In backing down from Beijing, Steve Nash has dropped the ball.
Nothing gets the blood of bleeding-heart Canadian basketball fans boiling like a few media types deciding to not play nice with Steve Nash.
On Wednesday's edition of The Bullpen on The Fan 590 radio in Toronto, Mike Hogan and yours truly called out the Canadian hoops icon for taking a pass on next summer's Olympic tournament in Beijing. Nash has proudly worn the Maple Leaf in the past, but at age 33, he says it's time to transfer the torch to younger players while he spends the summer focusing on his family and preserving his body for the Phoenix Suns, the team that pays his NBA way.
"I don't think people realize how difficult it is for me to do what I do for the Suns," Nash said. "To accept responsibility for this team and everything that goes with it off the court is a lot of work and it would really be a detriment to both parties if I played (at the Olympics) in the summer."
Judging by the angry radio listeners who stood up for Steve, a lot of people are completely down with that and would love to see Mike and Mike shove their microphones where the Phoenix Suns don't shine.
"Hey, you meatheads!," was the popular refrain, "Leave Steve alone. He's done enough for basketball in this country."
But what about all the hoop-heads who've been telling us that basketball is on the verge of stealing the hearts and minds of the Canadian people?
News flash: It just ain't happening, folks. NBA television ratings in Canada are uglier than an air-ball. In fact, the Toronto Raptors have been forced to convince no less than five different networks to share their games because the property doesn't produce enough revenue for just one of the broadcast outlets to take the ball and dribble it alone.
So, how to boost the numbers?
That's where Nash and the Olympics come in. If Canada qualifies at a pre-Olympic tournament next summer and then pulls off a few upsets in Beijing, it would have a huge impact on young Canadian athletes.
Case in point: the 1999 Pan-Am games in Winnipeg.
Team Canada's baseball team, led by scrappy Stubby Clapp, captivated the country by winning a surprising bronze medal. But while the medal was sweet, the legacy was even more delicious. Suddenly, Canadian youngsters such as Jason Bay, Erik Bedard and Justin Morneau were dreaming of becoming the next Stubby Clapp; and with apologies to the ol' Stubster, they've gone above and beyond his flaming star.
With Nash pointing the way, that same scenario could unfold on the basketball beat.
That's definitely the hoop dream of Canadian Olympic team coach Leo Rautins, and he's also fantasizing about getting the chance to coach Nash. Rautins was a guest on Wednesday's Bullpen and made it clear that he's hoping Nash will have a change of heart. But it's also obvious that Rautins has to handle the situation with kid gloves, lest he run the risk of peeving off Nash by applying too much pressure.
That's where the Canadian media has to help out.
Because Nash plays at such a high level, too many reporters allow him to be placed on a pedestal. Chuck Swirsky is the talented television voice of the Raptors and also hosts his own radio show on The Fan 590. Wednesday, Swirsky spent a good chunk of his air time defending Nash from big, bad media monsters such as Mike and Mike, who have the audacity to criticize Nash for saying no to the Big 'O'.
Hey, Chuckster!
Even though Steve is obviously your new best friend in basketball, he's not bigger than the game. Sure, Nash is a two-time NBA most valuable player. However, Swirsky and all the other experts are fond of claiming that Nash doesn't care about individual honors; that it's all about the team.
But from a team perspective, Nash hasn't won a darn thing.
Clearly, bringing a basketball medal back to Canada is the longest of long shots and even qualifying for the Games will be a tough task. However, when the world's best get together to take a shot at Olympic glory, a competitor such as Nash should want in on the action each and every time.
Yes, Nash has a wonky back. But judging by the 18 assists he handed out in the Suns' 136-123 victory in Toronto on Wednesday, his back seems to be holding up just fine. Besides, Rautins has gone on record as saying that he doesn't expect Nash to attend a single Canadian practice. All he has to do is show up for the games, name his minutes and strut his stuff.
And what about Nash giving up family time in the summer?
Cue the massive boo-hoo. In a few years when Nash counts his money and calls it a career, he can spend every waking hour at home. In fact, if it would make him happy, I'd even be willing to rent my family to Nash for a small fee.
Speaking of money, it should be pointed out that Nash has shared his wealth with countless charities over the years. But while he's done a lot of giving, Nash's $13 million salary also proves that he's doing a lot of taking and in a give and take world, people always expect you to give just a little bit more.
It's perfectly fair, then, to expect that Nash should give a little bit more to Canadian basketball.
Swirsky and all the other dribbling crazies who kiss Nash's Nikes might disagree. But then again, Chuck was born and bred in the USA, where most Americans believe basketball was invented.
The truth, of course, is that the game was the brainchild of Canadian Dr. James Naismith.
Naismith to Nash.
It's the perfect Canadian bounce pass and now it's up to Steve to make sure the tradition continues.