FanNation - The Republic of Sport

if he can pull it off why not

i'd like to kick the tires on him. after all, i dreamt about him the other night...guy dated elizabeth hurley, maybe i was subconsciously comparing myself to her (no comparison). wait, is this a thread?

Nash is an awesome at soccer. If he hadn't gone into the NBA, he could have been a professional soccer player.
I wish there were some way that he could play both sports simultaneously - perhaps sacrificing a portion of the NBA season if necessary.
Does anyone know what months the Soccer season runs through?
- JL

On the flip side, are there any professional soccer players who are also good at basketball?
I doubt that there are, but it would be interesting. (Most professional soccer players are short, and hence probably not motivated to play basketball. Note that I am not discriminating against short people playing basketball, just noting that they would be less motivated to do so.)
- JL

JL please just stop posting... its hurting my head.

Hey GoBlu20 - here's an interesting question for you -
Why is it that out of all the NBA players, it's the white Canadian who plays soccer? Canada is not known as a big force in World Cup soccer, but countries like Argentina, Brazil, and France are. Doesn't that mean that Tony Parker or Boris Diaw (from France), or that Ginobili or Oberto (from Argentina) should be better soccer players than Nash?
If you look at NBA history, Olajuwon was also a good soccer player, but it makes sense since he is from Nigeria, where soccer is very popular.
- JL

idk JL i just think this is a waste of a thread though i can see the funny coincidence that many athletes are multi sport talented id like to see shaq play soccer i think that would be a riot.

Yeah! Shaq playing soccer? Now that's funny! I almost choked on my drink while reading that.
- JL

More Canadian kids play soccer than hockey. Soccer is very popular except we have a crappy national team and the CSA which runs the national team hears echoes whenever they speak. Imagine if the Knicks ran a national soccer program - it would be called Canada.

Shaq can play soccer as a goalie..lets see them try to score on the big cactus

Sad but true DMacGo, the dysfunctional Knicks are a great analogy for the sorry state of affairs that is the CSA.

One thought about this article though...wouldn't Nash rather buy into a Vancouver franchise for his home province? I'm assuming so, which makes me wonder if Montreal has passed Vancouver as a possible MLS expansion site (though I hope both of them make it in someday soon).

DMac is right. Soccer is insanely popular in Canada. Toronto FC has a waiting list for season tickets, and they were garbage in their first year.

Montreal will get a soccer team. Vancouver will probably get one as well. There are so many cities deserving of an MLS franchise. Vancouver and Montreal are 2 of them.

they need an MLS team in AZ, it would rake in cash from the hispanic fans

ha this would be really fun to see him play. he is a great player.

Hey GoBlu20 - here's an interesting question for you -
Why is it that out of all the NBA players, it's the white Canadian who plays soccer? Canada is not known as a big force in World Cup soccer, but countries like Argentina, Brazil, and France are. Doesn't that mean that Tony Parker or Boris Diaw (from France), or that Ginobili or Oberto (from Argentina) should be better soccer players than Nash?
If you look at NBA history, Olajuwon was also a good soccer player, but it makes sense since he is from Nigeria, where soccer is very popular.
- JL

Soccer is more popular world wide than basketball, although basketballs popularity has increased recently.
And technically Nash is African as well if you know your history so well. He only moved to Canada, and yes soccer is played there.

I would have to agree with the comment that asks why Nash wouldn't buy into a MLS franchise in Vancouver. There are already talks of the city building a soccer specific stadium on the waterfront and the USL team draws well (although not as well as the one in Montr??al.)

I don't think Nash could play at the MLS level. As much grief as people give the league the talent is still pretty high. Nash's brother Martin is quite the accomplished footballer as well and he never played higher than 2nd or 3rd tier in England and USL in N America.

Nash isn't the only soccer fan in the NBA. Pretty much all the international players are. Kobe grew up in Italy plays and is a big fan. Nen?? wanted to be a pro soccer player until a coach pushed him towards b-ball cos of his size.

My god some people will believe all kinds of garbage.
The Montreal Impact opened their brand new mini soccer stadium in the back yard of the Olympic Stade. The team for this inaugural game?
Vancouver. Martin Nash plays for them. Steve was in NYC that week.
Not rocket science.

The part about him buying a MSL team is possible.
Buying one in montreal? Not.
The Saputo family who owns the team built the stadium out of their own money. They have millions and millions and are one of the biggest food distributors in Canada. Lots of money and 'connections' from the old 'cheese turf war' days with all that entails.
The patriarch of the family, Lino Saputo, brought Joe Bonnano to Canada in the 60s, so we all know how that works.

Basketball hasnt increased around the world, its still the sport of freaks of nature. BUT basketball has been number 2 for a while. Its the NBA that pushes the notion that there was no basketball around the world before they showed up in 1992. If anything, some leagues have suffered from losing their own native stars. Basketball is doing as well as before. The NBA is making more money selling merchandise worldwide whcih is a different thing.

One thing to add to the soccer is insanely popular in Canada, its true. It passed hockey about 20 years ago in terms of participation but STILL I dare you to find one sports radio or tv show which talks about it OUTSIDE the specialized shows.

Btw, most professional soccer players are not short, its basketball players who are freakingly tall.

And nothing more annoying that hearing 5ft7 sports reporters talk about "Little Stevie Nash". Nash is 6ft3 which is about average in the normal world and taller than most sports reporters.

Yea i heard Kobe grew up an AC Milan fan and was pretty good as a kid playing. And about shaq. Soccer is not his sport. But i know what he can do: Volleyball! Just imagine him spiking every ball he see's in the air.lol. I can just imagine what he will say in the huddle, "guys if u want to win, its very simple, just give Shaq the ball, if Shaq doesnt touch it then we will lose. Dont believe me ask Dwayne Wade." (try to imagine it in the shaq voice.lol) I think Peter Crouch can be a great Shawn Bradley.