Baseball has the only legitimate All-Star Game, says Josh Donaldson

February, in professional sports, is the month when we successively have the right to several All-Star Games: the NFL Pro Bowl, then those of the NHL and then the NBA.

Each year, these events are targeted by critics. Whether they are justified or not, it is often the level of effort that is called into question. In fact, the players who have been selected are criticized for not giving 100%, even if they are the best in the world.

Josh Donaldson, three-time All-Star in the MLB, made a murderous outing on Twitter that fits in with this line of thinking, Sunday after the NBA All-Star Game.

“Baseball is the only sport with a legitimate All-Star Game. You can’t take it easy with a guy who throws 100 miles an hour. All other sports except hockey should stop having them. In fact, it’s embarrassing to watch. “

Here, a correction is in order. Donaldson, the 2015 American League MVP, would benefit from a little nuance.

First, it is true that major league baseball can hardly ask star pitchers to pitch balls to the best hitters in the league. I understand what the 36-year-old veteran means by “legitimate”, if he wants to advance that in MLB, it is stronger than elsewhere.

Is it embarrassing to watch? For the Pro Bowl in the NFL, yes. I understand. Invited players don’t even tackle anymore. This game doesn’t even have the intensity of a flag football game.

For the NBA and the NHL, on the other hand, I must point out my disagreement. The weekends put on by these two leagues are designed to put on a show – and that’s what they do. In the NBA, as we had the opportunity to see with Steph Curry this Sunday, it is particularly interesting.

Josh Donaldson starts with a basic idea which is not bad. He simply fell too quickly into the insult. It can’t help him.