11/23/24
September 02, 2003
Will Nash Walk?: According to the Winnepeg Sun, he just might. With the Canadian National Team coming up short in Puerto Rico, there will be no Olympic berth for those crazy canucks. So I ask you, is 10 out of 12 years of possible service enough? Should Nash take part in (meaningless) NT friendlies? Does he try to bring Canada back to the Olympics in 2008? As an aside, I hope he does. He's an all-around fascinating player to watch. Not to mention Canada's basketball savior, and only chance at qualifying.
I'm glad that Stevie has represented the Canuckleheads well, but especially during these qualifiers after Van Exel got traded, I got really nervous with him out on the floor (as a Mavs fan, much of which has to do with Nash). That said, if what WeedyMcDoobie says is true, then I'd be willing to let him play for the Canadian National Team as long as he wants, and when he quits, hopefully the Canadians will stand up and applaud him. And his hair is pure Hoser... That's the secret. Definitely beats Dirk's Bavarian version.
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:50 PM on September 02, 2003
shaking hands and buying beers after the game Buying doobies, don't you mean now?
posted by billsaysthis at 05:51 PM on September 02, 2003
You know the times are a-changin' when the most famous hockey hair Canada belongs to a basketball player. and I want my country to put out a team that reflects our love of basketball. That's the problem Weedy: we did. In the final two games versus Argentina and Puerto Rico, we got exposed for being the weak program that we actually are. That reflects 100% on our grassroots development, which will never flourish as long as hockey is played during the same season. Our nation's love of basketball was reflected, and it doesn't come close to the other countries (many of them developing nations). *rant* It is frankly embarassing to me how incapable Canada is of defining itself in any other way but through hockey and "not being the U.S." */rant*
posted by smithers at 08:08 AM on September 03, 2003
BTW, to the original question: Nash won't walk, he will be there in 2007 for the next qualifying -- his last kick at the bucket. But I don't think he will play for the Nats any time between now and then ... hopefully they will be able to start grooming somebody young to take over. I think another good question is whether the rift between Basketball Canada and Jamal Magloire is unbridgeable, or whether they can bring him into the fold for 2007. If they can mend ways, then some of the dead wood that got serious minutes in the post can go back to the end of the bench to develop for a few more years.
posted by smithers at 08:12 AM on September 03, 2003
The link in the post seems to be broken/lost (as links can happen to stuff on Canoe particularly when the link is to a 'local' news item rather than something found on Slam itself). I presume it was for this article though. Took some digging. Slam/Canoe whatever needs to be redesigned but then again it perfectly represents the Sun media chain - Kind of crappy. I don't think that Canada has done toooo bad at basketball. It is disappointing that they came up short for the third qualifying spot but they were playing against the tournament hosts (who they had beaten earlier in the tournament when less was directly on the line). But they had a good run that other time. In the Olympics in Sydney or a World Championships or something? They finished in 5th or 6th or something? So yeah, I guess it is a step back to not even make it to the Olympics. It takes time. If Nash hadn't had an off game is Canada in the Olympics?
posted by gspm at 08:40 AM on September 03, 2003
Thanks for updating the dead link.
posted by lilnemo at 12:06 PM on September 03, 2003
Don't dis Todd MacCulloch for not playing. He was there four years ago, but is having some serious, and potentially career ending health problems. Without him, Canada is desperate for a quality big man like Jamaal Magloire. What's wrong with playing for your country? Canada needs Steve Nash back for the qualifying in 2007, but I don't think anyone will hold it against him if he doesn't show up until then.
posted by Steve-o at 02:11 PM on September 04, 2003
I just noticed in the FPP - that it should be saviour if we are going to talk Canadian basketball.
posted by gspm at 01:31 AM on September 05, 2003
...it should be saviour if we are going to talk Canadian basketball. This is funny cause when I originally drafted the post, I spelled it saviour but changed it to savior. I apologize for bastardizing Canadian usage and grammar. Damn American schooling.
posted by lilnemo at 11:09 AM on September 05, 2003
Steve Nash has done as much for Basketball Canada as any one has ever done. He is our Vlade Divac, our Yao Ming, our saviour. Rick Fox, Jamaal Magloire, and Todd MacCulluch were always concerned about their contracts, workouts or partying time (though Fox is really a Canadian by birth only) - while Nash bled Red and White for a decade. Now I love basketball, and I want my country to put out a team that reflects our love of basketball. Nash embodies Canada like no other - small but not undersized, fearless but not reckless, a hellacious competitior but a true sportsman - shaking hands and buying beers after the game. He played basketball like hockey - the body but a vessel for victory during game time, Winning more important than anything save winning justly and fairly. He deserves a medal and absolutely no heat if this is his final appearance. No one tried harder or left it all on the floor like Nash - Captain Canuck forever. Way to go Nashy! And his hair is pure Hoser... That's the secret.