I enjoy a star-studded spectacle as much as the next person, but I think its time for the four major sports leagues to abandon their all-star contests.

Major League Baseball, the NFL, NHL and the NBA all have tried to put together entertaining efforts, but in this day and age, all-star games have gone the way of the dodo bird and the running board.

Hmmm ... where to begin?

• The NFL. The worst of all all-star games and understandably so.

With players' salaries so high and no guaranteed contracts, why would anyone want to run the risk of getting hurt in this meaningless game? The only all-star game at the end of the season, a week after the climactic Super Bowl, does anybody really feel like playing football?

A trip to Hawaii is great, but it's pocket change for players, who can easily afford to go whenever they want. Players don't want to go like they used to. Of the 86 players were voted to the Pro Bowl this season, 15 were replaced because of "injury" and two other alternates weren't notified as subs until it was too late.

Instead, offer a trip for two or four to each player, a pat on the back for making the Pro Bowl list and leave it at that.

And dump the silly NFL-backed events, like beach volleyball. Robert Edwards of the New England Patriots blew out his knee doing that and saw a promising career go down the toilet.

And New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees needed elbow surgery following this year's game. Fortunately, it was his nonthrowing elbow.

• The NHL. I knew this game was coming, but didn't realize it was on a Saturday, instead of its usual Sunday date. This is more an exhibition game with very little hitting and an emphasis on scoring.

That's not true hockey, although events such as the hardest shot and fastest skater are enjoyable.

However, nobody watched. Hockey is a bad draw for television and was 17th in the cable ratings for its time slot behind shows like "Ace of Cakes," "Iron Chef" and "Mythbusters."

• The NBA. Hosting the game in Las Vegas this year was a neon-glowing sign of what this game has become. I enjoy the music and the entertainment to a point, but the glitz of this spectacle overshadows the game.

Everyone seems exhausted by the time tip-off rolls around. It is an entertaining game, but it looks like a game where stroking one's own ego and outdoing your peers is more important than winning the game. So don't play.

As for the events, Tyrus Thomas said it best about the slam-dunk contest. He just wanted the check.

• MLB. The only one of the four that could still have a great game with great stars, but I would take the voting away from the people, who have stuffed the ballot box — and now internet voting — with hometown team players.

The league saved this game from itself two years ago in rewarding the American or National League winner with home field advantage in the World Series.

Something to play for, but unfortunately, not something worth watching.