If there was ever an argument for getting rid of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, this year's field is it.

I'm a huge fan of the slam dunk. And while I'm a college hoops guy and the pro game sits with me about as well as a plate of expired ham, I live for the NBA All-Star Weekend. And it's all because of the dunk contest.

But when I saw the list of contestants for this weekend's dunk off, I felt a part of me die.

This year's dunk contest will feature defending champ Dwight Howard, former champ Nate Robinson, Portland's Rudy Fernandez and Denver's J.R. Smith, who is filling in for an injured Rudy Gay.

This field of high risers doesn't stir the same excitement that's compelled me to recorded every dunk contest since the early 90's. I have stacks and stacks of VHS tapes that contain some of the greatest dunk contest showings.

There's Dee Brown and his Reebok Pumps, LJ vs. Kemp, Harold Miner, a blindfolded Cedric Ceballos, Isiah Rider's “East Bay Funk”, 12-year-old Kobe, Brent Barry giving hope to vertically-challenged white guys everywhere, that dumb-ass wheel,  Vince Carter's arm inside the rim and the greatest dunker of all-time – Jason Richardson.

Hell, I even have 2-Ball on tape when it replaced the dunk contest in 1998.

Last year's edition was great. Howard put on the best showing from a big man since Larry Nance dunked two balls at once. Even Gerald Green blowing out the candle was terrific. The more props the merrier if that's what it takes. But to make this year's dunk contest great, the contestants need to pull a Carrot Top.

Howard is always entertaining. His energy and goofiness complements his sheer power. I'm sure he'll have one or two new tricks in his bag but no one likes to watch a big man dunk. If it wasn't for his Superman tribute last year, he wouldn't have had winning scores.

The little man dunking has been done to death. Robinson captured the hearts of the judges with his performance in 2006 but the mighty mouse angle is played out. When Spud did it, it was legendary. Now it's become ordinary.

J.R. Smith is the best dunker of the bunch. He had the unfortunate task of dunking against Josh Smith and Amare Stoudemire (and Steve Nash) in 2005. His in-air behind-the-back slam was one of the best dunks in that contest. But Smith runs the risk of becoming the new Jerry Stackhouse.

I didn't even know Fernandez could dunk. After some youtubing, I watched him throw down over Howard during the Olympics. It was impressive but there's a difference between dunking in games and dunking for show. If that wasn't the case, we'd see Manu Ginobili in the dunk contest every year.

I'll still be watching the slam dunk contest this weekend, but I won't be taping it.

Where's 2-Ball when you need it?