Nearly 20,000 individuals from around the world converged in Phoenix to celebrate, cover the happenings, and work behind the scenes during NBA All-Star Weekend. Rolling out sports journeyed with the players, celebrities, power brokers, and beautiful women who partied from dawn until dawn –amir shaw
Friday 10:00 p.m. until 4 a.m.
The Event: 944 Magazine’s NBA All-Star Weekend Night 2 at the W Hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz.Notable Attendees: T.I., Akon, Cedric the Entertainer, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Terrell Owens, and Shaquille O’NealMost Memorable Moments: After noticing the influx of scantly-dressed women, Vernon Davis of the San Frisco 49ers spoke to rolling out sports about a past rendezvous gone wrong. “My buddies and I had a big party at a hotel. I met a girl [and] she said, ‘I like you and I’m loyal.’ We fell asleep on the couch together and when I woke up, all of my money and jewelry was gone.” Fabolous took the stage shortly after midnight and performed hits such as “Breathe,” “She Got Her Own (Remix),” and “Addiction.”
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Event: NBA All-Stars Practice at the Phoenix Convention Center
Most Memorable Moments: The Eastern Conference All-Stars seemed more concerned with competing for the Guinness Book of World Records (Devin Harris set a record as the fastest person to dribble a basketball from baseline to baseline) than actually practicing. Before the Western Conference All-Stars finished practice, Shaquille O’Neal hit a half-court shot that electrified the crowd.
Saturday 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The Event: The House of Hennessy at PHX Notable Attendees: Dominique Wilkins, Akon, Jadakiss, and Maurice HennessyMost Memorable Moments: Former NBA Slam Dunk champion Dominque Wilkins spoke to rolling out sports about the art of dunking and his most memorable All-Star game. After taking a shot of Hennessy with Maurice Hennessy of Hennessy Cognac, Jadakiss yells, “How many rappers can say they drunk Hennessy with Hennessy?”
Saturday 10:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.
The Event: “The Grand Hustle Takeover” at the Chase Towers Notable Attendees: T.I., Amar’e Stoudemire, Lola Luv (video vixen) and Young DroMost Memorable Moment: Western Conference All-Star and Phoenix Suns’ forward Amar’e Stoudemire served as the unofficial ambassador of Phoenix during the weekend. He hosted eight parties, including “The Grand Hustle Takeover,” and had enough energy to score 19 points in the All-Star game.
Saturday 12:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m.
The Event: 944 Magazine’s NBA All-Star Weekend Night 2 at the W Hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz.Notable Attendees: Jermaine Dupri, Laz Alonzo, and Devin Harris (New Jersey Nets) Most Memorable Moment: Hours after Nate Robinson defeated Dwight Howard to capture the 2009 Slam Dunk Championship, attendees were still buzzing about Robinson’s lime green shoes. Common also hit the stage and performed a medley of his hits before a raucous crowd.
The 2009 All-Star Weekend lived up to the hoopla and the hype. Despite of the economic downturn, attendees partied like it was 1999. And, oh yeah, a basketball game did take place. The Western Conference defeated the East by a score of 146-119.
