Other than marking the halfway point of the season albeit a shortened, 66-game schedule the NBA All-Star Weekend represents a moment for players, coaches and team management to analyze how a team has performed thus far. Trades will soon start happening as teams realize a need for a certain position or playmaker. Yet, this past weekend, the focus was on the accomplishments of the superstars and the skills they have displayed through the first half of the season.
Throughout the All-Star Weekend, players put their skills to the test against their top peers. Events such as the Rising Stars Challenge featuring the game's top rookies and second-year players the Three-Point Shootout and the Slam Dunk Contest all allow players to demonstrate their specific talents, whether it be their hops or long-range shooting touch. On the Sunday of this star-studded weekend, the cream of the crop participate in the All-Star Game, which is essentially the best players in the game throwing alley-oops to their buddies while high-fiving popular entertainments stars, such as Jay-Z, Spike Lee and, unfortunately, Justin Bieber.
All-Stars can be found at every level of athletic play, so there's no reason why only professional athletes should get the praise. Without further ado, allow me to present you the All-Stars of Dartmouth's winter sports.Women's Basketball Faziah Steen '13
Kobe Bryant, shooting guard of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kevin Durant, small forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder, lead the league in scoring. They each lead their team not just with their scoring but with their leadership.Yes, basketball is a team sport, but you still need leaders, and these two are the exemplary leaders on and off the court.
Steen came into the season as one of the leaders for the women's basketball team, having averaged over 12 points during her sophomore year, which was good for second on the team and fifth in the Ivy League. This season, she did not let her team down, averaging a team-high 15.6 points per game. She also led her team in every offensive category, setting her up for what should be a phenomenal senior year. Steen will enter next season 45 points shy of 1,000 points, which would make her the 16th 1,000-point scorer in Dartmouth history. Women's Track and Field Abbey D'Agostino '14
Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls revolutionized point guard play, according to Lebron James. Night in and night out, Rose leads his team, despite being one of the younger stars in the league. Although he might not be a veteran presence because of his age, his leadership and accomplishments have brought respect from several savvy veterans. Rose has never allowed his skills or accolades to get to his head, and he is one of the most humble players in the NBA.
Despite being an underclassman, D'Agostino has not let herself become intimidated by the older girls on the track. Earlier this term, she broke the Dartmouth mile record twice her fastest mile time was 4:37.41. She was also part of the distance medley relay team that set a Dartmouth and Ivy League record three weeks ago. Continuing her stellar season, D'Agostino broke the Dartmouth record in the 3,000-meters run last week, shattering the old mark by more than 12 seconds. Women's Swimming and Diving Team All of them
There are times that you'll see players surprise the entire NBA and make fans yell for an All-Star appearance. New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin caught everyone in the NBA by surprise, leading a resurging Knicks team to a playoff position at the All-Star break. Unexpected play and performances are a welcome surprise, and we all appreciate them.
The women's swimming and diving team put together a phenomenal season, taking the Ivy League by surprise. After starting the season with several big victories over Ivy League opponents, the team slowed down a bit, losing the last two meets in which it competed. However, this team placed fifth at the Ivy League Championships, the best finish for the squad in the last 30 years. The team has an extremely bright future ahead of it, which not many believed was possible after several mediocre seasons recently.
There are many student-athletes that weren't mentioned here, but believe me when I say that I truly respect every one of you. Continue your strong efforts, and perhaps some day you'll get an All-Star appearance, whether it be in professional sports or in my column.
