It’s been well documented that Steve Nash is one of the best point guards to ever play basketball, but his ability to relate to the youth is another great accomplishment. There was a sense of grief that father time caught up with the 40-year-old Nash, who will miss the entire season due to a back injury.
Nash’s roots are in Victoria and therefore it’s not a stretch to suggest he is one of the all-time great Canadian ambassadors, in and out of uniform.
His stats over a phenomenal 18 season NBA career are staggering; 2-time MVP, 8-time all-star, 3rd all-time in career assists, a 14.2 career points-per-game average and he is the most accurate free-throw shooter in NBA history.
These are all significant accomplishments, a testament to what perseverance, tenacity and determination can achieve. He may not have been blessed with the most talent, but his drive and exceptionally high I.Q. helped him excel in a big man’s game.
But there is more to Nash than his ability to put a ball through a hoop. He has a special bond with kids and despite a hectic schedule has made it a priority to connect with youth.
In March of 2008 (Spring Break), six adults plus myself, and 43 Prince George basketball players aged 7 to 17 (including my daughter Lexine) travelled 1,500 miles by bus round trip to watch two NBA games featuring Nash and the Phoenix Suns. We saw the Suns play the Portland Trail Blazers the first night and the Seattle Supersonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) the next. After the Portland game at 10:15 p.m., an upbeat Nash came out of the dressing room following a shower and a back massage for a meet and greet with just the 50 of us from Prince George. Many of the kids were in awe that an NBA superstar would make time after a hard fought regular season game, (and the Suns in a hurry to get on the team bus for the next stop) to spend about 15 minutes engaging in conversation.
Nash encouraged questions and there were no shortage of hands that went up. The following are three of the 10 questions put forward by the PG youngsters and Nash’s response in an open microphone format:
Q. What kind of things about basketball discourage you and how do you deal with it?
A. “That is a great question because being successful in anything is about dealing with failure and dealing with discouragement or lack of confidence, so for me I think practice gives me confidence. If I’m ever struggling or not playing well or confused, don’t quite have a rhythm or feel comfortable with the ball, I practice. I go and work on my game and try to get a rhythm and confidence back. When you go out in practice and you see the ball going through the basket it starts to give you self-belief again. And I also just try to conceptualize things. If things don’t go well for me, I just have to realize it is just a game. Did I try as hard as I can? Will I practice as hard as I can before the next game? That’s all you can control. Outside of that, success or fail on the court is irrelevant. It’s only how hard you prepare and how hard you try. ”
Q. How do you think it would have affected your career if you hadn’t switched schools in grade 11?
A. “I was really lucky. I went to a really good school academically and that got me to a level to go to University. I also had a teacher and a coach that instilled a lot of discipline in us academically and athletically and he was a terrific coach. So a really big part of my career was changing schools (in Victoria).”
Q. What made you choose basketball?
A. “I went to junior high school in grade 8. All my friends in my school played basketball, so I didn’t want to be going away every other weekend with the hockey team or soccer team and missing out playing with my friends.”
Nash had another Q and A the next night in Seattle with about 1500 Canadians on hand, including the P.G. group.
It is not commonplace for a well-known athlete/celebrity to have this type of form with the public, especially after games, but Nash, a financial backer of the Steve Nash Youth Basketball League in B.C. understands the importance of public relations and embraces being a role model.
It’s unfortunate that Nash had to “pack” it in after re-injuring his back while carrying his luggage because the Prince George kids that spoke with him remember he really didn’t have any “baggage”.
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I’ve always been an LA Dodgers fan which means I’ve always rooted against their arch rival the San Francisco Giants. But I do appreciate exceptional talent and greatness, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Madison Bumgarner’s master-piece in the Giants 3-2 clinching victory in a dramatic game seven.
The KC Royals did not lose the World Series, San Francisco won it and although one player does not make a team, all fans and experts understand the Giants are not enjoying their 3rd title in 5 years without the 25-year-old, 6 foot-5 Lefty, who pitched not only with a purpose but without fear. His poise, calmness and demeanor was unmatched.
The debate is already underway as to whether Bumgarner is the best World Series pitcher ever. His stats speak volumes and are in uncharted territory. In his World Series career, Bumgarner is 4-0, one save, 31 K’s, a record low 0.25 ERA and a measly .121 batting average against.
The 2014 World Series will be remembered for one big Giant, Madison Bumgarner, who is enjoying life as an athlete that dreams are made of.
From the Quote Rack:
According to a cnn.com report, you can now rent a virtual girlfriend in China for about $3.’Now they tell me’, said Manti T’eo.
In the face of mounting criticism, Florida’s Will Muschamp says he’s adopting a ‘bunker mentality’.Which one, Archie or Edith?
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
University of Florida coach Will Muschamp complained today. “Well, you’ve got to get home and explain to your 9-year-old why they’re chanting to fire your dad.” So guess Muschamp’s 9-year-old doesn’t watch Gator games?
The NFL has announced there will be 5 games in London, England next year. But New York Jets fans are asking if London will take all their remaining home games THIS year.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
In the movie ‘Ouija,’ they use the board to contact the dead. In the opening scene, they’re talking to the (New York) Jets.
David Letterman of CBS
Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost says he’s not used to national attention and stays under the radar by using the name “Frank” when he goes out to restaurants. San Francisco Giants counterpart Bruce Bochy says he does the same but books himself reservations etc as Barry Zito.
The NFL and other sports leagues filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block New Jersey from offering wagering on their games. I always thought that NFL stood for National Football Lottery, with all the office and bar pools; fantasy team wagering and Vegas lines published in every sports section across North America. Go Spreadskins!
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)
The N.Y. Post reports Romanian officials will allow an elementary school’s anatomy class to keep using the skeleton of a former headmaster. In fact they made no bones about it.
Three rejected names for the new cartoon series featuring Mike Tyson:
3. Chew Bet Your Life;
2. Friday Night Bites;
1. The Wonder Ears.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
And in case you missed it:
October 31st is the night people dress in bizarre, outlandish outfits and then make children and old people scream in horror. In most of the world, this is known as Halloween. In Southern California, it is the start of the LA Lakers season.
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for radio station TheGoat94.3 His column appears Fridays on hqprincegeorge.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller