We got our first peek at the NBA All-Star ballot yesterday as the NBA released the early vote tallies and as usual it was a complete disaster. I understand why the NBA has fan voting. It is a great way to engage fans; fans want to see their favorite players and overall it is a good public relations move for the NBA. The problem with the fan voting is that too many casual fans vote and the casual fans don't know much about basketball which in turn frustrates us die-hard fans.

Once the ballots were released, twitter was a buzz with true fans outraged by the fact that Tracy McGrady was the second leading vote getter in the western conference amongst the guards. Tracy McGrady hasn't even suited up for the Houston Rockets the entire season. The only time McGrady was seen in warm-ups before a game he was yelled at by Coach Rick Adelman. It really makes you wonder if the fans that are voting even watch Sports Center. What really puzzles me is that I would assume anybody willing to complete a ballot would be a fan of the game but why would a fan of the game vote for Tracy McGrady? This begs the question, who the hell is voting for the NBA All-Star game? Did 281,545 people from Houston area vote for McGrady? Are the McGrady voters voting with their hearts and not their minds?

Houston Rockets forward Tracy McGrady, center, is seen in street clothes while sitting on the scorers table between Rockets', Shane Battier, left, and Chuck Hayes, during a timeout during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. McGrady is recovering from a knee injury that led to micro fracture surgery. The Kings beat the Rockets 109-100.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

McGrady wasn't the only controversial vote we saw yesterday. Amare Stoudemire is ahead of Andrew Bynum by nearly 150,000 votes despite the fact that Amare is having a pretty bad season where was Bynum is having the best season of his career. Bynum is averaging a career high, scoring17.9ppg and 9.4rpg. Stoudemire is averaging 19.1ppg which is his lowest point total since the 2005-06 season where he only played three games and he is averaging his lowest rebounding total since the 05-06 season 7.6. Yes, Amare has the scoring edge but he isn't producing like he has in the past while Bynum is continuing to improve his game.

Vince Carter is ahead of Joe Johnson by 173,000 votes which is pretty ridiculous when you look at Johnson stats compared to Carters. Johnson is averaging 21.0ppg 5.4rpg and 4.9apg while shooting at 44.1% from the field. Vince is averaging 19.1ppg 4.8rpg and 2.8 while shooting 41.7%. Johnson is superior to Carter in every statistical category but since Johnson isn't as flashy of a player as Carter the fans have made Carter their choice.

I love Allen Iverson but come on he received more fan votes then Joe Johnson and Rajon Rondo. Iverson played two games with the Grizzlies, retired and then resigned with his former team the Sixers.

I know we live in a democracy but fan voting has become nothing more then a joke. Fans aren't voting based on skill it has become nothing more then a popularity contest. It wouldn't surprise me if Lady GaGa is starting in February.