azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
May. 8, 2005 12:00 AM
Steve Nash knows how hard it would be to walk in Shaquille O'Neal's shoes. He got a pair of O'Neal's Size 22 shoes, one signed to each of Nash's twin baby girls, at this year's All-Star Game.
Outshining O'Neal for MVP honors seems as unfathomable as wearing O'Neal's shoes, but so has just about everything else Nash has accomplished in basketball. He picked up the sport in eighth grade and immediately declared NBA plans to his parents. Only Santa Clara offered him a scholarship out of high school in the hoops hinterland of Victoria, British Columbia.
Nash will sheepishly accept the Maurice Podoloff Trophy today and become the most improbable, non-traditional MVP winner in the award's 50 years. He's Giacomo in Nikes.
"I don't think I ever dreamed about this reward," the unassuming star said Saturday, relenting to reports of his victory. "I don't know what to say. I just kept trying."
Regardless of his roots, Nash's basketball feat is remarkable. Except for 6-foot-8 Magic Johnson, Nash is the only point guard to become MVP in the past four decades. Nash is 6-3, at best, but has magic in his passes. He has Magic's same unselfish qualities to often give up his shot to make his teammates better and happier, even though his shooting touch is one of the game's best at all distances.
It started with putting a promising soccer future on the shelf and dribbling to school. It continued despite being booed upon arrival at his first two NBA stops. When Phoenix drafted him, the fans booed, and Danny Ainge called him a "safe pick." When he went to Dallas, he was hurt and inaccurate, prompting more boos.
Today, his fancy but efficient play and its effect on the Suns' turnaround is fodder for a change in how entertaining teams may be in the future.
"It's really a testament to the game of basketball," Nash said. "I think it's great for the sport."
Now Nash has as many MVP awards as O'Neal - one. He will hold a trophy that his childhood idol, Isiah Thomas, never got his hands upon. Thomas got one MVP first-place vote in his career, but Nash still wonders if he will ever be as good as Thomas.
Canada does not. His native country's love for Nash ranks just below its affection for hockey, the maple leaf and Wayne Gretzky. Nash was on Saturday's front page of his hometown papers here and in British Columbia.
More than a dozen Canadian media outlets are here for today's MVP award presentation and Monday's Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
"The buzz is awesome," said bartender J.D. Twa, who works at the Colwood Sports Bar and Grill in Victoria. "They consider it a win for Canada. It's like when Team Canada plays in the Olympics or World Championships. He's like the Wayne Gretzky of basketball. There are 21 TVs in here, and every TV is on him."
Today, the MVP trophy will be hoisted not by one of the game's behemoths or leading scorers. It's Nash, the former lacrosse all-star and MVP of the British Columbia high school soccer championships.
"There's no better feeling really than to make your whole country proud," Nash said. "It's an incredible amount of positive energy coming my way."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0508suns0508.html
The Arizona Republic
May. 8, 2005 12:00 AM
Steve Nash knows how hard it would be to walk in Shaquille O'Neal's shoes. He got a pair of O'Neal's Size 22 shoes, one signed to each of Nash's twin baby girls, at this year's All-Star Game.
Outshining O'Neal for MVP honors seems as unfathomable as wearing O'Neal's shoes, but so has just about everything else Nash has accomplished in basketball. He picked up the sport in eighth grade and immediately declared NBA plans to his parents. Only Santa Clara offered him a scholarship out of high school in the hoops hinterland of Victoria, British Columbia.
Nash will sheepishly accept the Maurice Podoloff Trophy today and become the most improbable, non-traditional MVP winner in the award's 50 years. He's Giacomo in Nikes.
"I don't think I ever dreamed about this reward," the unassuming star said Saturday, relenting to reports of his victory. "I don't know what to say. I just kept trying."
Regardless of his roots, Nash's basketball feat is remarkable. Except for 6-foot-8 Magic Johnson, Nash is the only point guard to become MVP in the past four decades. Nash is 6-3, at best, but has magic in his passes. He has Magic's same unselfish qualities to often give up his shot to make his teammates better and happier, even though his shooting touch is one of the game's best at all distances.
It started with putting a promising soccer future on the shelf and dribbling to school. It continued despite being booed upon arrival at his first two NBA stops. When Phoenix drafted him, the fans booed, and Danny Ainge called him a "safe pick." When he went to Dallas, he was hurt and inaccurate, prompting more boos.
Today, his fancy but efficient play and its effect on the Suns' turnaround is fodder for a change in how entertaining teams may be in the future.
"It's really a testament to the game of basketball," Nash said. "I think it's great for the sport."
Now Nash has as many MVP awards as O'Neal - one. He will hold a trophy that his childhood idol, Isiah Thomas, never got his hands upon. Thomas got one MVP first-place vote in his career, but Nash still wonders if he will ever be as good as Thomas.
Canada does not. His native country's love for Nash ranks just below its affection for hockey, the maple leaf and Wayne Gretzky. Nash was on Saturday's front page of his hometown papers here and in British Columbia.
More than a dozen Canadian media outlets are here for today's MVP award presentation and Monday's Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
"The buzz is awesome," said bartender J.D. Twa, who works at the Colwood Sports Bar and Grill in Victoria. "They consider it a win for Canada. It's like when Team Canada plays in the Olympics or World Championships. He's like the Wayne Gretzky of basketball. There are 21 TVs in here, and every TV is on him."
Today, the MVP trophy will be hoisted not by one of the game's behemoths or leading scorers. It's Nash, the former lacrosse all-star and MVP of the British Columbia high school soccer championships.
"There's no better feeling really than to make your whole country proud," Nash said. "It's an incredible amount of positive energy coming my way."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0508suns0508.html
