Stars Come Out . . . Just for Fun : NBA’s Finest Trade Dunks at Sports Arena Exhibition

Professional basketball made its yearly visit to San Diego, teasing a sellout crowd at the Sports Arena Tuesday with a display of power dunks and alley oops in the Seagram’s Coolers All-Star game to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

And in true NBA all-star/charity fashion, the score took a back seat to style and the busiest guy in the building was doing the stats.

Cliff Levingston’s Blue team defeated Michael Cage’s White team, 179-170. Levingston, who played at Morse High School, and Cage, who played at San Diego State, were the event’s organizers.

Michael Jordan was named the most valuable player, scoring 43 points for the White team. Cage, who led the NBA in rebounding two years ago, had 16 rebounds. Nine players scored in double figures for the Blue team, which overcome a 90-83 halftime deficit.

But the score of the game was largely ignored by the crowd of 13,105.

With 34 seconds remaining, the teams broke into an impromptu slam dunk contest. Not that there hadn’t been enough already, with 76 dunks during the game.

The White team spent 30 seconds of the final minute setting up a dunk for Spud Webb, who had missed two earlier attempts.

After Webb’s second miss, the crowd started calling for another go. Webb, 5-foot-7, obliged with a behind-the-back slam that drew the loudest applause of the night.

And with Magic on the mike, players took turns putting on a dunking display as the final seconds ticked off.

“I had a good time,” said Magic. “It was a good game for a good cause. It shows that San Diego wants NBA basketball back in San Diego.”

Manny Jackson, who heads an organized effort to get an NBA franchise back in San Diego, was heartened in the sellout.

“Basketball is the greatest show in entertainment right now,” said Jackson. “And it’s not because of Magic and Michael (Jordan). We turned away thousands. It was standing room only, we probably should have let a few more in for standing room.

“(The crowd) is not an absolute barometer, it’s just one of many. I just think we have a great opportunity to do something significant for the city.”

The crowd easily surpassed last year’s 8,123. But last year, the game went on without names such as Jordan and Magic. Tuesday, Mark Jackson, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone were no-shows.

The man many fans believe is greatly responsible for Jackson’s “San Diego Back In The NBA” organization being in existence also in attendance.

Donald Sterling, who moved the San Diego Clippers to Los Angeles in 1984, was at courtside as part of Harry Cooper’s party. Cooper is co-owner of the Sports Arena.

“I’m always comfortable here in San Diego,” Sterling said. “I’m very optimistic about all the good things that are happening to San Diego. If anybody can make something happen here it’s Harry Cooper. I’m excited for him.”

Richard Esquinas, who co-owns the Sports Arena with Cooper, thinks NBA basketball will come back to San Diego, but not necessarily in the same building.

“I think San Diego is ready for the NBA to be back,” Esquinas said. “We’re working very hard on making (a new arena) happen. We believe it will.”

The trade that sent Alton Lister from Seattle to Golden State for the Warriors’ first-round draft choice next season, will have an impact on Cage.

“I think I’ll be playing more center,” said Cage, who played primarily forward in the pros and college. “Obviously, we don’t have very much experience at center.”

Olden Polynice was the Sonics’ backup at center last year.

“I think I’m ready for it,” Cage said. “But I don’t think I’d like to be in the hole all the time.

“Olden Polynice can get the job done. It’s tough to play out there in the paint. It will be a big challenge for him.”

Jim Lindgren contributed to this story.