ATLANTA -- Even in the All-Star game, the referees took a beating. In particular, Ted Bernhardt.

Bernhardt was the official who called a foul on Jermaine O'Neal that sent Kobe Bryant to the line with one second remaining in the first overtime.

Just seconds earlier, Michael Jordan hit a fadeaway jumper to put the East ahead 138-136 -- a seemingly fitting end to the final All-Star Game for His Airness.

On the inbounds pass, Bryant chased down a loose ball in the corner, hurled up a desperation 3-pointer and went sprawling out of bounds. Bernhardt ruled that O'Neal shoved the Lakers star, sending him to the line for three shots.

Bryant made two of the free throws, forcing another overtime, and the West went on to a 155-145 victory.

"I can't believe he called that,'' O'Neal said. "We're trying to send Michael Jordan away a winner, and he calls a foul on a Hail Mary fadeaway.''

Even Jordan had a word about the officials.

"They never should have made that call,'' he said. "We've been complaining about the refs all year.''

Jordan then broke into a smile. "Just kidding.'

All-Star extras
All-stars have been putting in lots of overtime.

The NBA's midseason event became the third all-star game in the past seven months to be tied at the end of regulation.

Last summer, the major leaguers settled for an infamous tie when the teams ran out of pitchers. The NHL game, held a week ago, was decided by a shootout.

On Sunday, the NBA All-Stars went to double overtime for the first time. This time, there was no concern of the game being called by commissioner David Stern. Both teams had plenty of able -- if somewhat tired -- bodies.

Cross-town traffic
Shawn Marion sat in a limo for 90 minutes trying to go two blocks. Ben Wallace needed 2{ hours to make it in from the airport. Dirk Nowitzki walked to Philips Arena from his hotel.

Atlanta's traffic is notoriously thick, but All-Star weekend caused massive gridlock in Hot 'Lanta.

"It's a pain in the butt to get from point A to point B,'' said Nowitzki, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks. "You're stuck everywhere. I just walked over for the Saturday night (festivities, which included the dunk and 3-point competition) because it was so packed. It's a circus.''

Marion, who plays for the Phoenix Suns, said he loves visiting Atlanta but doesn't think the city is equipped to handle major sporting events.

"It's just too congested,'' he said before Sunday's All-Star game. "Everything is right downtown. It would be better if it was spread out some. Everyone is downtown. It's crazy.''

Marion sat in traffic for two hours trying to make the 10-mile drive to the trendy Buckhead neighborhood. He was caught in another massive jam as he tried to get from the arena to his hotel after All-Star Saturday.

"Two blocks to the hotel took an hour and half,'' he said. "You're better off walking.''

To cope with all the traffic, city officials closed several major roads and encouraged people to use the city's rapid transit system. Also, three malls and the Underground Atlanta shopping complex had to turn away people Saturday because they were so crowded.

"Oh, man! I just can't believe it's this bad!'' Philadelphia's Allen Iverson said. "I just wanted to go down the street, get something to eat. It takes half an hour!

"But it's worth it. The fans enjoyed (riding around). Everybody enjoyed it without anything negative happening.''

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers found a way to avoid the traffic.

"I stayed in my room,'' he said.

Playing with a heavy heart
Ben Wallace joined his East teammates Saturday night after his mother's funeral in Alabama.

"I know Mom would have wanted me to be here,'' Wallace said. "I'm trying to be strong for my family. She wouldn't want us to stop. She raised 11 kids and lost none of them to nonsense. She would want us to go on.''

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Wallace is the first undrafted player to be voted as an All-Star starter.

"I wanted to do it for all the other players who didn't get drafted,'' Wallace said.

Famous faces
As always, celebrities ringed the court for the All-Star Game.

On one side, Academy Award winner Denzel Washington chatted with Sean "P. Diddy'' Combs, Beyonce Knowles sat side-by-side with Jay Z and Adam Sandler watched the game not far from Justin Timberlake.

On the other side, Snoop Dogg sipped a beer in front the Rev. Al Sharpton, former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield posed for pictures and Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams kidded with some youngsters sitting near him.