The All-Star Game is more of a junket for the league’s top sponsors than an event “for the fans.” According to the author, it’s an elite event for sponsors to mingle with top players, flavored with alcohol and bonuses for the players. There’s also a chunk of tickets set aside for sponsors and people they are associated with. It’s suggested that the skills competition was not taken seriously by most players, with Kucherov as just one example. It’s implied that the fans who paid high prices for tickets were being naive to expect a real competition. The author defends Kucherov’s decision not to participate seriously, stating that his job is to play for the Lightning, not put on a show at a non-standings-counting event. The article also comments on Kylian Mbappe’s rumored move to Madrid from PSG and Chloe Kelly’s impressive Olimpico. In regards to Mbappe, the author expresses skepticism, suggesting it could be a play for more money and power, and calling for an end to the constant speculation. It’s said that Madrid’s allure is hard to turn down, despite the author’s doubt. Kelly’s Olimpico is described as a gem, and marks a segue into discussing the other side of The Beautiful Game.