Countdown: McCann (star), Jessica (free), Holyfield (jobbed)

The stars descend on St. Louis tonight. Anybody else make it for the 21st straight season?

I’ve never been a huge fan of all-star games, probably because if sports is supposed to be about passion, drama and an unrelenting desire to win, what can you say about an event that generally lacks all three?

But baseball’s all-star game ranks above all the others. Maybe it’s because of the sport’s rich history. Maybe it’s seeing a pitcher-hitter match-up that we otherwise never would see during the season. Maybe it’s waiting out another tied game in extra innings, just to see what dumb decision Bud Selig might make next.

But mostly it’s the stars. And I came to realize something when I was started researching just how impressive it is that Braves catcher Brian McCann is playing in his fourth straight All-Star Game. McCann is good, but Hank Aaron – he was REALLY good.

The Countdown continues . . .

10. He went to how many in a row?

Hank Aaron failed to make the All-Star team in his first major league season (1954) and his last (1976).  He played in all 21years in between, including 20 straight with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. (He actually played in 24 all-stars, because two games were played in 1959, ‘60 and ‘61.) Those are mind-numbing stats. But you really gain an appreciation for his dominance and longevity when you see where that ranks in the organization. But McCann? Not bad.

Baseball's all-time home run leader -- we exclude all Bay Area lab creations -- was a star from day one.

9. McCann suddenly ranks among Braves’ greats.

It has been noted that McCann is the first Brave to play in at least four straight all-star games since pitcher Greg Maddux was in five straight (1994-98). But McCann actually is the Braves’ first position player with that long of a streak since Dale Murphy (six straight in 1982-87). Eddie Mathews went eight straight years in Milwaukee. Still a little space between him and Aaron’s 20 straight years as a Brave (his last came with the Brewers). McCann also is the first catcher anywhere to go four straight years since Mike Piazza (10 straight 1993-2002). I don’t mean to dump on McCann’s buddy, Jeff Francoeur, but this reminds me of something Terry Pendleton told me a few years ago, even before Francoeur began his pronounced slide. McCann was somewhat quietly in the midst of putting up great numbers, amid Francouer-hysteria, and Pendleton said, “I think we’ve been paying attention to the wrong guy.” Well, not any more.

8. Praise from peers.

If you haven’t read it, David O’Brien has a nice feature quoting others about McCann. The first is Boston pitcher Josh Beckett, who marveled at his patience and instincts at the plate for a 25-year-old: “I was messing with him yesterday about sitting on a 1-0 changeup and how he hit it — he hit it hard. He’s not an old guy; I wouldn’t necessarily expect him to have that approach.”

After four years, Brian McCann already ranks as one of the Braves' all-time greats.

7. What is it about Braves’ catchers?

The Braves have never been known to have a factory of great catchers. But I’m starting to wonder. The last Braves catcher to play in at least four straight all-star games was Joe Torre in five straight. Del Crandall played in eight over a 10-year period. But it doesn’t stop there. Even Johnny Estrada played in the 2004 game, Javy Lopez in 1997 and ‘98, Greg Olson in 1990, Ozzie Virgil in 1987, Bruce Benedict in 1981 and ‘83 . . . even Walker Cooper back in ‘50. OK, that’s enough. I’m starting to sound like Bisher.

6. Romo, Simpson split! (Super Bowl odds unchanged).

I'm guessing Jessica can find a better QB without even leaving the NFC East.

So here’s the really big news of the week: People magazine reports Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson have broken up. No surprise. Simpson needed to get out of the relationship for the same reason as Terrell Owens wanted to break up: Both got tired of losing playoff games.

5. If a 3-iron fell in the woods . . .

I’ve been told LPGA players forced the ouster of commissioner Carolyn Bivens because the tour has lost seven tournaments from its schedule and they apparently believe it’s her fault that nobody cares about the tour any more. I’m sorry this hasn’t quite sunk in with women golfers yet. But their product always has ranked relatively low on the sports landscape, and when even the NFL and the U.S. Olympic Committee are losing corporate sponsors, so is the LPGA. It’s not Carolyn Bivens’ fault.  On a related note, did you hear Jessica Simpson is available?

4. Holyfield, others in 25-year reunion of Olympic team.

Xavier Biggs of the Decatur Boxing Club, the brother of former gold medalist Tyrell Biggs, is organizing a reunion of the 1984 U.S. Olympic boxing team, one of the best in Olympic history. Details and pricing are still being finalized, but the event and silent auction is scheduled to take place Aug. 15 at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center. But attendees are expected to include Tyrell Biggs, Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Mark Breland and Meldrick Taylor. For more information, contact Xavier  Biggs or Terri Moss at admin@decaturboxing.com. Should we be shocked, by the way, that Holyfield is the only member of that team who’s still fighting?

3. Flashback to an injustice

About Holyfield: You might have forgotten, but he was one of the most popular members of that 1984 team in Los Angeles, in part because of a controversial disqualification in the semifinals when the referee ruled he threw a punch on the break. (That punch knocked his opponent out.) The DQ forced him to settle for a bronze medal. Here’s your reminder:

2. Sund: Hold off on that parade.

Went to the Hawks’ press conference Monday. Asked general manager Rick Sund if he believed the balance of power might change in the Eastern Conference, or if the Hawks are still looking up to Boston, Cleveland and Orlando. His answer: predictable. “It’s still a three-horse race. Then you’ve got us and Miami, which has an MVP, and throw in Washington, which is a playoff-calber club. We’ve got to have some growth from within, and hopefully Jamal [Crawford] can help us there. For the first time, we have a bonafide guy coming off the bench. But the thing that still separates the top three teams is the talent of all their superstar players. If one goes down, they’re still a good playoff calber club. A lot of teams if they lose one guy, they’re playing for the eighth spot.”

The Hawks have improved, but what does that mean in the East?

1. New toys, same lineup.

OK, so the bullpen imploded at Colorado and the offense still stinks too many nights. But the Braves have a new Coke bottle! The team announced a new “49-foot tall Coca-Cola Contour bottle” will be unveiled at the stadium Thursday, replacing the giant “Skyfield” bottle above the left field stands. Of course, the old bottle shot off fire works every time the Braves hit a home run. But the parts sort of rusted out in the first three months of the season.