When dunks count as 3(D), if you're prepared to dribble drive a long way

A joint announcement this AM by the NBA, Turner Sports and Cinedigm Digital Cinema: There will be 80 theatres across this grand land of ours on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, carrying a live 3D version of the league's "All Star Saturday Night" festivities, including the dunk contest that has practically fallen off the entertainment map in recent years.

Yipee. Now you just have to decide if you're prepared to make a drive if you want to see it.

The announcement only says that there will be up to 160 screens carrying the event at Carmike Cinemas, Celebration Cinemas, Cinema West, Emagine, Galaxy Theatres, Marquee Cinemas, MJR, NCG, Rave Motion Pictures, Showcase and UltraStar Cinema locations. Heard of any of them? Didn't think so.

A check of the Cinedigm website (linked here) showed it has theatres in California located in San Diego, Apple Valley, Livermore, Redlands, Petaluma, Martinez, Tulare, Vista and River Bank. UltraStar Theatres are in San Diego and Riverside counties, in area codes we've rarely seen.

With all the movie theatres in L.A., none can show this? Why bother getting in your car and driving to Timbucktoo to possibly see Cedric Ceballos Harold Miner Mugsy Bogues Brett Barry Chauncey Billips do a reverse one-handed dunk while playing the harmonica?

Also not sure what they'll be charging. Some reports are 20 bucks a head. Just hope there's no "satellite transmission error" that plagued the 3D test-run of the Raiders-Chargers NFL game last week, beamed to three theatres (including one conveniently located in Hollywood).

Someone named Bud Mayo (for real), chairman of Cinedigm, says his company is the only one "that can deliver Live 3D broadcast on a nationwide scale to cinemas and we are thrilled to be working with Turner Sports and the NBA on this event."

The NBA did a 3D version of the 2007 All Star game from Las Vegas, as well as Game 2 of the NBA Finals in '07 beamed to fans sitting in Cleveland. Last season, the Dallas Mavericks produced and delivered the first live 3D HD sporting event to a motion picture theater.