Pickup sticks

It’s a practice that’s been around as long as playground sports. Choose team captains — usually the two best players — and have them pick teams. It works for recess and pickup games alike, and now the NHL is hoping it works for the league’s all-star game.

The NHL announced this week that it’s changing the format of the annual game. There will be no East vs. West (the old standby) conference battle, or North America vs. The World (an alternative that was fairly well received years ago). This year, hockey boldly goes where all pro sports all-star games should go.

Once the all-stars are chosen, the players will designate four team captains — two per all-star team, which seems strange — to pick the lineups. Obviously, the matchup everyone will be looking forward to is Team Crosby vs. Team Ovechkin. But with two more captains, things could get more interesting. For instance, what if Sidney Crosby and Penguins teammate Evgeni Malkin are opposing captains?

This is something the NBA needs to explore immediately. Picking teams is a staple of pickup basketball, so it makes perfect sense to let the top two vote-getters decide who plays with which team. Team Kobe vs. Team LeBron.

It might not work as well in football and baseball, but it’s worth a shot. Major League Baseball’s attempt to make its all-star game relevant and interesting — home field in the World Series for the winning league — is ridiculous. And to say the Pro Bowl could use a shot in the arm is an understatement.

Not that many people care if the National League can beat the American League or the NFC can beat the AFC. But Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady, or Albert Pujols vs. Alex Rodriguez? Who wouldn’t be interested in that?

Kudos to the NHL for trying something different and fun. Hopefully it works and other leagues take notice.