Steve Nash, MVP

At Lummi Island we get three channels, all Canadian. We like watching Canadian news. It’s slower, less frantic than US news. But one thing that really gets our brethren to the North ginned up is a Canadian accomplishing something on the world scene. So, the lead story on Global wasn’t the one they had obviously planned. What they had planned to go with Sunday evening was the V-E celebration. They had lots of clips of old Canuck vets in berets with rows of medals marching or laying wreaths inter cut with Prince Charles in a Royal Navy admiral’s costume placing a wreath and saluting it. It’s clear the Canadian TV people were going with V-E Day and following that up with a Mother’s Day tribute, then the car that crashed through the 7-11 in downtown Vancouver and, finally, the two year old who was found in the backyard pond. But then something miraculous happened in the US that bumped their lead stories down. A “short,” white, Canadian guy was named MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the NBA (National Basketball Association). This is, in fact, big news anywhere, although I’m pretty sure US news networks aren’t leading with this story. White guys don’t win MVP. It hasn’t happened since maybe 1986 and only a handful of times in the history of the league. Short guys (Nash is 6’3”) don’t win MVP. Shaq wins MVP. Kareem wins MVP. Bill Russell, Tim Duncan and David Robinson win MVP. And, finally, Canadians don’t even play in the league. Out of 360 players there are currently two Canadians. For Nash to win MVP is a most amazing achievement. If he had won MAH (Most Awful Haircut), no one would be surprised for Nash usually looks like a kid warming up for a skateboard competition. If he had been named Best Canadian Basketball Player in the History of the Universe, no one would have blinked. Instead he’s the top dog in the sport that for years has been dominated by tall, black men. Receiving his award Nash may have subconsciously chosen to emphasize this fact for he (in what appeared to be a genuine moment of humility) said that his award was earned by his entire team and asked them to join him at the podium. Up they came, a file of very tall, lean mostly black athletes who all towered over the unlikely Canuck in the bad Prince Valiant haircut. Then we got several different interviews with Steve who seemed in shock. And, why not? He expected Shaq to win. Shaq expected Shaq to win. Cut to Shaq who asks who won; pretends to sob when he learns of his loss. Then Shaq surprises me and makes the comment of an astute international observer. “The Canadian people should be real proud.” Shaq knows this is a big deal in Canada. Canadians treat their heroes well. Hockey player Wayne Gretsky and golfer Mike Weir are national celebrities. Anyone from Canada who does anything (and it's a surprisingly long list) gets lots of acclaim from the media. Now add Steve Nash to the list of Canadian super heroes. Not only is he Canadian (though born in England), he’s also from British Columbia (though he had to move to the US to play college ball at Santa Clara), was drafted number 15 in 1996, can bounce a basketball with his feet like a hackey sack and has historically cut his hair with a strange sense of fashion. He also has a $60 million dollar contract with the Phoenix Suns and a new set of twins. That’s the news from Canada. Steve Nash, MVP

Comments

[Noble]

The main argument is whether or not a player who doesn't really have a defensive game should win a title that usually goes to somebody who can play on both ends of the floor. But Phoenix, with the addition of Nash, now has the best record in the league. Homecourt advantage throughout the entire playoffs! The only other Phoenix team to do that was the 92-3 Barkley/K.J. squad that got beat in six agonizing games against Jordan's Bulls (of which I watched every minute). Barkley was the MVP that year. And he was a great defensive player. But even Barkley, the other day, agreed that Nash deserves the award. Greasy hair aside, the dude makes all of his his teammates better. He is John Stockton without the pout. I predict he helps put the dagger in the heart of his old team--the Mavs. But I don't think he'll be able to get past the Spurs who can put the suddenly inspired Tony Parker or the always reliable Bruce Bowen on him to slow his ass down. But I'll have fun watching him dismantle the Mavs!! And I love Canada!!!