Replacing Bird with someone who plays any defense is a little strange, frankly, but McCloskey ignored that and went for the big finish.
"This is a gross injustice," McCloskey fumed, "and cannot be explained rationally."
Time for that 50,000-mile reality tuneup, Jack.
Why does the choice of one talented player over another talented player require an explanation? And is this worth getting all foamy in the mouth about?
Let's just hope McCloskey doesn't hear about Hawkins' opinion of All-Star Games in general.
"I've never watched them - never an entire game, anyway," Hawkins said. ''They always seemed kind of boring."
Jack, he probably didn't mean it.
But the fact is that Hawkins does deserve to be in Charlotte, N.C., on the Eastern Conference roster for today's All-Star Game - an opinion that doesn't detract from Rodman, who also would have been a deserving candidate.
Reggie Miller might be the best player not invited, but Indiana GM Donnie Walsh hasn't threatened secession lately, so maybe the Pacers are taking things in stride.
It happens that, when the Eastern Conference coaches sent in their ballots to choose the reserve players, Hawkins finished ninth. Last week, the league named eight guys - seven reserves and one replacement for Isiah Thomas - leaving Hawkins at the top of the list if anyone else should drop out. Bird did, Hawkins was named, and that's how we arrived at this dark and stormy juncture in league history.
Hawkins is averaging 21.6 points per game this season and has carved out a small piece of stardom, despite the overwhelming presence of Charles Barkley.
He has done it without backcourt friend Johnny Dawkins.
