Well, I am finally here. My first thoughts, coming into Las Vegas, was how was the city going to deal with the multitudes of people coming into town for the weekend's festivities.

I realize Vegas is used to big weekends, but I think almost anyone you ask will say that this one is about as big as it gets. The NBA is one of the most glamorous leagues in professional sports, and because of how close the fans can get to the action, the one with the most high-profile fandom (Jack Nicholson, Spike Lee for example).

Arriving into McCarron Airport, I hurried through the terminal determined to get in line for a cab. My flight landed at 6:50 local time (9:50 ET), and I figured if lucky I'd be to my hotel (the MGM Grand, where all media-types have been put up - or at least the ones representing the NBA) by, say, midnight. I've been to Vegas many times, and on a random weekend it's usually 30-45 minutes in line before you get to the front of the line.

In what I hope is a good sign of things to come, the line actually moved quickly, perhaps even faster than the other times I'd been here, and I actually made it to my hotel by 8:00. Amazing. I guess it was silly to think Vegas wouldn't be prepared for this (and by the way, I will continue to address "Vegas" throughout the weekend as if it is a living, breathing thing and not an inanimate stretch of land in the Nevada desert), since this is their big dress rehearsal for luring a professional sports team to the city. I am sure they will have the red carpet rolled out in every way shape and form so as to get in the good graces of Commissioner Stern and, by extension, any other professional sports leagues considering a move here.

So, unfortunately, because I couldn't get here any earlier than I did (and I tried - the morning flight from Atlanta was oversold by 18 people!), I missed out on all of the NBA-related action this evening, but based on the highlights I saw on TNT (which will be broadcasting all of the events over the next few days), it looked like there was your typical array of beautiful alley-oops, dazzling dunks, and o le' defense. The sophomores hit 75% of their shots and won 155-114 over the rookies. For the record, I still think Shelden and Marvin Williams should  have been participants in this game, but what can you do. David Lee takes home MVP honors after "hitting" 14-14 from the floor (I understand they were pretty much all dunks with little degree of difficulty).

Tomorrow will start the real action for me, and as excited as I am for the competitions, I will come right out and say the thing I am most excited about is the footrace between Hall of Famer Charles Barkley and 67-year old NBA referee Dick Bavetta. I will talk more about this tomorrow, but sufficed to say, I strongly urge all of you to watch All-Star Saturday night.

Ok, I am off to eat some food and check out the media reception, and if I am feeling up to it, dare I say some of the scene (I have no wingman, so I don't know how comfy I am going to be going into a club or bar by myself. I can only pretend to talk on my cell phone for so long before people realize I'm faking it so as not to look lonely.)

Have a good night, and I will see you all tomorrow.

Vegas baby...Vegas!