Nash Always Game for Pick-Up.... Soccer?

By Craig Kwasniewski

We got next, eh?

Being a huge hoops and fútbol fan, I'll always post a crossover story.

Yesterday afternoon Steve Nash and a few members of the NY Red Bulls of the MLS tried to organize a pick-up soccer match in Sheep Meadow in Central Park. According to This is American Soccer:

The whole production, and I'm using that term loosely, was intended for little else than a fun day for RBNY players, families, and friends. And by friends I mean two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and one of his several local soccer teams (this one sponsored by Promofact and made of all Italians; he plays with them in Chinatown, sometimes against the RBNY front office pick-up team).

Nash has grown friendly with Red Bulls players and staff since their meeting during the Barcelona tour last summer when Nash trained with RBNY, traded jerseys with Ronaldinho, and attended the match between the two teams. Nash lives in Manhattan during the NBA off-season. He told me last year at Pier 40 when one of his team's was playing before mine, that the city's soccer was a large part of the reason for being here.

Eric Tosi, the Red Bulls press officer on duty, said only that they were looking for "pick-up in its purest form," and that RBNY had no other agenda. No press was previously told of the event, but obviously they got club brass' blessing before showing up. Red Bull participating players consisted of Juan Pablo Angel, Claudio Reyna, Jerrod Leventure, Dane Richards, Joe Vide, Elie Ikangu, John Wolyniec, and Seth Stammler.

For those non-soccer fans out there, the Red Bull players involved were not your run-of-the-mill bench-warmers. Juan Pablo Angel is the third highest paid player in the MLS ($1.5 mil. per), the reigning All-Star MVP and one of the best forwards in the league. And we've all heard of former Team USA Captain Claudio Reyna from the World Cup. So basically, when Nash calls for a pick-up game in Central Park, the MLS comes a-running.

Unfortunately the Central Park staff shut down the gathering before it started citing that Sheep Meadow is designated only for "passive playing." With gear on, full teams and photographers around this came off as a sponsored event which was prohibited. Too bad.

Still, you gotta love that the 2005-06 NBA MVP is down for a pick-up game in Central Park of all places.

Here's Nash speaking with Captain America.

(From Soccer By Ives and This is American Soccer)

Comments

[Oz]

I happened to be one of the lucky participants and all I can say is that Steve Nash is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. This guy is one of the most exciting players to watch on the basketball court and his grace, speed and dynamics were also present on this pickup game. It was nice to see a real pro among us, mortals, sharing a nice friendly game of soccer. He is a true and great Ambassador to Basketball, Soccer and sportsmen everywhere.

[Craig]

That's awesome! I think it's great to see such a high profile athlete so accessible.

[Gary "mateen" Badesha]

Man I saw Steve play and it was amazing.. we hit it some balls back and forth.. i was so happy sharing such a close experience with him.. best of all.. he showed me how to head it.. i was so good at head that all the players wanted me to do it.. sometimes more than once.. it was so fun, except when the balls would hit me in the face,, ouch! im sure some of the players did that on purpose.. but its all good.. anyways
thanks steve nash for everything!

[Brett]

Gary "mateen" Badesha:

"i was so good at head that all the players wanted me to do it.. sometimes more than once.. it was so fun, except when the balls would hit me in the face,, ouch! im sure some of the players did that on purpose.."

I'm going to pretend that you were *not* talking about oral sex there. Jesus.

[isaacw]

Being a Phoenix resident, I feel very fortunate to have Nash as a Sun. I hope more people try to emulate him as an athlete - our professional sports need people like that.

[Dave Mc]

lol, I can't BELIEVE Nash chooses to live in NYC in the offseason. NYC in the summer is really nasty. I live in New York and I was just thinking I wish I could live somewhere ELSE during the summer and just live here during the OTHER 9 months...

[james]

would've been awesome to see. there's TWO fields set aside for soccer a few blocks away from where they tried to play and they're in a public park -- riverside park at 72nd street. enter the park on 72nd, going west go through the overpass tunnel and down the stairs. one field is on your right as you go down the stairs, surrounded by a track with stone seats. another field (with professional size goals) is just a few feet away to the left just past the little league baseball field along the water...

[Jerry Springer]

"Man I saw Steve play and it was amazing.. we hit it some balls back and forth.. i was so happy sharing such a close experience with him.. best of all.. he showed me how to head it.. i was so good at head that all the players wanted me to do it.. sometimes more than once.. it was so fun, except when the balls would hit me in the face,, ouch! im sure some of the players did that on purpose.. but its all good.. anyways
thanks steve nash for everything!"

Man, one big "NO HOMO" for this comment!

[Gary]

I think ur missing the joke on the "he taught me how to head" post....its obviously a joke...and a funny one at that

[Gary]

I think ur missing the joke on the "he taught me how to head" post....its obviously a joke...and a funny one at that

[Nick]

hahaha, good one.. The Head Joke is genius.. I live in Dallas and played ball with Steve when he was in town. Hell of a guy!!

[Nike Free Running]

I don't know how to receive my responce. Waiting for your reply, tks!