These five dunks could be real winners

Back when times were simpler, all you needed to win the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest was leaping ability and creativity.

The 2011 All-Star weekend will forever be remembered as the year that the dunk contest became a full-scale production.

The Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin won the contest with a dunk that included jumping over a car. (The hood, not the roof, which would have been more impressive.)

I say "included," because the car was only part of the deal. Griffin's dunk took place as an on-court choir belted out I Believe I Can Fly. The basketball came from Clippers teammate Baron Davis, who was in the car and passed the ball through the sun roof. (Insert your own punch line about Davis "driving the lane." I don't want the abusive e-mails about writing a corny line.)

Actually, from what I am hearing, Griffin wanted the pass to come from Kobe Bryant so that, with All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, there could be a Clippers-Lakers partnership to the event. However, Kobe told Griffin that he never passes the ball at All-Star events.

Anyway, all of this has me looking forward to the 2012 dunk contest, because the proverbial bar has been proverbially raised. If dunkers aren't planning now for next year, they are losing ground on their competitors.

Thus, I have put together five dunks that I think Griffin should consider:

1. "The Evel Knievel"

Musical accompaniment: Kris Kross, performing Jump.

The dunk: This all started with Griffin jumping one car. So let's roll out a line of cars, give Griffin a ramp, and see how many he can clear.

2. "The Boomer Sooner"

Musical accompaniment: The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band, performing Boomer Sooner.

The dunk: Griffin, a former Sooner, executes what at first appears to be a simple but cute dunk by jumping over Bevo. But as soon as Griffin soars and scores, the Sooner Schooner comes riding onto the other end of the court. Griffin jumps over that, too, accepting a pass from the student RUF/NEK driving the Schooner, and dunks that ball, too.

3. "Through the Roof"

Musical accompaniment: Tom Petty, performing Free Fallin'.

The dunk: We might have to wait until All-Star weekend returns to Cowboys Stadium to see this one, because this dunk will require a retractable roof. And perhaps a geometry teacher to help Griffin get the angle just right because of the video boards. But he'll jump from an airplane, parachute through the roof and dunk the ball before nailing his landing.

4. "The General Lee"

Musical accompaniment: The Cure, performing Jumping Someone Else's Train.

The dunk: Inspired by one of Bo and Luke's more impressive stunts on The Dukes of Hazzard, Blake jumps not over, but through, an open box car then dunks. While whistling Dixie.

5. "The Fonz"

Musical accompaniment: Van Halen, performing Jump. (You didn't think I'd put together this list without including Van Halen, did you?)

The dunk: On a dare from his competitor in the finals, Griffin jumps over a pool containing a live shark.

And jumping a shark seems to be a fitting way to end a column about the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest.

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