Sonics swingman Mason happy to defend Slam Dunk title


	Desmond Mason works the ball through his legs in the NBA Slam Dunk contest last season. Mason also will play in the Rookie Challenge. / Associated Press Click for larger photo

When he goes up, the house comes down.

Tomorrow, the 6-foot-5 swingman will defend his title in the Slam Dunk contest as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend in Philadelphia.

He also will play in the Rookie Challenge, a game involving NBA rookies and second-year players.

On Sunday, Sonics teammate Gary Payton will participate in his eighth consecutive All-Star Game.

Someday, Mason is projected to play in the marquee game; for now, he will be in the sideshow spotlight, attempting to out-jam Houston's Steve Francis, Golden State's Jason Richardson and Sacramento's Gerald Wallace.

Once a fixture of All-Star Weekend, the contest has been criticized and neglected in recent years. Because there are only so many dunks that can be performed, it is seen as a repetitive battle featuring nothing new.

Some players, like Orlando's Tracy McGrady, don't want to waste their time for any kind of payout, fearing the potential for injury. Or it might be because of perceived league-wide apathy for the event: The contest has gone from six participants to four.

In the past, players like Seattle's Brent Barry have chosen not to defend their Slam Dunk championships.

"I snuck the trophy away, and I didn't want to embarrass myself by going back again," Barry said. "I won. Why go back? I don't need to book-end the trophies."

Barry also turned down an NBA request this year to perform in the 3-point shooting contest, preferring to spend time with his wife and toddler son in their off-season home in Hermosa Beach, Calif.

"I'm not slapping the league in the face," Barry said. "I appreciate the invitation, and I'd love to be part of it. But it's more important to me to be with my family and recharge my batteries. Two cross-country flights in a day and a half is not much of a break. My job is to be ready to play for this basketball team."

Mason feels a greater responsibility to the league and its fans. Since he was asked to return, he will.

"You should do it if the league asks you," Mason said. "As long as I have the ability to participate, I'll do it. One day I might not be able to jump and regret it if I didn't go."

Mason sprained his knee in December, missed six games and returned to play with a brace.

He thinks about the possibility of re-injuring himself but notes that some of the same players who declined to compete in the contest are playing in the All-Star Game. They could be injured then, just as easily.

So he puts all of those thoughts aside while planning his unconventional liftoffs and finishes. He has no idea what kind of windmilling, tomahawking theatrics he will use. Whatever they are, call them impromptu throw-downs.

"I don't have any secrets," Mason said. "I'll go out and get hyped up in the atmosphere. My adrenaline will get me doing something."

For Mason, it will be one more day when he is expected to deliver. That's never been a problem. Already the slam-dunk king, Mason leads the NBA in community appearances with 33 this season, 12 more than Philadelphia's Eric Snow, who is second.

Mason attends elementary school assemblies as part of the NBA's "Read to Succeed" and "Hip to be Fit" programs.

As a former burn victim himself, he also shows up for Northwest Burn Foundation events and initiatives.

Once a month, the accomplished artist teaches a class at the Hutch School, a special program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

"It's great playing with kids," Mason said. "It's so fun to get involved. It really gets addictive."

Through high school in Texas and college at Oklahoma State, Mason says he has always enjoyed "doing that kind of stuff."

"It's not a big deal," he said. "I'd be sitting around playing video games otherwise. It only takes 30 minutes, maybe an hour. It's an opportunity for us to connect with the fans and help out in a valuable way.

"Some people (players) say they could be doing something different and that they don't need to be doing this. Then they don't go and nine times out of 10, they're wasting their time anyway."

With Mason it's not a duty as much as a privilege.