10 Tips To Survive All Star Weekend

It’s finally here. NBA All Star Weekend, the annual groupie fest pro basketball four day celebration has hit Dallas. The NBA has been putting the other major pro sports to shame for years with their all star festivities, as the biggest celebs from all walks of life come out to party. Whether you are an All-Star vet like myself(5 of the last 6 All Star Weekends), or a rookie, there are some rules we all should follow.

10. Book your sh*t early.

The NBA does a good job at announcing a year or two ahead of time where they will be hosting All-Star weekend at. For those of you who can’t make it to Dallas this year, get your money right. All-Star is headed back to Kobe’s house in 2011.

9. Be close to the action.

I made this critical mistake a few years back in Houston. Trying to save money, me and my boys booked a few rooms a couple miles off the main strip. Those “couple miles” as described by the reservations agent wound being a hour and a half commute to and from the hotel every time we needed to go anywhere. Only thing that made it better was number 8.

8. Once you touch down, start making connects.

The moment we touched down in Houston’s airport, I connected with a girl that was in baggage claim near me. Her girls had flown in, and come to find out her sister worked for Nike. Wound up getting a hookup on a party Friday night, but we “got to know each other” better Saturday morning.

7. Have a plan of what you are going to do.

It’s so much easier now than in years past to know what the hell is going on All-Star weekend, thanks to Twitter, Facebook, and sites like this one. My first All-Star experience(Atlanta 2003), me and my coustin went down there with no clue of what parties were poppin off, when, or how much. We had fun, but still….

6. Be willing to ditch the plan completely.

Sh#t happens. Your hotel might be overbooked(happens). You might be a sucka and buy a ticket for a party in advance, only to find out that party isn’t poppin at all(happens). No matter what comes up during your mini-vacation, roll with it.

5. Don’t go out of town broke.

This really could be number 1 on this list. I never personally have done it, but many times I have rolled with friends that wound up going out of town, when they had no business doing so. Their funds weren’t in order, and they had “just enough” to cover the cost of hotel/flight/some food. Nightlife or other festivities in the city? Nah, forget about it. Rental car to get around? Nope, no gas money for that either. You don’t need dead weight rollin with ya out of town.

4. Guys shouldn’t share a room.

Another very important rule. If four guys are going, and you all have plans of trying to get some that weekend, don’t share a double room to save money. Your best bet is to rent a house in the city of All-Star that weekend. Me and my boys learned it’s not only much cheaper, but the ladies like getting away from the hotel hustle and bustle to go to our “vacation home”. LMAO

3. Timing is everything.

Whoever you meet out at All-Star weekend will only be out there for a few days, just like you. Once you get the number/facebook/twitter id, close the deal. You shouldn’t be waiting till the morning you are going home, and hitting the girl up with “So whats good, Im about to fly out in a few hours?” Negro Please. You have to have a salesman’s mindset, and follow the A.B.C’s of gettin that good good.
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2. Try to get to at least 1 NBA event while you’re there.

Besides the parties and B.S that you will do in Dallas, there will be some basketball events going on. You might not be able to get tickets to the game Sunday, but the Rookie-Sophomore Game, or All-Star Saturday Night tickets will be around for cheap.

1. Be safe and have fun.

All-Star weekend should be your escape from your day to day grind. Have a good time, and come always strapped.

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