Home Run Derby: The Best All-Star Event?

I love the home run derby. I love it because I've loved it since I've been a kid. I love it because I love hitting home runs in video games. I love it because I can catch better than 90 percent of the kids in the outfield. I even love it because of how much announcers like Chris Berman try to sell their excitement.
There's also more strategy that goes into it that people think. They don't just go up there and try to hit it as far as they can. But is it the best All-Star even of all the major sports? I say no. The following are my top 3.

3) NBA Slam Dunk Competition. This is the hardest event to come to a conclusion on. One year it can the best of the All-Star festivities, and another year one of the worst. It seems like it goes in cycles. Every five years or so, a new young guy comes in with a great enthusiasm for the competition and brings a unique approach and flair to it. Think Vince Carter and Dwight Howard for modern examples.
Here's the problems with the slam dunk competition:
1) The aforementioned lack of quality for a few years. Tyrus Thomas personifies this when he stated that he was going to do some random dunks and collect his check. Unfortunately, the dunk contest creates that kind of atmosphere. Think about the home run derby for instance. A guy can't just go up there and mess around. He'll hit zero home runs and embarrass himself. But in the dunk contest it's more accepted to miss if you're trying something crazy. Bringing me to my next point...
2) There's two many missed dunks. In a perfect world, the player could execute the dunk on the first try and they'd be done with it. But when they start getting into attempting the same dunk over and over for two minutes it becomes corny and the competition loses its luster.

2) MLB Home Run Derby. What I love about the derby is how it incorporates the non-players into the competition. Non-players are involved in the home run derby more than any other All-Star event, making it difficult to argue that it isn't the most fan friendly. Firstly, you have a bunch of kids in the outfield shagging fly balls, which is a really cool and unique way of making the fans part of the game.
We also can't forget that the point of the competition is to hit balls to the fans in the stands. Watch the home run derby and you'll see grown men trying as hard as a little kid to get a home run ball.
And third, the participating players and other All Stars watching have their kids out there with them. You can't do that in any of the other sports, so I applaud an event that is suited to make that happen.

1) NBA Three Point Shootout. I realize I'm in the minority with this selection, but hear me out. The skills in this display are the most similar to ones that would be displayed in an actual game. Think about it, NBA players aren't jumping from the free throw line with a cape on to dunk the ball during a game. Big league hitters aren't hitting 70 mph straight fastballs over the fence. But NBA players are forced to make wide open three pointers, often with a quick release.
Maybe I'm biased, but to me, it's much more exciting to see a shooter rattle off seven straight threes than seven straight home runs. The three point shootout also adds the extra excitement of the final ball being worth twice as many points, instead of more money for charity. Not that I'm against more money for charity, or anything.
But here's the deciding factor: time. The three point shootout goes quickly. There's only two rounds, a time limit, and six players, so you avoid these Corey Hart situations where he's sitting around for an hour and a half. No awkward A-Rod conversations or Will Ferrell cameos needed. Short and sweet, just as an All-Star event should be.

My All-Star Lineup (American League)

Back for the AL All-Star lineup. Again, I've adhered to all of the rules that go along with selecting an All-Star team. The AL team looks loaded once again, poised to win, what is this, their 14th straight? There was also a tie in there somewhere, but let's forget about that. I've always wondered if there's some sort of pressure for the AL to win every year? Probably not, considering they have the better team every year. As you will see, the AL selections are much more clear cut than the NL.
Here's a breakdown by team: Yankees (6), Rangers (5), Rays (4), Mariners (3), Angels (2), Blue Jays (2), Red Sox (2), Tigers (2), Twins (2), White Sox (2), Athletics (1), Indians (1), Orioles (1), Royals (1)
Starting Lineup:
1. Carl Crawford (TAM, LF)*
2. Derek Jeter (NYY, SS)*
3. Miguel Cabrera (DET, 1B)*
4. Evan Longoria (TAM, 3B)*
5. Josh Hamilton (TEX, CF)*
6. Vladimir Guerrero (TEX, DH)*
7. Torii Hunter (LAA, RF)*
8. Joe Mauer (MIN, C)*
9. Robinson Cano (NYY, 2B)*
Reserves:
John Buck (TOR, C)*
Justin Morneau (MIN, 1B)*
Kevin Youkilis (BOS, 1B) - There's a shortage of first basemen on this year's team and I don't know why. Oh wait, it's because the DH position takes away from selections that would most likely be first basemen. So I guess out with Youkilis, and in with teammate David Ortiz.
Paul Konerko (CHW, 1B) - I'm convinced no one watches the White Sox. How is it that their set-up man gets an All-Star nod and not their two best offensive players (both with great numbers) who have single handedly kept them afloat in the AL Central?
Ty Wigginton (BAL, 2B)*
Alex Rodriguez (NYY, 3B)*
Michael Young (TEX, 3B) - He gets overlooked next to the Hamiltons and Guerreros of the world. A-Rod is a lock, and Young deserves the other third base spot over Adrian Beltre.
Elvin Andrus (TEX, SS)*
Alex Rios (CHW, OF) - See Paul Konerko.
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA, OF)*
Jose Bautista (TOR, OF)*
Scott Podsednik (KAN, OF) - Can't say I fully endorse this pick, but Joakim Soria keeps Rafael Soriano off the team, and I can't let that happen.
Pitching Staff:
Andy Pettitte (NYY, SP)*
C.C. Sabathia (NYY, SP)*
Cliff Lee (SEA, SP)*
David Price (TAM, SP)*
Fausto Carmona (CLE, SP)*
Felix Hernandez (SEA, SP)*
Jered Weaver (LAA, SP) - Weaver is the odd man out because of the picks of set-up men (Hughes and Thornton). I'll reward a great starting pitcher over a great set-up man any day of the week.
Jon Lester (BOS, SP)*
Trevor Cahill (OAK, SP)*
Jose Valverde (DET, RP)*
Mariano Rivera (NYY, RP)*
Neftali Feliz (TEX, RP)*
Rafael Soriano (TAM, RP) - Soriano's numbers compare very favorably with his AL East counterpart, Mariano Rivera.

My All-Star Lineup (National League)

Ahh, it's that time of the year again. The MLB All-Star game is here, and as always, the controversy and lobbying that comes with the selection process. Here's my NL lineup. Obviously, I'm the only fan voting here, so my selections are not based on popularity, but production. I've adhered to all of the rules (34 players, 13 of them pitchers, at least one player from each team, at least one back-up for each position). I've also accounted for injuries, so some players that deserved to be all-stars were left off because they won't be able to play. An * denotes a player that was selected to the All-Star team.
Here's a breakdown by team: Cardinals (4), Braves (3), Brewers (3), Padres (3), Reds (3), Rockies (3), Diamondbacks (2), Dodgers (2), Marlins (2), Mets (2), Phillies (2), Astros (1), Cubs (1), Giants (1), Nationals (1), Pirates (1)
Starting Lineup:
1. Brandon Phillips (CIN, 2B)*
2. Hanley Ramirez (FLA, SS)*
3. Albert Pujols (STL, 1B)*
4. Joey Votto (CIN, DH) - If Votto doesn't get in with the fan vote I don't know what I'll do, but it won't be pretty. He has a legitimate argument to start over Pujols at first.
5. Ryan Braun (MIL, LF)*
6. David Wright (NYM, 3B)*
7. Corey Hart (MIL, RF)*
8. Miguel Olivo (COL, C) - I know surprise pick, but the All-Star game is all about offense. Yadier Molina gets the nod every year because of his defense, but not from me. Olivo deserves to go, and this will probably be his only chance.
9. Carlos Gonzalez (COL, CF) - A shame that he likely won't make the team. Gonzalez would be a perfect 9 hitter because of his speed. A legitimate power and speed guy.
Reserves:
Brian McCann (ATL, C)*
Adrian Gonzalez (SDG, 1B)*
Ryan Howard (PHI, 1B)*
Kelly Johnson (ARI, 2B) - Despite the low batting average, he provides some nice pop at 2B. He'll also be a valuable left handed bat off the bench.
Martin Prado (ATL, 2B)*
Ryan Zimmerman (WAS, 3B) - Let's face it, the Nationals aren't going to get two players selected, and the choice was Matt Capps. His numbers are inflated for the simple fact that any reliever would have the high save numbers he does if they were playing for a team that was incapable of winning by more than three runs. Zimmerman is the next best selection.
Scott Rolen (CIN, 3B)*
Jose Reyes (NYM, SS)*
Andre Ethier (LAD, OF)*
Chris Young (ARI, OF)*
Matt Holliday (STL, OF)*
Matt Kemp (LAD, OF) - Kemp's numbers aren't exactly what most people expected they would be at this point in the season, but he still clearly deserves to be here.
Pitchers:
Adam Wainwright (STL, SP)*
Chris Carpenter (STL, SP)*
Josh Johnson (FLA, SP)*
Mat Latos (SDG, SP) - Even many baseball fans don't know who he his, they will soon enough. I wish the fan voters did.
Roy Halladay (PHI, SP)*
Roy Oswalt (HOU, SP) - Michael Bourn got the Houston vote but didn't really deserve it. For his consitency and not going crazy pitching for the Astros, Oswalt gets the team nod.
Tim Lincecum (SFO, SP)*
Ubaldo Jimenez (COL, SP)*
Yovani Gallardo (MIL, SP)*
Billy Wagner (ATL, RP) - 5 wins, 17 saves, Wagner has done it all for the Braves this year, quietly resurrecting his career in Atlanta.
Carlos Marmol (CHC, RP) - He gets into jams and is still wildly inconsistent, but if I need a strikeout in a key situation, there is no pitcher in baseball I would rather have take the mound.
Evan Meek (PIT, RP)*
Heath Bell (SDG, RP) - Bell continues to get overlooked despite the Padres success. Many would say he has been the best reliever in baseball the last few years.