Super Dwight Is In The Building!

First off, let me congratulate the winners of the other contests that took place prior to the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, a contest that had me standing on my feet and came close to the matchup between Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins in 1988 at Chicago in regards to anticipation.

Props to Team San Antonio - Tim Duncan, Becky Hammon, David Robinson - for taking home the Shooting Stars title. But, really, two seven-footers shot that well from the outside? Not one, but TWO seven-footers? Amazing.

Experience? Deron Williams don't need no experience! Despite this being the first time Williams competed in the Skills Challenge, going against stiff competition and experienced contestants in former winner Jason Kidd, hometown favorite Chris Paul, and two-time defending champion Dwyane Wade, Williams showed that he had "skeelz." Props!

And, finally, kudos to Jason Kapono who successfully defended his Three-Point Shootout title in style as he scored 25 points in the final round, tying Craig Hodges (1986) then of the Chicago Bulls for highest point total in a round in the contest. Kapono was straight up fire! He also scored the highest total (20) during the first round. The boy can definitely shoot. However, he didn't hit 19 shots in a row like Hodges did. Just saying.

And now, the dunks. Wow.

I've been watching this contest for the past 20+ years (no, I'm not that old... just got into hoops during my formative years, which explains a lot... like why I still wear New York Knicks boxer shorts) and I have to say, I never anticipated so many dunks during a contest as I did last night. Obviously, some of that has to do with the development of technology (You Tube, in particular) and mass media through the internet. Whereas back in the day, you were just in awe relatively more spontaneously, there are now certain expectations in regards to a dunk. And those expectations are what tainted the joy of the contest starting back several years ago as seemingly EVERY dunk had been done.

Well, if the resurgence of the contest the past few years didn't prove that last sentence false, this year's DEFINITELY did!

Did you see Gerald Green blow out the candle on the cupcake perched on the base of the rim? How he didn't get 50 points for that dunk I can only blame the lack of television replay for the judges. That was SICK! And despite some nice dunks from Jamario Moon, particular his first one, and Rudy Gay, correctly stated by TNT commentator Kenny Smith as more of a game dunker, the final always seemed like it was going to come down to Green and eventual winner, Dwight Howard.

Howard was something special this Saturday night. Not only did he have the height advantage (which actually works against him in contests like these), but he also had high hops, and was incredibly inventive. All three of those elements mixed together and there was no stopping The Man-Child! Straight from the get-go, his off the back backboard and bring around to the front for the flush was fresh and new. Then came his Superman dunk, then the flip to hit the board with one hand and cram with the other, and finally the straight up Orlando Magic marketing power jam. He was simply the best and not only thought of these innovative dunks, but executed them. I thought this was no contest.

And hoops fans around the globe agreed with me as Howard garnered about 3/4 of the world's vote online and by text, as well as an unanimous choice by the judges. Howard was in the building... and he owned it.

Photos: Chris Graythen/Getty Images (Super Dwight and Gerald Green); Ronald Martinez/Getty Images (Dwight Howard)