Vancouver proved to be the place to be as I had the pleasure of being part of the third annual Steve Nash Charity Classic.
Vancouver proved to be the place to be as I had the pleasure of being part of the third annual Steve Nash Charity Classic.
I had the pleasure of being asked to participate in the presentation of the third annual Steve Nash Charity Classic this past weekend in Vancouver. Being your eyes and ears at the event, here are my observations and thoughts. Jenny Miller, executive director of the Steve Nash Foundation and Joann Nash, Steve's sister and Canadian Programs director did a terrific job of organizing and coordinating the event which was once again a tremendous success and raised funds for a great cause.
Friday, July 20 - 9:16 a.m. EDT
I arrive at Pearson International Airport. Unlike the usual drive during the season, I really had to pay attention on my way to the airport. Why? Because there would be no "cushy relaxing in the lap of luxury" charter plane ride to the West Coast. I had to watch the signs and find the right terminal or risk missing my flight. I'm traveling like the rest of the world which reminds me how I should be taking my hat off to the beat writers and other electronic types all over the league that track teams while flying commercially. It is quite the grind over seven to eight months.
The "Travel Gods" immediately seek to get even with me for my charmed existence over the last three seasons riding on the team charter. When I arrive at the WestJet counter, I'm met with a "Hello Mr. Jones, your flight has been cancelled"….Travel Gods 1, Jones 0. There goes the direct flight. I'm rerouted through Calgary and will be arriving in Vancouver three hours later than planned. I get a call on the cell phone from my brother in Florida where I relay what has happened. As a regular commercial traveler, he laughs and says, "Welcome to the club, line forms on the right."
I see basketball entertainer Quincy Mack, decked out in his Raptor garb, who is also on his way to the Nash game. "Q" is a terrific MC and has hosted numerous events. In fact, any educators out there might want to book him for their school. Great motivational message to kids about goal setting, confidence, and how character matters in life all wrapped up in a basketball presentation. Basically what adults tell kids but coming from a guy who's cool.
Thankfully I am able to use the time to talk to my broadcast partner Eric Smith on the FAN 590 about the as yet unnamed NBA referee who is in big trouble because of a gambling habit and ties with organized crime. Details will be revealed later but the ref has been "influencing the outcome of games" while helping the bad guys win cash on games. Oh boy, Daddy David Stern is not going to like this one bit.
OK so the travel gods have a little pity on me. I'm able to watch the Open Championship on the flight. It's not the charter, and while my knees almost touch the seat in front of me, I can handle watching golf on the flight. Hey wasn't Sergio Garcia (El Nino) supposed to be the next challenger to Tiger Woods? He's leading using the belly putter.
Friday July 20 - 1:55 p.m. EDT
Finally on the ground in Calgary and I start searching for the next gate and the connecting flight to Vancouver. Found the gate with time to spare, too much time actually, more like an hour. Q-Mack and I find a seat and talk about the Raptor fortunes for next season.
About to board the plane and the guy at the gate wants to take "Q's" black Nike basketball for fear it might expand at 30,000 feet and blow up. Never heard that one before but "Q" talks the guy into letting him take the ball on board.
Friday July 20 - 6:15 p.m. EDT
Land in Vancouver the ball didn't blow up and it's grey, cloudy and starts to rain on the way to the hotel. Welcome to the West Coast where it never rains right? Check in and the buzz is about the official that was implicated in the report. I check my voicemail from at least five of my basketball cronies who know I'm traveling and I hear it's Tim Donaghy. Hey, wasn't he the guy officiating the game where the score clock went crazy in Atlanta and the Raptors lost? Coincidence, probably but hey now everything's in play. I chat with Marc Stein of ESPN.com in the lobby and he says "that's all we're going to be talking about for the next little while." Unfortunately he's right and it may become a huge black eye for the NBA.
I'm given a goody bag at check-in by Chris Mallory from the Phoenix Suns Community Relations Department and also meet the manager of the department in Phoenix, Cassidy Kersten. I run into Alanna Rubino from the Raptors Foundation who's working with Justina Klein, a past Raptor Foundation employee, and Lesley Sharpe. Now I know this event will be well run.
Back to the Donaghy situation and it sure makes for interesting chatter in the barber shop where all the "park lawyers" hang out and regularly proclaim the fix is in on NBA games when their team gets beat. I see official Bennie Adams coming off the elevator and we talk briefly. He doesn't say much just shakes his head (some coaches might say Bennie does that head shaking thing too much!)
A few minutes later, I run into the man of the weekend Steve Nash himself as he emerges from an SUV following a workout with Raja Bell. We chat and do the "man-hug" thing as he thanks me for coming out to be part of the weekend. Nash is a great human being.
Sam Cassell arrives seconds later from the airport and is well, Sam. Naturally there is loud talking and a general scene outside the hotel's entrance. What else, Sam is trash talking getting out of the cab. Yells "rook" at Nash and gives me some dap. I chat with Bell briefly before disappearing to pick up some information for the game tomorrow.
Friday July 20 - 9:45 p.m. EDT
Nike sports marketing guru and longtime supporter of basketball in Canada and Steve Nash in particular, Mark Bayne and I decide we're going to head off to "Carats Diamonds at Sunset." Bayne and I agree that we're there for a short while and then head back to the hotel since I'm still working on Eastern Time. Plan sounds good right now but like the NBA, execution of a play is another thing. We end up going to the event with Steve's parents, John and Jean, and Steve's high school coach Ian Hyde-Lay and his wife Jennifer.
So this is how the other side lives huh? Opulence abound!! The "Carats Diamonds at Sunset" is a fundraising event for the Foundation where women can "sign out" diamond jewelry to wear for the evening. It's being held in a breathtaking setting in North Vancouver right on the water at the home of shipping magnate Kyle Washington whose business is a $400-million venture.
Oh yes, there is something for the guys as well. You can buy golf balls and use new Nike clubs to hit them over the water to a barge situated in the Pacific Ocean about 150 yards away. Each ball that lands on the green and stays there is worth a point. Most points will win you some extravagant prize at the end of the night. I notice a ball out there about 8-10 feet away. Turns out it belongs to Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver.
There is also poker for the evening. Six tables, ten people per table and you play Texas Hold 'Em for a certain time limit. Losers are eliminated until there is only enough people to fill one table. Again, winner gets a substantial prize at the end of the night. Raja Bell is at one table but I notice his stack of chips is much smaller than other competitors. A few minutes later he's out.
A short time later I run into one of the Suns' athletic therapists, and Robert Sarver who introduces me to his wife Penny. My bet is those are probably her diamonds not the ones you sign out when you come in. He finds out I'm from Toronto and asks me about the Raptors' new players. I ask him if he's going to hit another golf ball and he says, he can't top the shot he hit so he's done. Minutes later more players arrive. Rookies D.J. Strawberry, who played well for the Suns in the summer league, and Alando Tucker are hanging out just taking it all in. Music strikes up in the background. Hey I know that song, yep, it's David Foster tickling the ivory in another part of the outdoor tented area. Yep, the other side really knows how to live.
Saturday July 21 - 12:40 a.m. EDT
OK so much for a "short while" at this Washington guys joint. The people watching and general human dynamics are too much to just walk away from but I decide it's time to bounce. After a brief talk with "super agent" Bill Duffy, I locate Bayne and he's rubbing elbows with Sarver and some other high rollers. Brings to mind the scene in the movie Trading Places where they are making the joke about escargot, or S-car-go with a snail driving a car. I signal from across the room I'm out and Bayne gives me the "hold up, I'll be five minutes signal." More chit chat and people watching and when Bayne can't escape, I find a driver and get back to the hotel way later than I expected but what the heck, it's not often you get a chance to be at an event like that.
Nice evening, it would have been better without the rain but still, nothing to turn your nose up at by any means. I'm sure the foundation did well. In all, it will be great news for kids everywhere.
