Steve Nash offers the best take on the Beckham signing.
I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere else, but did anyone hear Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash on Pardon the Interruption yesterday? While he didn't say anything new, he did offer a coherent, MLS friendly take on the David Beckham signing:
KORNHEISER: ...Do you seriously think that David Beckham is going to make an impact in soccer in the United States?
NASH: He will make an impact because he's a huge star regardless of the sport, and he'll put soccer in every magazine and every newspaper and TV Show. You guys will be dying to have him on PTI. He'll make an impact because a lot of people will be exposed to the sport. But I really think this sport is on its way in this country regardless. I think the talent is growing, I think they've always had the grassroots, and the professional league is building soccer-only stadiums. There's a lot of money going into it, so I think soccer is here to stay. It may never be as big as the big four, but it's definitely growing, and maybe it'll be the fifth sport. Obviously, I'm a fan and a bit biased, but I think it's really on its way.
Considering the sheer number of idiotic articles we all read from non-soccer familiar individuals in the wake of the Beckham signing, Nash came out and gave a great endorsement to MLS on a pretty large sports related stage.
Labels: David Beckham, LA Galaxy, Major League Soccer, Media, Steve Nash
posted by D @ 4:23 PM
6 Comments:
And the "Big 4" may soon the the "Big 3" with hockey and soccer as the next tear waiting to work their way in. The advantage that MLS has in that respect is that for the rest of the world soccer in number 1 (a point brought to the US attention every 4 years) while hockey is still seen as "that Canadian sport, with sanctioned fighting!"
Kornheiser is really asking whether with Beckham's signing, soccer will become a more important sport in the U.S. (not whether Becks will be important for U.S. soccer) He's checking the cultural pulse and realizing that he may need to reassess his dismissiveness of the game. 5 years ago it safely made him "cool" among fellow sports writers... now maybe a shadow of doubt is creeping in.
Its very cool to have an NBA star who's a fan... wonder if Dirk is a fan too?
Off topic question:
Is there going to be a second annual Operation Deflower?
Also, DuNord's writing about pink jerseys for the USMNT for breast cancer awareness to follow the USWNT that is doing the same. Sounds like a great idea, the men doing it would really attract attention.
-K
Not sure why people keep saying the big 4 although nash is canadian so his take on there being four majors is understandable.
Hockey is not a major sport, it only appears to be because ESPN promotes it so much.
Nash is a total stud...I'm sure most know that his brother played a bit for the national team and last I hear is playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps...
Also...Nash is know to juggle a basketball with his feet during pregame warmups.
I'm sure Notwiski likes soccer. Him being German, one would think that they'd throw him out of the country if he didn't!!!
Kobe's commercial's announcing the Fox Soccer Channel is very cool also.
He probably likes soccer having been exposed to it while living in Italy.
Nash is a huge fan. I remember him being interviewed at either a men's or women's college cup when his alma mater Santa Clara was in it. He's the real deal.
Steve Nash grew up playing soccer and his brother was/is a pro player in Canada. Naturally he loves the game and can speak about it from a knowledge standpoint. And he has skills...has anyone seen him handle a basketball with his feet? You can see he's played the game.
I don't know if any of you saw this, but it was in the Sunday NYT sports section that Nash is a huge Spurs fan and is considering joining a group attempting to purchase the club. He's also know to play regularly in a men's league at chelsea piers in nyc during the summers. Not surprisingly, he is the best player in that league too.
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