The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is a celebration of the game of baseball and an honor to every player who receives an invite to play in it each July.

But each year there are controversies that surround the selection of some the All-Star players and the failure to select other players that seem more deserving.

This year's selections have already generated some controversy when some players deserving of an All-Star invite were overlooked. All-Star players from years past, such as Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez who are having All-Star-like seasons again this year, were excluded.

Meanwhile, Florida pitcher Dontrelle Willis and Minnesota's gritty third baseman Corey Koskie were snubbed.

With the selection of 31 first-time All-Stars this year, baseball seems to be getting what they want - a newer, better All-Star Game. But by allowing the managers to select potential back-ups of each squad, the fans are now unhappy and undermined.

Major League Baseball has gone about this selection process each year in the wrong way by changing the rules for fans and how they are allowed to vote for the starters for both the American League and National League teams. They've even let voting extend overseas with the emergence of international players

None of these ideas have helped the game of baseball or the All-Star Game.

Simply, you need to have one group voting on which players will be selected. If you decide to let the fans vote, then let them decide every single player on the team. If the players vote, then let them decide who should be on each team. Don't have a mix of votes from fans, players and managers when you know that there is no way all groups will agree with one another.

Each season, the best eight position players should be on the field for each league and there should be one back-up for each starter. As far as the pitchers go, the top five starting pitchers and three best relievers should be involved.

The 2002 MLB All-Star Game ended with a 7-7 tie in the 11th inning after both squads had run out of pitchers. The celebration turned into a disaster and left baseball fans upset with baseball's front offices and more specifically with Commissioner Bud Selig.

The 2003 version of the mid-summer classic, to be played this season on July 15 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, will attempt to avoid last year's clamor.

By making home field advantage in the World Series the incentive for the All-Star Game's winning league, baseball hopes for a well-played, hard-fought game by players who want and deserve to be there.

But I can't help but think that each year there are players who sit at home wondering, "Should I have been there?"

Regardless of who goes to this season's All-Star Game, it should be a fair celebration of the players and the sport. I think we can all agree on that.

J. Ryan Mulcrone is The State News sports general assignment reporter. He can be reached at mulcron3@msu.edu.