The WNBA All-Star Game (ASG) just happened the other day and the rosters for the MLB ASG were announced recently and most everyones initial thought is, "who cares?" The 1933 MLB ASG was the first of its kind and was such a hit, that every major professional sports league in the U.S. has followed suit since then. Back in the first few decades it was actually something of a game, some decent competition with pride on the line for which group was the best.

The Good Ol' Days Have Come and Gone

All-Star Games once were great games and now they are just a bunch of players giving it 25% effort and riding it out because it's a reprieve from their long season. No one can blame them though, why would you risk anything in an exhibition game that is purely for the entertainment of others.

• From the 60s through the 80s the MLB ASG routinely posted Nielsen Ratings of 20-25 or higher.

• In 2019, it rated 5.0 with the highest in the last two decades being 9.5.

• The 2022 NBA ASG rated 3.1, a few years ago it was 4.1

• The 2022 NFL Pro Bowl rated 3.5, the lowest this century

Money Talks

As does everything in this world, money dictates ASGs and why they are still around. The sheer amount of money that can be made from putting on a spectacle that no one wants to watch on tv is unbelievable.

• 2022 NBA ASG brought in $248.9 million to the Cleveland, Ohio area

• Over 121,000 people attended the festivities surrounding the game

All of those peoples tickets, concessions, souvenirs, etc. make it well worth the time and effort of the league to continue to trot out its best players for a game so bad that no one wants to watch.

Unfortunately, They Are Here to Stay

The leagues can't pass up the money that they make from ASGs no matter how much fans complain about them. The NFL is reportedly looking for ways to revamp their Pro Bowl because it is so unwatchable, but don't be mistaken, it's not going anywhere. Not anytime soon for any professional U.S. league. For the smaller leagues, they don't make much money, they continue because that's just what professional leagues do. But for leagues like MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, it is all about the money.

Mound Visit

Saints Sports Network is a Christian group that brings you interesting sports coverage. Our name comes from Ephesians 2:18-21 where it notes that all Christians are saints in God's eyes. Therefore we are saints who write about sports but also want to make sure to share the Gospel. That's where Mound Visit comes into play because we all need a visit to the mound from God in good times and bad to recenter our lives and trust in him. We'll do that by highlighting a Bible verse for you to think and pray about in each newsletter that you receive from us.