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COLUMBUS, Ohio - John Davidson has travelled the world playing, talking about and scouting professional hockey. Travis Benjamin Jersey .He says his current outpost is a great place that few know about.Columbus, to me, in some ways, is a very well-kept secret, said Davidson, the director of hockey operations for the NHLs Blue Jackets.That might change this weekend. The city and the Blue Jackets have a busy, busy few days in the spotlight.Ohios capital city will be the venue for this weekends NHL All-Star game, including the player draft on Friday night, a skills competition on Saturday and the game itself on Sunday at downtowns Nationwide Arena. There are many other related events, drawing thousands of visitors and television viewers.Meanwhile Ohio State, with its sprawling campus just a couple of miles from downtown, will celebrate its national championship in college football at massive Ohio Stadium on Saturday morning. Coach Urban Meyer and his players will speak to whats expected to be a huge crowd while accepting trophies for their 14-1 run to the title.Gene Smith, the athletic director at Ohio State, considers it an embarrassment of riches.When you think about our city and all the great things that have happened here over the years, this is probably one of those exemplar moments, he said. The NHL All-Star game and weekend activities, just by itself, is phenomenal. But then to be able to showcase the national championship, all the media attention for both of those events for our city, its going to be unreal.By Thursday morning, a sledding hill had been built on two lanes of the brick thoroughfare next to the hockey arena downtown, topped by tons of snow that had been trucked in. There was a line of dozens of kids waiting to slide and glide down the bumpy slope.Nearby, just behind an old stone arch that is one of the citys symbols, a large ice rink sits outside. There are free skates for the general public and the occasional hockey game. The skaters can warm up with coffee and hot chocolate at one of the nearby heated tents.Months of planning has gone into the All-Star festivities. Columbus was originally picked in January 2012 to host the event the following year. But managements lockout of the players disrupted that plan. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, however, made good on a promise to have Columbus host the game as soon as possible, awarding the city this years event.Columbus is also one of the finalists to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention.Mayor Michael B. Coleman looks at all thats going on this weekend and sees it as a trial run.This is one of the best opportunities to showcase our city to an international audience, Coleman said. They can see how Columbus pulls off big events, and they can get a better idea of who we are as a city.Of course, not much wiggle room was permitted for the plans for Ohio States national championship celebration. The title wasnt decided until Jan. 12 in Arlington, Texas, when the Buckeyes beat Oregon, 42-20.Even though the football teams big day will be held outside in temperatures in the 30s, it wouldnt be a major surprise if Buckeye fans flooded the place. After all, more than 90,000 once showed up for a spring practice game at Ohio Stadium.Smith says Ohio State officials have been working with those from the Blue Jackets. During the national championship celebration, some of the events associated with the All-Star game will be mentioned on the video monitors.Cabs, hotel rooms and seats in restaurants and bars will come at a premium on such a busy sports weekend.The Blue Jackets and the Buckeyes are happy to share top billing.The more the merrier, Davidson said, laughing.___Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RustyMillerAP LaDainian Tomlinson Jersey . The Henry Burris-led squad finished second in the East Division before advancing to the Grey Cup where they ultimately fell to the home field advantage wielding Saskatchewan Roughriders. Doug Flutie Jersey . Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. You can also listen to all the action live on TSN 1050 at 7pm et. The Knicks are two games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference race. Chargers Dontrelle Inman Rush Jerseys, T-Shirts - Authentic Dontrelle Inman Womens Black Jerseys Shop . 9 Baylor Bears just needed some time to get on track in their first game after the Christmas break.Chicago, IL - Less than 24 hours after acquiring the former All-Star from Cleveland, the Chicago Bulls have waived center Andrew Bynum. The Bulls sent forward Luol Deng to the Cavaliers for Bynum, who was suspended by Cleveland for conduct detrimental to the team on Dec. 28, and three future draft picks early Tuesday morning. Bynum made 19 starts in 24 games in his only season with the Cavs, averagging 8. Kenny Wiggins Jersey. 4 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest. He was shooting just 41.9 percent from the field, and Cleveland was 9.7 points per 100 possessions better with him off the floor. Bynums $12 million contract for this season would have been guaranteed had Chicago opted not to cut ties before 5 p.m. Tuesday. 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