NBA All-Star Skills Competition To Include Mock Press Conference

HOUSTON—Commissioner David Stern announced Monday that, in addition to the Foot Locker three-point shootout and Sprite slam-dunk contest, Saturday’s NBA All-Star Skills Competition will include an Ogilvy Public Relations mock press conference event. “Creating a good public image is one of the most underrated and under-utilized skills in the sport today,” Stern said after introducing the first NBA skills competition in which a player is not expected to make a point. “After the four other contests, the players will shower up and head to the podium, where they will be judged on style, content, answer efficiency, humor, behavior of their children, and number of clichés they can muster in a five-minute time frame. This is a prime opportunity for our league to showcase the very best players in the post-game.” While there is no clear-cut favorite heading into the event, a source close to the NBA’s judging panel suggested that the player with the most buttons on his suit jacket will have an excellent chance of winning.