Was anyone else surprised by the half-time show in the Allstar game?

[barefacedmonk]

Seemed like a regular concert show to me...nothing different. I liked it.

[CelticG1]

Yeah the crotch grabbing definitley caught my eye. I watched it with my gf and buddy and we were all like "whoooaaa whoa" kinda laughing about it. It wasn't that big a deal but kinda funny for such a main event and family friendly thing. If that happened during the superbowl, or during the Grammy's (did she do that during grammy's) i would have thought the same thing.

Although the Celts dancers dance sexually sometimes I don't think they are that provocative and I also think being on a major network, such a publicly watched event etc. that it is somewhat different. You don't even see the Celts dancers do that stuff unless you are at the game. It's not like there are close ups of them doing stuff like that on CSN

[StartOrien]

It was definitely a little sex'd up, but I don't think this is new grounds and the NBA All Star Game is pretty relaxed about it. Last year was Shakira and some other female vocalist, and I thought they were just as sexually suggestive and probably an 1/8th as entertaining. I thought she was fantastic - way better than the Black Eyed Peas and even better than anybody at the Grammy's not named Mick Jagger.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I've never found Rhianna attractive or sexy.. until that halftime show.  My gosh she was hot, and I liked the way she danced much more than the flying everywhere + dry humping moves that the cheerleaders do.

As RoyHobbs said, its the culture, and 12 year old girls do worse moves in dance class.  However, if you go back through history, this isn't something new.  Belly Dancing was taught to young ladies for a variety of purposes. 

Personally I liked Rhianna's halftime show.

[CelticG1]

I've never found Rhianna attractive or sexy.. until that halftime show.  My gosh she was hot, and I liked the way she danced much more than the flying everywhere + dry humping moves that the cheerleaders do.

As RoyHobbs said, its the culture, and 12 year old girls do worse moves in dance class.  However, if you go back through history, this isn't something new.  Belly Dancing was taught to young ladies for a variety of purposes. 

Personally I liked Rhianna's halftime show.

I think most people's points about the dance being crude was that it was at the All-Star halftime show which is supposed to represent the entire NBA on one of the biggest stages.

I think it's different than cheerleaders or belly dancing or someones dance class. I'm sure Rhianna and other performers do a lot more suggestive stuff during their concerts but that's not what we are talking about. We are talking about the face of the NBA and Rhianna rubbing her crotch over it.

I personally didn't care and enjoyed the show. I'm not surprised that people brought this up though as it was bit raunchy for a halftime show of the NBA all-star game

[barefacedmonk]

The NBA pays these female artists to perform...I don't think they are particularly worried about making it a "family friendly" show. What else do you expect?

...and parents who are really worried about their kids watching it should know better. I thought Janet Jackson's superbowl halftime stunt would have served as a good lesson for these worried parents.

[CelticG1]

The NBA pays these female artists to perform...I don't think they are particularly worried about making it a "family friendly" show. What else do you expect?

...and parents who are really worried about their kids watching it should know better. I thought Janet Jackson's superbowl halftime stunt would have served as a good lesson for these worried parents.

I don't know if I saw Rhiannas boob pop out last night I think I would have been surprised still

[Roy H.]

I've never found Rhianna attractive or sexy.. until that halftime show.  My gosh she was hot, and I liked the way she danced much more than the flying everywhere + dry humping moves that the cheerleaders do.

As RoyHobbs said, its the culture, and 12 year old girls do worse moves in dance class.  However, if you go back through history, this isn't something new.  Belly Dancing was taught to young ladies for a variety of purposes.  

Personally I liked Rhianna's halftime show.

I think most people's points about the dance being crude was that it was at the All-Star halftime show which is supposed to represent the entire NBA on one of the biggest stages.

I think it's different than cheerleaders or belly dancing or someones dance class.

Yeah, but the NBA markets those dance teams, including running a contest for which team had the hottest dance team.  Check out some of these photos (Link), and tell me there's a functional equivalent between Rhianna's dancing, and the team dancers that the NBA promotes.  

I just don't see much of a difference between what happened at this halftime show, and the stuff that's happening during every timeout at the vast majority of the arenas in the NBA.  I understand if people find it objectionable, but I'm confused by people who think that the all-star show was different or new in some way in terms of sexualization of the game.

[StartOrien]

Just remembered this - Didn't Beyonce do it like 3 years ago and Kenny & Charles spent halftime talking about how good she looked? I think its been all female performers since.

[FLCeltsFan]

It just shows that basketball is still mostly aimed at a male audience and we gals just have to have thicker skins...at least until we FINALLY TAKE OVER!   

I've long ago come to the realization that as a very fanatical Celtics fan that I am operating in a man's world and just ignore the sexist stuff.  My skin has become very thick  

[nba is the worst]

I've never found Rhianna attractive or sexy.. until that halftime show.  My gosh she was hot, and I liked the way she danced much more than the flying everywhere + dry humping moves that the cheerleaders do.

As RoyHobbs said, its the culture, and 12 year old girls do worse moves in dance class.  However, if you go back through history, this isn't something new.  Belly Dancing was taught to young ladies for a variety of purposes.  

Personally I liked Rhianna's halftime show.

I think most people's points about the dance being crude was that it was at the All-Star halftime show which is supposed to represent the entire NBA on one of the biggest stages.

I think it's different than cheerleaders or belly dancing or someones dance class.

Yeah, but the NBA markets those dance teams, including running a contest for which team had the hottest dance team.  Check out some of these photos (Link), and tell me there's a functional equivalent between Rhianna's dancing, and the team dancers that the NBA promotes.  

I just don't see much of a difference between what happened at this halftime show, and the stuff that's happening during every timeout at the vast majority of the arenas in the NBA.  I understand if people find it objectionable, but I'm confused by people who think that the all-star show was different or new in some way in terms of sexualization of the game.

Not a hand on a crotch in any of those pics.

[barefacedmonk]

I've never found Rhianna attractive or sexy.. until that halftime show.  My gosh she was hot, and I liked the way she danced much more than the flying everywhere + dry humping moves that the cheerleaders do.

As RoyHobbs said, its the culture, and 12 year old girls do worse moves in dance class.  However, if you go back through history, this isn't something new.  Belly Dancing was taught to young ladies for a variety of purposes. 

Personally I liked Rhianna's halftime show.

I think most people's points about the dance being crude was that it was at the All-Star halftime show which is supposed to represent the entire NBA on one of the biggest stages.

I think it's different than cheerleaders or belly dancing or someones dance class.

Yeah, but the NBA markets those dance teams, including running a contest for which team had the hottest dance team.  Check out some of these photos (Link), and tell me there's a functional equivalent between Rhianna's dancing, and the team dancers that the NBA promotes. 

I just don't see much of a difference between what happened at this halftime show, and the stuff that's happening during every timeout at the vast majority of the arenas in the NBA.  I understand if people find it objectionable, but I'm confused by people who think that the all-star show was different or new in some way in terms of sexualization of the game.

Not a hand on a crotch in any of those pics.

Why are you so fixated on "hand on the crotch" thing? That's not the only only "move" that makes a show/performance/routine sexual.

Anyway, I'm surprised at all this debate. It was a nice performance...and I liked it. Rihanna rocks!

[mgent]

I've never found Rhianna attractive or sexy.. until that halftime show.  My gosh she was hot, and I liked the way she danced much more than the flying everywhere + dry humping moves that the cheerleaders do.

As RoyHobbs said, its the culture, and 12 year old girls do worse moves in dance class.  However, if you go back through history, this isn't something new.  Belly Dancing was taught to young ladies for a variety of purposes. 

Personally I liked Rhianna's halftime show.

I think most people's points about the dance being crude was that it was at the All-Star halftime show which is supposed to represent the entire NBA on one of the biggest stages.

I think it's different than cheerleaders or belly dancing or someones dance class. I'm sure Rhianna and other performers do a lot more suggestive stuff during their concerts but that's not what we are talking about. We are talking about the face of the NBA and Rhianna rubbing her crotch over it.

I personally didn't care and enjoyed the show. I'm not surprised that people brought this up though as it was bit raunchy for a halftime show of the NBA all-star game

How many kids really watch the NBA All Star game or even the NBA in general?  And how many of those kids aren't old enough to see more sex than that every other way they look?

The NBA represents mostly young men and speaking as one that halftime was in no way explicit.

[indeedproceed]

I watched the halftime show just now on youtube..and while I really disliked Lenny K during the intros..I disliked Rhianna way more. Apparently, a lot of people liked it..I did not.

But, you want to talk about her sex appeal or the scandalous nature of her songs, I think its legit. While Umberalla isn't a scandalous song (its just annoying..eh..eh..eh...annoying..eh..eh..eh), Rude Boy, only girl in the world, what's my name..all had pretty obvious sexual undertones in the performance and in the lyrics.

I'm not sure its worth causing a fuss about, but it ought to bear mentioning. Of course, Janet Jackson's superbowl slip wasn't exactly family friendly either.. 

[CelticG1]

I've never found Rhianna attractive or sexy.. until that halftime show.  My gosh she was hot, and I liked the way she danced much more than the flying everywhere + dry humping moves that the cheerleaders do.

As RoyHobbs said, its the culture, and 12 year old girls do worse moves in dance class.  However, if you go back through history, this isn't something new.  Belly Dancing was taught to young ladies for a variety of purposes.  

Personally I liked Rhianna's halftime show.

I think most people's points about the dance being crude was that it was at the All-Star halftime show which is supposed to represent the entire NBA on one of the biggest stages.

I think it's different than cheerleaders or belly dancing or someones dance class.

Yeah, but the NBA markets those dance teams, including running a contest for which team had the hottest dance team.  Check out some of these photos (Link), and tell me there's a functional equivalent between Rhianna's dancing, and the team dancers that the NBA promotes.  

I just don't see much of a difference between what happened at this halftime show, and the stuff that's happening during every timeout at the vast majority of the arenas in the NBA.  I understand if people find it objectionable, but I'm confused by people who think that the all-star show was different or new in some way in terms of sexualization of the game.

I guess my point is that the all-star game is for the extreme casual NBA fan. I consider myself a huge NBA fan and I've never seen this (Link) before. I guess if I had I wouldn't be as surprised about the show. I still don't think the in game dancers do anything that bad but taking particular pictures of them in certain poses and plastering them on NBA.com is pretty odd.