By Cameron Salony

February 11, 2008 | No one ever said this world was fair. Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl, Vincent Van Gogh's last words were "La tristesse durera toujours" (the French equivalent of "the sadness will last forever") and my roommate complains about sitting home alone on Friday nights. Now I'm not trying to sound like an Alanis Morissette hit-single, but I am forced to address a minor travesty in the National Basketball Association.

Utah Jazz point guard, Deron Williams, was not selected as a member of the 2008 NBA All-Star team. Granted the Jazz had a 5-11 record in December, which put a damper on D-Will's chances, but does an 11-2 January make up for it? Guess not, and that is why Williams won't join teammate Carlos Boozer as an All-Star in New Orleans on Feb. 17.

I've heard the excuses: The Western Conference is just too deep. Chris Paul is having an MVP year. Brandon Roy has had an exemplary year turning around a fading Portland Trail Blazer team.

To my recollection, no western conference team went deeper into last year's post-season than Utah save the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Not Paul and the Hornets, not Roy and the Blazers. Williams averaged 19.6 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.3 rebounds during his first ever playoff run.

So how does Williams feel about being "snubbed?"

"That's how it goes," Williams said.

Perhaps Jazz fans don't ever want Williams to be selected as an All-Star. A few days after he was left off the Western Conference All-Star squad, Williams squared off against the All-Star Paul. After the game the box score read:

* Williams: 29 points (on 11-13 shooting) and 11 assists.
* Paul: 6 points (on 3-11 shooting), 6 assists, and 5 fouls.

Well isn't that ironic? Yeah I really do think.

Don't forget the play where Williams blew by Paul and poster-ized Hornets center Tyson Chandler with a hammer-dunk.

Williams followed last season's All-Star snub by scoring a career best 33 points against Lebron James and the Cavilers.

Granted, I am from Utah and grew up in the Stockton to Malone Era (A.D. 1985-2003) but Williams' numbers speak for themselves. So what does a Paul fan say about Williams?

Jim Eichenhofer of Hornets.com wrote: "I have to give Williams a little more credit. Sure, Williams may benefit somewhat from the Jazz's structured offensive system, but I don't know if it's fair to say he's not Paul's equal in terms of running an offense ­ Williams is second in the league [in] assists per game. The Utah guard is not as quick as Paul, but he's bigger and a better perimeter shooter."

Good news for those seeking Williams' first All-Star berth. The Los Angeles Times reported that Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers has a dislocated finger and may miss the All-Star game. The commissioner of the NBA has the power to choose injury replacements and if Commission David Stern does not select "D-Will" then I and Jazz fans across the Beehive State will emphatically call for Stern's resignation.

MS
MS