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Nash helping out at home

MATTHEW SEKERES AND PETER MALLETT

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:10 PM EST 25/07/08

Two-time NBA MVP has teamed up with Whitecaps owner in bid to bring an MLS franchise to Vancouver by 2011 ...Read the full article

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  1. Jimmy Stewart from Toronto, Canada writes: I really hope we see Montreal and Vancouver in the MLS soon. Both clubs would thrive with already devoted fanbases, and Montreal already has has some great television coverage. Both clubs would make Canadian footie, the MLS and even my Toronto FC much better. As for Ottawa, I think they could pull it off but the key will be a friendlier stadium. An Ontario derby would be fantastic, but 'Capital FC' will die if they don't get a local and more intimate venue. Perhaps a joint venture to rebuild Carleton's? Still, it's exciting that we might get our own top flight 'domestic league' even if it's only four teams in a 24 team MLS. Perhaps we'll see the USL move into Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec, Halifax and then we'll get a real domestic cup, etc.
  2. P Scott from Canada writes: Great idea! Would be wonderful for the development of Canadian soccer. But please, please keep it on grass!!
  3. snow crash from Canada writes: I think it'll be a disaster for any Vancouver team to play in BC Place, no matter what kind of renovations they're considering. I moved from Vancouver over twenty years ago so things may have changed considerably but isn't the small stadium over in Burnaby a better consideration for renovation?
  4. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: I love the idea of teams in Montreal and Vancouver (especially Vancouver). I'm a newly minted footy fan who has, for better or worse, hooked my star to TFC despite MLSE ownership and inevitable mismanagement. I'm moving to Vancouver and whether the 'Caps are USL or MLS, I hope to catch a few games - BUT NOT AT BC PLACE...unless they can draw 30,000 fans a game. It has to be SSS
  5. asdf asdf from Canada writes: It's a bit of a chicken or egg argument with these stadiums. Football isn't popular enough in Canada to financially support football only stadiums, but arguably the game won't grow as fast without them.

    Personally I think all football should be played in proper football-only stadiums on natural grass, but I understand that for financial reasons this may not be viable for teams right from the get go. As long as teams plan to eventually move to proper stadiums once they're financially established that's good enough for me.
  6. Marco Polo from Washington DC, Canada writes: With all this expansion, where are the quality players going to come from?
  7. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: Marco Polo - I know TFC isn't a great measuring stick these days, but Montreal and Vancouver showed them a thing or two, so one could argue that there is already some talent there.
  8. Celine Brown from Canada writes: Oh, that's why this "great Canadian" couldn't help his country during the recent Olympic basketball trials.

    What a disgrace!
  9. asdf asdf from Canada writes: Oh god, you're still at it?

    Steve Nash has done far more for this country than Celine Brown ever could.
  10. Celine Brown from Canada writes: Steve Nash has done more to manipulate Canadian opinion than Celine Brown will ever do. That's a more accurate statement.
  11. asdf asdf from Canada writes: Then why are you trying to manipulate Canadian opinion? Steve Nash has never told me that Celine Brown is a disgrace to Canada.
  12. Celine Brown from Canada writes: ASDF, he would if he could. He's too busy manipulating public opinion about what a great guy he is.
  13. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: As a professional athlete with a wife and twins, I'm willing to give Steve a pass for skipping out on Canada basketball. Not to mention his health issues with his back and all. Celine Brown - do you know the amount of time and committment it takes to be a professional athlete? Probably not. It's pretty easy to be ignorant and get all huffy puffy about Nash not playing for Canada basketball, but get learned. The Phoenix Suns pay him a lot of money to play NBA basketball and his first obligation is to them. Next, his family, then himself. Like it or not, Canada basketball ranks fourth, at best.
  14. asdf asdf from Canada writes: Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Jason Kidd are playing for their country, does that make them better guys than Steve Nash?
  15. Celine Brown from Canada writes: "Like it or not, Canada basketball ranks fourth, at best."

    You make a good point Michael, Steve Nash doesn't care much about playing for his country.
  16. Ryan M from Ottawa, Canada writes: What is with Celine Brown's hard-on for Steve Nash? Is it just him, or any professional athlete?

    These sweeping, generalized statements are just brilliant. What has Nash done to 'manipulate Canadian opinion'? By performing at a high level and dominating the NBA? Contributing to charities such as the Steve Nash Foundation (this is sure to spark some accusations of narcissism from our enlightened friend), GuluWalk (which helps children in Uganda, FYI), doing charity work in China (expecting some ludicrous comment about how he supports the Chinese government's oppressive regime), founding the Jim Jennings Memorial Endowment Fund (Celine likely doesn't like the name 'Jim'), or by funding the creation of a new pediatric cardiology ward at a hospital in Paraguay (how selfish).

    So, to our raging patriot on this thread - Celine, your country is calling to to cease posting, or, at the very least, think before you post. Rise to the challenge, my friend.
  17. Celine Brown from Canada writes: Ryan "Nash" you make some great points. You're the one who seems to have a "hard-on" (your word) for the 'great man.'
  18. Cruthin Clan from Brampton, Canada writes: Hey Celine, you do know that Nash put in close to a decade of service with the national team right?

    Regardless, what MLS should do is come to a financial deal with the USL and utilise the promotion-relegation system used in every other soccer league...including USL where they have two divisions. Top two go up, bottom two go down.
  19. Ryan M from Ottawa, Canada writes: Celine - excellent retort. Do you have any particular reason for singling out Steve Nash over and over? You clearly don't know much about what he does.
  20. Celine Brown from Canada writes: 'Retort,' wow the Steve Nash fanclub now owns a thesaurus.
  21. Ryan M from Ottawa, Canada writes: Alright, well enjoy your grudge against Steve Nash. Whatever makes you happy...

    As per the article, I would love to see an MLS team come to Ottawa, but don't know if it would be viable. There are plans to build a new stadium at Lansdowne, that could potentially serve as a venue for a CFL and MLS team, but I don't know if there would be enough support. The U-20s drew great numbers here, but that's a special case. Should be interesting to watch the Montreal-Toronto rivalry grow when the Impact enter the MLS. Loving seeing the sport grow in this country though!
  22. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: Celine Brown - I seldom stoop this low, so I beg foregiveness (not from you, but from whatever God or supreme being is out there) in advance.

    I don't think I am being presumptuous when I say, on behalf of myself and others: you're a complete idiot. Get bent.
  23. Celine Brown from Canada writes: Michael Peters, what have you got against opinion. And what kind of 'professional athlete' as you say you are, spends his days responding to people you deem an idiot.

    To stoop to your level of supreme wit and put-downs, it takes one to know one.
  24. S Kat from Nashville, Canada writes: Celine your comments don't do anything except aggitate people enough to post replies that are seemingly unproductive towards this thread (Vancouver and the expansion of MLS incase you forgot)

    Stick to the point, and stick to what you know
    ... which apparently isn't enough to be commenting in the first place

    And to everyone else, I know it's tempting to shoot down comments so ignorant, misinformed, and obviously strangely personally driven. But I think you can all agree that our conversing could do without giving Celine reason to keep writing?

    I'm a TFC fan and I'm actually kind of happy that Montreal beat them the other night, maybe that will help push a club for Montreal as Vancouver seems to be very hopeful thanks to our boyyy!!
  25. Bobby A from Toronto, Canada writes: Would love to see Montreal and Vancover in the MLS. I think a USL/MLS merge with a relegation/promotion system would be the best thing for NA soccer but it doesn't sound like the different organizations will work to make this happen.

    Celine- shhhhhhhh, the baby is sleeping.
  26. asdf asdf from Canada writes: While I personally would like to see an MLS USL promotion relegation system in place, I'm not sure how the average north american fan would respond. With some of the American MLS teams where attendance is already low, relegation could be financially detrimental to the club. There isn't the long standing tradition in place yet to support your club in all situations.

    How has fan support generally been through relegation from USL division 1 to USL division 2?
  27. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: Celine - Perhaps I should have been more clear in my earlier post. I am not a professional athelete with a wife and young twins, Steve Nash is. My point is that Steve would spend much of his time during the NBA season tending to his duties as an NBA player. In his time off, there are a million other things that demand his time. You seem to think that Steve Nash, at the age of 34, should drop his responsibilities to his NBA team, his family, his charitable work, himself, and play basketball for Canada. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but my opinion is that your opinion is completely, totally, and utterly idiotic. There have been a few posts here explaining why Steve Nash is a great Canadian and / or provides some rationale for his skipping out on Basketball Canada. Would you care to provide some reasonable basis for your assertion that Steve should abandon his other responsibilities and play for Basketball Canada, and also provide some evidence how he has "manipulated Canadian opinion"? Also, I'm interested to read your reply to asdf asdf's post pointing out that fine, upstanding citizens like Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Jason Kidd are playing for their country and whether that makes them great. Care to respond?
  28. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: Sorry everyone - back to the topic at hand.

    I think the relegation system could work as it would certainly give clubs something to constantly play for. If you know you're not going to win the title, at the very least you do not want to get relegated. I think it would make seemingly meaningless very important.
  29. bj sutherland from Victoria, Canada writes: I agree the relegation system make things much more interesting and it's ridiculous that this isn't in place in other sports in NA. I want to see an MLS franchise in Vancouver, Montreal and eventually other cities in Canada. Love soccer and Steve Nash and all the work he has done and is doing to promote men's and women's soccer in this country.
  30. Celine Brown from Canada writes: The Steve Nash Fan Club is now in session. Good luck with your love-in.
  31. Moose Lion from Canada writes: Its really great to see the growth Celine has shown in her arguments...its grown from "steve nash should play and if you don't think so you must be a fan" to "steve nash should play and if you don't think so you must be a fan".

    Wow. Great progression there and way to forward the argument.

    I could care less if anyone chooses to play for free in thier own time. That includes Nash, Magloire, Dalembert etc. But I guess that just makes me a Steve Nash fan right? There couldn't possibly be another explanation.
  32. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: I know I shouldn't, but I will.

    Either Celine is working hard at responding to my post of 1:33, or she's just choosing to ignore it. I suppose it's the later.

    If "The Steve Nash Fan Club is now in session. Good luck with your love-in. " is the best she's (?) got, well, that says it all, doesn't it?
  33. sidney Goldberg from writes: Vancouver is a natural MLS member, especially with Seattle also receiving a team. Nothing like friendly competition that is within a three hour drive. BC Place will have an open air roof soon and it's target is to be ready by 2011. The Whitecaps have already made a pledge to play in BC Place at that point. They are still working with the Fraser Port Authority to build a 17,000 seat stadium downtown that can also be used for outdoor concerts. Steve Nash's brother Martin is a highly popular member of the Vancouver Whitecaps and like his brother a likeable person, who is active in the community. I'm happy that Steve will be part of the investment team. Seattle has Paul Allen, Bill Gates and Drew Carey as their investors. The Caps will do very well with kerfoot and Nash. The Burnaby stadium has no real area to expand too. As for Celine Brown I'm curious what is your contribution to society other than a need to knock Steve Nash. I happen to be a Minnesota Timberwoves fan and generally do not cheer for his team. I live in Vancouver and happen to know of many good things he has done for the community. So Celine fess up how many hours do you provide in your life to helping others. Have you ever set food in Canuck's Place and made a childs life a little brighter. We all want to know what organizations like say Breast Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Foundation, MLS, MD etc you give time to. Celine do you bring cheer to the Children's Hospital. If you do thank you and continue to annoy people, if not talk about the subject or take your sad little act far down the road. I could care less if Steve Nash or any other athlete gets publicity for an event like his Basketball All Star game that fills the building and gives money to those who most need the help. It seems like your the one seeking publicity on this blog and none of us have a clue why. Sydney Joel Goldberg
  34. A Banana from Canada writes: Celine Brown from Canada writes: Oh, that's why this "great Canadian" couldn't help his country during the recent Olympic basketball trials.

    Give me a break. What if you went into work everyday and all the people around you and your boss gave you a hard time. Eventually they made it so hard to operate properly there was basically no chance of success.

    Now you basically know what Steve Nash and Jay Triano had to go through every year playing for the mentally challenged Canadian Basketball association.

    Nash is 34, he's done his part for the country.

    You need to ask the association why they make it so hard for professionals to do their job, so we end up with junk like Leo Rautins coaching the team.
  35. Celine Brown from Canada writes: It`s true that maybe I have judged Steve Nash too harshly.

    He does seem a cut above some of the other athletes we read about who choose not to represent their country during international competitions.

    It also seems like he`s done some valuable charitable work.

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