TORONTO -- Long after the end of an All-Star Game that featured a record 369 points but little in the way of memorable moments, a boy on his way out of Air Canada Centre looked up at his father and asked, "Is it very easy to be an All-Star two times in a row?"
I wanted to pull him aside and explain that nothing to do with All-Star Weekend is easy. Not the process of reaching the All-Star Game once, let alone in back-to-back years or 18 times. Especially 18 times. That's why Kobe Bryant had not one but two tribute videos playing on the scoreboard screens before the game.