Nash Needs To Join The Team!!!
Steve Nash will go down as the greatest basketball player in the history of this country. No matter if he ever wears a team Canada jersey ever again. That is not even an issue worth debating. He is a 2 time NBA M.V.P and has done more for the development of basketball in this country than any name you care to put against him short of James Naismith the games inventor. I am proud of Nash for what he has done for basketball in this country. Just by his success many kids have picked up a basketball and put down a hockey stick. The increase in overall talent in basketball is growing and will grow even larger when the youngsters that have watched Nash grow older. The guy is a good person and a fine example of what a Canadian is to the rest of the world. These facts are all what make writing this blog a bit of a challenge. It really is hard to find fault with a person like Nash that has such high moral values.
Nash has said that he no longer sees himself putting on a jersey for Canada again. Many feel for the reasons I expressed above that he has done more than enough to help basketball in this country. I understand all of that and agree that no one would be able to disagree with that. I still think the fact that Nash not taking part in Canada’s effort to get to China is wrong. Imagine if Nash was instead of a basketball player he was a hockey player. Would a 2 time Hart Trophy winner who said he is going to take a pass on the Olympic Games in Vancouver be treated the same. The answer is NO. There would be public outrage that a guy would choose not to play for Team Canada in Hockey. He could be the world’s nicest person, He could have perfectly logical reasons for saying no thanks, in the end it would not matter. It would be the number one story across this country if Crosby came out and said he was not going to play for Canada in Vancouver in 2010. I am not talking the number one sports story, I am talking the lead on newscasts and headlines of newspapers. Canada has a tremendous passion and love of hockey that no other sport will ever gain in my lifetime and likely yours as well.
I have that kind of passion for basketball. That is why I am extremely disappointed in the fact that Nash has chosen not to wear the Canada red and white. Samuel Dalembert became a Canadian in my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. He was a big factor in Canada still having a chance to make the games in China. He was a standout for Canada in the Tournament of the Americas in Nevada this past summer. Nash was not there because his Suns played a hard fought series with the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Many feel Nash and the Suns actually could and maybe should have advanced to the NBA Finals. The point is regardless of that fact that Nash played well into late May or Early June and has done it for several years. His age, being in his thirties, I can understand it may be tough to have played again so soon after a rough playoff run and season. Nash also has a young growing family that he wants to spend time with as any responsible parent would and should. But what about now? The Suns are out and the season was much shorter based on the early exit from post season at the hands of the Spurs.
I see no reason why this does not allow Nash the chance to represent his country one last time. This is where the story twists a bit. The excuses that I have mentioned about Nash to this point are reasonable ones and can be easily understood by many. But the one thing that Nash has not talked about a lot, and many feel is at the core of this issue is the firing of Jay Triano (member of Raptors Coaching Staff) , and the hiring of Leo Rautins ( Raptor T.V Commentator ). Nash was highly displeased by the choice of Canada Basketball to cut Triano loose. Triano has since got a job with U.S Basketball helping prepare scout teams that will help prepare the United States to play against the various teams of the world they will face. This seems to support Nash’s belief in Triano as a smart and valuable asset. Team U.S.A is not going to hire a guy off the Raptors staff if he is not good. Jerry Colangelo the father of Raptors G.M Bryan, is not going to keep Chris Bosh on Team U.S.A anymore then he is going to hire Triano regardless of the connections to his son’s team. It is not a case as much of Nash not getting along with Rautins I think the two get along as best as I can figure. Likely better than Rautins may with some of the players on the team he covers.
The fact is about loyalty to Triano on Nash’s part which is admirable. But it is not reasonable, sometimes we need to make choices for the greater good. This is one of those cases to me. Nash needs to put aside his differences with Canada Basketball and put on a jersey and represent his country. He owes it to all those kids that own Steve Nash jerseys and shoot baskets on their hoops in the driveway. This kids look up to Steve Nash and they deserve to see him help his country one more time. No one can deny, the chances of Canada making the games, and maybe even making a little noise should they qualify, greatly increase with Nash.
If this was about a wrester and not a basketball player, this would be the point where people would chant
” ONE MORE MATCH”
That is what I want from Steve Nash is one last run in a team Canada Jersey. If he doesn’t do it, I will still respect him and all he has done. But I can’t lie, I would feel a little empty spot in my heart for the fact he could have played and didn’t. This is not like United States where we have a wealth of talented players to choose from. We need all hands on deck. I will say though that I respect the fact Nash at least answered the call at some point. Maglorie the Toronto native (Played For Hornets, Trailblazers, Nets and Mavericks)has constantly ignored the chance to represent his country and the demise of his NBA career as of late makes me smile based on his lack of representing his country. In the end I wish people would take representing the country seriously, for Basketball as much as we do for Hockey. If we did Steve Nash would more likely be putting on a Team Canada Jersey and giving us reasons to cheer about basketball beyond the Toronto Raptors. Regardless of Nash being a part of it or not. I will be cheering for the guys that do put on a jersey. I hope all of you will as well.
Tags: Steve Nash, Canada Basketball, Olympics 2008, Leo Rautins, Jay Triano, Jerry Colangelo, Maglorie, Samuel Dalembert
