There is a misconception that any All-Star Game is “for the fans.” That notion has long been disregarded, especially in the NBA and NHL. The All-Star Game serves as a junket for the league’s major sponsors to socialize with the game’s top stars, as a reward for their support and the financial contributions they provide. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for players to socialize and indulge in alcohol for a couple of nights, which, along with contract bonuses, is what truly interests them. The majority of tickets are reserved for sponsors and their connections.
Therefore, any criticism of Nikita Kucherov’s deliberate underperformance in the skills competition is rather trivial, especially since he was not the only one simply waiting for the drinking festivities. If players were given the chance to speak honestly without consequences, most would admit that they would have preferred to have the weekend off. Kucherov was simply being physically honest, if not verbally.
The skills competition was designed as a sort of pentathlon, and it was evident that Connor McDavid would emerge as the winner. This is likely because McDavid had a hand in designing it. Once Kucherov realized that he would not be rewarded with a significant sum of money, why should he care? Will this incident be immortalized on his future Hall of Fame plaque?
The fans who were booing Kucherov were essentially acknowledging how absurd the entire event was, a truth they were trying to ignore after paying exorbitant prices for the Not All-Star Game, only to have worse seats than various marketing executives. Unfortunately, this is the reality for most games at Rogers Centre when the Leafs are playing.
Kucherov is paid to play for the Lightning and help them win a championship. If players choose to enjoy the weekend, that is their prerogative. Kucherov essentially told the league’s executives to disregard their expectations, which is commendable. It is not his responsibility to put on a show for business partners in a game that holds no significance in the standings. He is a hero.
Now, let’s move on to a different topic. You may feel a sense of déjà vu because you have indeed heard this before. A few years ago, Mbappe changed his mind about joining Madrid in favor of a lucrative contract with PSG that also granted him significant influence over team decisions. After two years, Mbappe was unable to shape the team he desired in Paris, so he is now planning to leave for Spain.
Mbappe is undeniably one of the best players in the world, and any team would benefit from his presence. However, Mbappe has made it clear that he prefers playing from the left with a central striker to support him, which Madrid currently lacks. Perhaps he will fit into Carlo Ancelotti’s 4-4-2 diamond formation, partnering with Vinicius up top. Alternatively, he may force Vinicius out of the team altogether, which, as absurd as it sounds, wouldn’t be a significant setback.
But that discussion is for another time, when Mbappe proves that this is not merely a ploy to extract more money and power from PSG, as it was in the past. If it does come to fruition this time, there is a certain resemblance to Durant’s move. PSG has granted Mbappe a say in transfers and the construction of the roster. They hired the technical director and manager of his choice before last season. Mbappe witnessed Neymar, whom he never truly enjoyed playing with, leave the club. PSG has essentially started anew with a younger, less star-studded team, aiming to develop something more organic than the mercenary-like approach they adopted in their pursuit of the Champions League over the past decade. Yet, after two seasons, Mbappe has decided to abandon it all for the ready-made platform of Madrid.
That’s understandable. Madrid legends have a lasting legacy that is hard to resist. Bellingham and Mbappe could potentially form a historic partnership. Most importantly, fans probably just want to stop hearing about it.
Lastly, let’s shift our focus to the other side of the beautiful game, where Chloe Kelly successfully executed an Olimpico.