Sports this 'n' that

 While the NBA All Star Game abandoned defense years ago in favor of a ratings-friendly, fan-friendly scoring frenzy, they've followed in lockstep with Major League Baseball in adding new attractions prior to the Sunday game.

For example, you have a celebrity game, which took place Friday, and ESPN dutifully repeated the broadcast on Saturday. In the 90's, MTV handled the celebrity game under their Rock 'n' Jock umbrella. This year's edition featured WWE's Michael "The Miz" Mizanin, who nearly won the game for his side with a halfcourt bomb for 3-----if only he had a couple of extra seconds. The clock was already at zero when Miz took the shot, and, being a ring villain trading on vanity, he swears he'll complain about it tonight on Monday Night Raw.

Now, we knew Miz played football in high school in the Cleveland area, but we have to wonder if he also was a baller back then.

=======================================

Meanwhile, on AEW's Rampage, the Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) & Kenny Omega defended their 6-man titles vs. AR Fox and Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin). With additional NBA All Star activities forcing Rampage into an earlier air time on Friday, the 6 wrestlers did some stunts with basketballs. You were expecting maybe the Harlem Globetrotters?

We know a lot of wrestlers started by playing either football or basketball before turning to the squared circle. NXT's Veer Mahaan was the subject of a feature film based on his baseball exploits in India ("Million Dollar Arm"). WWE's Bianca Belair was a track star at Tennessee. AEW may have started a new annual tradition.

=======================================

The XFL relaunched on Saturday with a 4 game slate (only 8 teams in the league), and co-owners Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Dany Garcia managed to make it to all four games over the 2 days.

The People's Movie Star reminds that he played his college ball at Miami.

Week 2 starts on Thursday this week, which would be a first for the league in its 3rd incarnation.

==========================================

Sunday's Daytona 500 went to double overtime. What in the name of Richard Petty is going on here?

Normally, we wouldn't talk about auto racing, but seeing the result (Ricky Stenhouse won the race) on ESPN's bottom line while watching XFL football, we get that this is about keeping viewers invested in the race, and Fox didn't want to lose viewers to the first half of ESPN's XFL doubleheader.

Next thing ya know, they'll contest the race in a dome. Just sayin'.