And here it is. Chris Ballard of Sports Illustrated was kind enough to highlight the similarities between Dirk Nowitzki and our very own Steve Nash. Although I have openly noted my frustration regarding best-friend opponents, it was something else that Mr. Ballard decided to share with the world that left my plate full of Parmesan. When asked who he thought should be the league M.V.P., Amare felt the need to be honest -- and telling of why this season had a different feel than the last one.
Jump back, Loretta![I]t is interesting that Stoudemire made an effort not to say Nash, the man some would argue is responsible for much of Stoudemire's success. Especially right before the playoffs are to begin, when chemistry is paramount. (Told of the comment, one member of the Suns said, "What do you expect from a guy who chooses a jersey number of one?").
(One guess who the unnamed Suns player was.)
The article goes on to paint a rather intriguing picture of Nash's inner workings, giving fans a glimpse of the fire burning in MV3's gut and the occasional frustration he feels when the Suns offense deteriorates into Sticky Ball (as I've come to call the offense when the passing stops and the bricks start dropping).
That's great to know, but my thoughts keep back pedalling to Amare's comments and the anonymous team mate's response.
A couple days go, Amare's answer to the M.V.P. question made waves in Phoenix, with fans questioning his priorities and loyalty. We gave him the benefit of the doubt a day later when he "clarified" that he meant that Kobe is in his top three.
Fine.
We accepted that. But now I'm not so sure that I can.
We know that Shaq is (always has been, always will be, apparently) Amare's top choice for M.V.P. Which begs the question -- who is third on his list? More precisely, who is third on his list when the question included the phrase "BETWEEN NASH AND NOWITZKI"?
Perhaps a guy who chooses a jersey number of one.
Two years ago, Steve won his first M.V.P. award, and he asked all his team mates to join him on stage to share the moment with him. (There is a link to the video on that page, and you can see all the action starting eight minutes and 20 seconds in.)
Notice how all his team mates shake hands, man hug, and beam with pride as they approach Steve one by one (Shawn seems most pleased). Notice how Amare slinks to the back of the crowd, smiling politely as the others laugh at Jimmy Jackson handing his camera to a reporter in the front row to get a memento. I remember watching that press conference live, then commenting to the people watching with me that Amare had a look on his face like he felt that he should have been up there receiving the award.
Obviously, Steve Nash is not Amare Stoudemire's idea of the Most Valuable Player of the NBA. That's fine. It's his opinion and he is not alone in it.
But to be that vocal, and to give a national reporter that kind of fodder? To openly disrespect his team mate and captain...the guy who feeds him the ball night in and night out?
I sensed it two years ago, and he is confirming it with every thoughtless utterance about the topic. Amare is going to kill this team.
Nash is frustrated. Marion can't wait to get out of town. Mike the coach just rolls his eyes, while Mike the general manager is probably thinking up ways to save his team.
Did Amare not say that he learned his lesson while sitting out for 79 games last season? Has Steve not been praising Amare's growth as a team mate all season long?
Something is going on in the Suns locker room, and no one on the outside can say for certainty just how volatile it might be. I'm not one to presume anything based solely on suspicion, but we have been granted enough snippets to start piecing together a hazy picture of the chemical explosion that may obliterate this team come June -- whether or not we see a championship parade.
For all our sake and sanity, I hope that I'm wrong. I hope to all that is mighty and holy in this universe that it is all just a case of poor journalism meant to sell newspapers and magazines. (If that's the case, then they should all be fired, or at least banned from interviewing Suns players. I don't like to be misled, and I certainly don't like inflammatory journalism for the sole sake of selling subscriptions.)
So Coach D'Antoni, please corral the situation. MVSteve, please exercise your position as co-captain, and right the course of this ship.
And Amare -- say it ain't so.
*Note to self: Get a new keyboard for the P.C.
1 comment:
This raises some chmeistry issues in the Suns. Hope that come June, it doesn't explode.
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