals @miamiheat up seventeen following a run of three pointers and excellent defense
• #nbafinals Bosh is making a bid for best big man in this game, at least for the night, Serge Ibaka had that title locked up until now.
• #nbafinals @miamiheat Bosh is playing like a big man tonight, Wade is scoring from mid-range, Lebron is playing lock down defense #winners
• #nbafinals Kevin Durant can't buy a basket, Lebron James won't sell him one.
• #nbafinals G5 Q1 @miamiheat 31 / @okcthunder 26
• #nbafinals Durant pulled off a Tracey McGrady poster to end the quarter... poor Tracey McGrady, getting backhanded compliments.
• #nbafinals if Norris Cole makes the post game podium wearing a ridiculous outfit with that haircut, then @tumblr may explode.
• #nbafinals know how I can tell these players don't play street ball? We don't give up on the foul, no and ones, and they wouldn't even count
• #nbafinals not proud or ashamed to admit this, early during the season I had suggested Norris Cole would win Rookie of the Year...
• Just watched a Spanish language @ford commercial with captions during an #nbafinals break, couldn't be prouder of our progress.
• Advance tickets are on sale for The Dark Knight Rises, which isn't in theaters until July 20th, what has the world come to?
• #nbafinals Chris Bosh is playing like a big third, the lower third, a third nonetheless.
• #nbafinals why is Kevin Durant guarding Mario Chalmers? Another reason to give Lebron the ultimate respect, he steps up on both ends.
• #nbafinals Lebron James, coast to coast, and the foul... like it's already raining @miamiheat confetti
• @Jaxn_CEO and master flopper James Harden hasn't even entered yet, the court is about to get damp
• #nbafinals alley layup for Dwyane Wade, he's not the same from even a year ago, effective just the same.
• #nbafinals remember when Mario Chalmers was busted for smoking pot right after he was drafted? Now he's Super Mario #high
• #nbafinals we've officially come to expect every Shane Battier shot to drop, not unreasonable following his play this series.
• #nbafinals already see the @okcthunder strategy, get Durant started early, except Durant is not a killer, or a point guard #turnover
• #nbafinals Kevin Durant leads @okcthunder in talent, Russell Westbrook has lead by example, stop disrespecting that man.