NBA fans, it's time to move on. The days of the Showtime Lakers, Bird's Celtics and the Bad Boys Pistons were great, but Magic, Larry and Zeke have retired and moved on. So should we.

Currently the NBA has the best influx of young talent that any pro sports league has to offer. The 20-year olds who came out of college too early and didn't respect the fundamentals of the game are now 25-year olds with great athleticism, exciting moves, and refined skills.

Some of these players we've heard of like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. Many of them we haven't, because they've either been showcasing their talents in a city that couldn't care less like Baron Davis in Charlotte and Andre Miller in Cleveland or they are playing second-fiddle to the "big" team, like Corey Maggette for the L.A. Clippers.

These young talents haven't had the opportunity to reach the stardom they deserve. Nike commercials still tell us to 'Be Like Mike' rather than 'Be Like Mike. . . Bibby'. What has happened to our NBA stars? Where have they gone?

Ask NBA Commissioner David Stern, a guy who spends more time arguing with Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban about Dairy Queen management than figuring out how to market his improving product.

Stern is more fixated on Shaq's shorts and Allen Iverson's rap music than trying to figure out how to put people in the seats and improve TV ratings.

His uptight style and constant negativity has filtered down to members of the media.

It seems like every time the NBA is mentioned on a sports show, it's followed with some criticism of today's young players for their shot selection and on-court actions.

Well I'm not going to join in on the complaints. Instead, I'm going to enjoy the upcoming NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 10 in Philadelphia. I'm going to watch the all-around game that has helped Antoine Walker crack the Top 40 in points, assists and rebounds.

I'm going to watch Stevie Francis make his first All-Star start and see if he can go one-on-one with Michael Jordan. I'm going to watch Dirk Nowitzki and Ray Allen display their sharpshooting skills from the outside.

And once the All-Star festivities are complete, I will enjoy watching these teams fight for playoff spots and answer the questions that burn in my mind like:

Who can stop the Lakers from three-peating?

Will Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic lead Sacramento to the Western Conference #1 seed?

Can Auburndale's Tracy McGrady can carry Orlando past the first round?

Can Walker and Paul Pierce bring some of the playoff magic back to Boston?

How many more fines will the NBA levy against Cuban?
Hopefully I will not be the only one watching.