The Nash appointment works on so many different levels

I remember back in 2007 either saying to or writing of Wayne Parrish after his appointment as Grand Poobah of Canada Basketball that I didn’t know if the job of revitalizing that organization could be done but, if it could, I was completely confident that he was the man to do it.

And, funny, but I got exactly that same feeling sitting around the Canada Basketball Feel Good Hour at the Air Canada Centre yesterday watching Steve Nash – and his old running mate Rowan Barrett – assume command of the general manager’s job with the senior national team.

To say it was an inspired addition – and you can’t use “hire” since Nash won’t be compensated for his time – is perhaps wrong; it was simply logical and a long time coming.

All you had to do was follow a bunch of twitter nonsense after the announcement was made to see the far-reaching implications of having the single-most recognizable basketball player – and perhaps athlete of any kind – ever produced by Canada take the job.

There were young players and old administrators, guys from Toronto and the East and the West, people affiliated with AAU programs and Canadian colleges who lauded the appointment.

Those far-reaching tentacles of Nash will be his most important attribute in trying to convince generations of young players – and the people who supposedly have their best interests at heart – to play for Canada.

Nash’s cache cannot be understated; these kids and coaches see him and listen to him and when he calls, it’s going to be awfully hard to say no. Nash would seemingly have some financial resources to work with – the Sixth Man fund-raising arm of the senior team, a group of “high net-worth” individuals, according to Parrish – is about halfway to its goal of raising an extra $4 million for the team for the next four years – and money and his reputation should be enough.

It won’t be easy – and the results might not be immediate because we’re still talking about a bunch of relatively unproven kids who’ll be asked to play against men – but the over-riding sense is confidence.

As it should be.

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Mail?

Yes, please. Here, if you don’t mind.

Again, unsure how the weekend will play out – could be the same as last week, could be different, we like to keep you guessing –

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Boys Week At Casa Doug update.

(Super Wife, avert your eyes now, please. That’s if you’re reading, which I doubt)

In a moment of weakness, something happened and I saw a toilet seat down but we took care of that rather quickly; we ran out of milk a day or two ago; the ice cream needs to be replaced during today’s shopping spree; I haven’t even looked at a vegetable; it was dinner out after saxophone last night and I’m looking longingly at the barbecue for tonight or tomorrow.

A fair amount of video game playing has been going on, Super Dog’s been taken care of and spoiled with the odd bit of People Food.

Anything I’m missing?

House is still standing; it’s a mess but it’s standing. That’s a good thing right?

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Oh yeah, Nash to Toronto in the NBA? Who knows?

The sense I get, and this is shared by a fellow I know who scribbles about him in Phoenix, is that he’s truly not thought about it too much but that the HOTH (if Bryan does the right thing and make a substantial offer) will be in the mix.

This from Steve himself:

“I haven’t had a chance to start thinking about free agency but obviously the next six to eight weeks is going to be an important time for me. I’m not going to close any options or opportunities. We’ll evaluate strongly every single opportunity that I have to continue to play the game and we’ll see. At this time I’m not ready to make any proclamations.”

So what kind of research will he do?

“Dig into rosters and situations and even cities and just see what would fit me and what situation I’d fit best in. I haven’t even started.”

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All right, I get some early sleep so I can stay up late (man, am I getting old or what?) and thank goodness I only watched the tremendous finish to the Lakers-Nuggets game and didn’t flip over the TOD.

It is still early and no one’s really running away and hiding from them in the standings but another ninth-inning bullpen meltdown and another game that got away has to continue a wearing-down process on their psyches that’s been building since the opening series of the season.

I still say it’s a pretty good team with some serious pitching woes and you can only hope someone emerges from John Farrell’s bullpen to do the job consistently or that Alex can come up with some mid-season deal.

Blown saves cost more than one game, in my opinion. They ratchet up the pressure on everyone, guys start to press so they don’t have to put the bullpen in that situation and the confidence level wanes. Hope that doesn’t happen but if there’s an indication it is, it’ll be time for some drastic measures.

I need important September baseball to give me some relaxing time post-Olympics and I was counting on these guys to provide it.

And, as we all know, it’s all about me.

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So what do you think happens first in Orlando?

Stan Van Gundy leaves? Or Dwight Howard demands a trade, again?

Am kind of glad the Pacers dispatched them in five – although it runs counter to my pre-playoff predictions and I’ve only had one mocking text/e-mail/call about it – because it can hasten what should be one of the more fascinating off-seasons in the league.

That’s a weird team, a pretty good one with a star who doesn’t like the coach and a coach who would seem to be completely tired of the circus swirling around him and a general manager, Otis Smith, who said after his team’s ouster that he’s not even sure if he wants to come back for another year of nonsense.

Can’t wait to see how that plays out.

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Comments

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:
"Canada Basketball Feel Good Hour" - this one wasn't a bun toss?

Did you see where Josh Hamilton hit four home runs in a game last night? There have been more perfect games thrown than there have been players who have hit four out in one game. Pretty impressive!

[sam]

I can't help but think Orlando would be better off keeping Van Gundy and trading Howard. Out of the two Van Gundy seems to be the most consistent, and Howard seems a tad immature. A great talent, but by holding the Magic hostage with his trade demand and then relenting.....
I'm certain a trade would get them some nice pieces....

Wow...TOD blown save. The bullpen can't catch a break. The closers role on this team hasn't had a lock down guy since Ward and Henke.
Perhaps Oliver might stem the tide until Santos is back..

[DannyFromFreddy]

Although I'd love to see Nash in a Raptors uniform, I'd also like to see him get a ring before he retires. I'm conflicted. As much as I hate the Heat, if he signed with them, they look like perennial title contenders.

I saw an interview with Van Gundy between quarters in last night's game. It seemed like (in his mind) that he was already gone.

[AT]

Doug, any idea what the jays are going to do with their (lack of a) closer???

Blogger's note: Hope Santos gets healthy? Best I've got

[Lorie]

Hi Doug!
So, the Senior Men's program has centre stage this week, but next week the Canadian women's team will be playing the Chinese Olympic team at the Jack Donohue Classic. Will you be going out to B.C. to report on them as they start their London 2012 preparation/qualification process? Cheers!

Blogger's note: Won't be there but keep watching here, piece coming on them later on today or tonight, I believe

[Tim]

This year, I wasn't as interested in the first round of the playoffs as I usually am. Despite some good stories, like Jeremy Lin, and some zany games, especially early on, this year was kind of an ugly one for the nba: the lockout, obviously, and too many games too close together, the ugliness with Howard, and then all the apparent tanking at the end of the season. And when the playoffs started, there were the injuries to Rose and Noah, and also just a lack of a compelling series, at least in the east.

But I'm starting to develop a rooting interest in the Pacers. They've almost got a little of that 2004 Pistons feeling -- no superstars, but they play hard and as a team. I'd love to see them match up with the Heat. The Pacers have a big, strong centre, solid wing defenders, and two pretty good point guards. They might not win, but I think they can challenge the Heat in a way the Knicks never did.

Still, it's hard to see anyone taking out the Heat in the East, but you never know. Anyway, I think we might be in for a good finals this year. Heat-OKC? Heat-Spurs? Both the Thunder and the Spurs are looking really strong these days.

P.S.

Everybody see that article on Hibbert in Grantland? It's worth a read:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7881895/how-indiana-pacers-all-star-center-roy-hibbert-avoided-becoming-stiff

[james]

I have noticed that Frank Francisco seems to be racking up ironic saves for the Mets. I wonder how Jon Rauch is doing.
Year Zero for the men's national team is off to a smashing start. It's nice to know there are "high net worth" basketball freaks out there. Oh yes, they're called Raptor season ticket holders aren't they?

[TLI]

In all the excitement about Steve stepping up for the national team, Doug, you seem to have missed the great news from the pucks pages. Flyers are out!!!!

Blogger's note: The ghost of Kate Smith will be crushed

[Mike kovacs]

Doug I hope that the TV is on while you are eating dinner!

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

I don't know if this is appropriate or not, but do you know of a way that we could contact Steve Nash, in order to congratulate him, and to thank him for taking on this task?

Blogger's note: I don't; maybe through www.basketball.ca?

[GM]

I don't get the fascination with beloved players getting "rings". If they win, great. But there are lots of greats who never won and didn't go out searching for a team to win with. They just did their best with the team they were on. Winning a championship requires great players, yes, but also role players and luck. If Nash never wins a championship, he'll still go down as one of the great point guards. Will his reputation get a boost if he goes to a championship-calibre team and they win it all? Maybe, but it shouldn't. And the flipside is true, too. What if he goes to a team with Lebron, Wade and Bosh and they don't win? Then he might seem like a bigger loser.

[JT]

Any thoughts on which big men will be back with Raps next year? I can't see a situation where all the bigs stay. IMO, one of Davis or Amir has to go to make room for Val. I can't see both Jamal and Aaron both staying either just because they'd be the 4th or 5th big off the bench. Alabi is end of bench fodder who is useless. This is all assuming the Raps don't draft another big man in June. I think this off-season should be very interesting with lots of movement and potential trades.

[Steve]

As far as Orlando goes, I think it is highly likely that they end up losing both Stan and Dwight within the next year. Most likely scenario, based on what transpired, is that they shift the coach to try and appease Dwight and then he ends up leaving anyway. Just a gut feeling though.

[Moshigh]

Nash with basketball Canada cant hurt. Im tired of hearing talk about him coming to Raptors, It makes no sense to me. As it would be a very short term fix. This team needs to build.

Im not sure how anyone can say Stan Van Gundy more valuable then D Howard. Lets be real. Yes D Howard hasnt handled the trade free agency well. How many people would be able to. If he says nothing he is hated. If he says something he is hated. Look a Bosh, he never played the games with Raptors but you could only be a fool to think he would sign back to long term with a team that is going down wrong side of the mountain.

@ Tim. Im sorry to me this has been one of the best seasons of basketball. There was at least 2 games every single night(if u have a decent cable package).
What blatant tanking? every year there are teams who take the foot of the gas. If you have no chance to make the playoffs and just played months of basketball lets be real im sure energy is lower.

[sam]

@Moshigh. I wouldn't be so quick to defend Howard's actions.
There's a certain amount of professionalism, and accountability to the his employers and teammates that he seems to be lacking. There's no question he's a dominant player, but there's a maturity issue. I get the impression he wants to be liked - but also wants to be the centre of attention.

[Steve]

@Moshigh "Im not sure how anyone can say Stan Van Gundy more valuable then D Howard."

The question isn't which one is more valuable though. Dwight being more valuable won't mean jack to Orlando if he asks to be traded again half way through next season or walks in free agency.

If they can't get Dwight to sign an extension then they might as well trade him and keep Stan rather than losing both for nothing.

[Cluck Kent]

Great news about Steve Nash. It sure would be a great help to his new roll if his choice of NBA Team allowed him to live in the city where a large part of his new responsibilities will be.