Sometimes as fans, we can't see the proverbial forest through the trees. As commentators, online or otherwise, even when the obvious is staring us right in the face, we tend to over-complicate things.
Sometimes the most obvious answers are, in fact, the most accurate.
Case in point, MVP Steve Nash, as most recently highlighted by the FanHouse's Bethlehem Shoals' "Breaking Down Nash and White Privilege."
Let's look at some facts.
It is no secret that David Stern runs the NBA with nothing short of an iron stick, whose puppeteer ways are well-documented.
Basketball's mainstream popularity has steadily declined since the early 90's, despite significant outreach overseas, and expansion to our neighboring nation to the north.
Subsequent popularity amongst middle-class, whites has been dwindled and is dwarfed by NFL fanaticism and the resurgence of MLB.
Steve Nash was "born" in South Africa.
Steve Nash is a Canadian citizen.
Steve Nash is "white."
Steve Nash is a white African from Canada.
He makes his black and white teammates alike better.
He is almost the perfect basketball specimen.
He is the product of years of tinkering.
Prototype 1: Rick Fox.
With expansion on the mind, Stern had Fox created to "a Bahamian father and Italian-Canadian mother." He was sent to basketball Meccas to develop his craft - Indiana for high school, tobacco road for college. Pleased with his progress, Stern inserted his creation onto the two elite franchises in the NBA – the Celtics and the Lakers.
However, Fox just wasn't that good. Stern needed someone who was able to affect those around him. A floor general. A point guard.
Prototype 2: Jason Kidd
Stern thought he had his perfect creation. He knew, however, that JKidd was not his savior. He was his test model. And it worked. For a few years. But age, health and mediocre teammates would eventually catch up to him. In the meantime, Stern wanted someone a little more
"showmanny" and a little more "white" wouldn't hurt.
Prototype 3: Jason "White Chocolate" Williams
Phyiscal talents in place, Stern now found 2 problems with his latest model. 1 – he hadn't sufficiently developed JKidd's mental aspect with the JWill prototype, and it would be hard to market a white guy from West Virginia to represent a predominantly African-American league (though try he did).
Which brings us to Stern's latest, greatest creation. A white African-Canadian point guard. Steve Nash. The NBA's Tiger Woods.
The reality of all this has been so obvious that it's been ignored. The MVP voting has not been based on race, but rather on race, ethnicity, heritage, skill and David Stern's Frankenstein.
And, as the chief points out, Stern may not just stop with the NBA. Could his monster be headed to save the floundering MLS?
(Also, don't be surprised if "Frenchy" Parker isn't a repeat MVP in the near future.)
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I really thought your blog was interesting....to say the least. Your supposed stories of Stern's prototypes are very humorous. I can see what your're saying about how Steve Nash is so universal, thats why everone likes him. I have a blog on the NBA, you should come check out; http://racismnba.blogspot.com/
Thanks. Checked it out. Your's is a lot less tongue-in-cheek than our, on this, obviously, deep issue. We'll keep checking for new posts.
I think the real thing with Nash is that it is an era generated by television (despite the NBS's popularity slump), while defensive-minded teams such as the Pistons and San Antonio may find success in terms of championships, Nash feeding guys like Amare & Marion and putting up 130 a game makes the highlights and draws the interest.
In addition to his background that we pointed out, I think the point guard position lends itself more valuable than other spots on the floor, much like a QB in football and catcher in baseball. For instance when the Steelers went to the SB, Big Ben was not spectacular, but was efficient and controlled the game while feeding the play-making likes of Ward, Randal El, the Bus and Fast Willie. People praised Ben that year, while his numbers werent as gaudy as his contemporaries. Nash on the other hand can add great numbers on top of helping improve those of his teammates.
Personally, I think Kidd got robbed a few different years.