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Within minutes of the announcement, Twitter posts mocking the
league's decision to go with Sting, a 64-year-old, Grammy
Award-winner, since Drake, 29, is the Toronto Raptors' global
ambassador, and will be in his hometown for All-Star Weekend,
from Feb. 12-14.
"Canadians have six of the top 10 songs on the Billboard charts
right now - and the NBA hires Sting to perform halftime.
Brutal," read a tweet by local sportscaster Jim Lang. "Does
anyone under the age of 35 even know who Sting is?"
Drake, a fixture in his courtside seats at Raptors' games, will
nonetheless be involved as the coach of Team Canada, which will
include Australian Open semifinalist Milos Raonic and former NBA
champion Rick Fox, in the Feb. 12 celebrity game. Comedian Kevin
Hart will coach Team USA, which includes actors Michael B.
Jordan and Jason Sudeikis.
"Really @Toronto2016? Sting? What were your backup options, Cher
and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra? How about some TORONTO
talent!" wrote former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on his Twitter
page.
Many commentators lamented that the choice was made just months
after a similar incident stung Toronto when local talent was
shut out and rapper Kanye West was paid to perform at the
closing ceremony of the Pan American Games.
The NBA, however, did make some local choices for its lineup of
entertainment at the game.
Canadian Nelly Furtado, 37, will sing the national anthem, while
Montréal-based acrobatic troupe Cirque de Soleil will perform as
part of the festivities culminating in the introduction of the
players before tip-off on Feb. 14.
(This version of the story corrects to Pan American Games,
Commonwealth Games, in sixth paragraph)
(Reporting by Alan Crosby, editing by G Crosse)
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