Steve Nash knows viral and he knows irony. Is there a better combo for an All-Star campaign?
The self-effacing 35-year-old Canadian gave into the pressure of his agents and some in the Suns organization and filmed a short video designed to drum up support for the NBA's signature in-season event. The spot, found on Suns.com, features an uncharacteristically boastful Nash beating his chest and proclaiming "I'm awesome!"
Nash hardly looks like a two-time MVP and six-time All-Star during the 30-second piece.
"People had asked me if I'd do one. I said, 'No way. That's not my style,'" he said. "Then I thought, all right, I'll do one. I asked for about four or five bad plays. I think I actually named three or four of them, but I got a five-minute reel. I was wondering what the message was there."
The video is a hit on laptops and monitors everywhere. In terms of votes, though, maybe Nash should have trusted his instincts. Second in the Western Conference guard voting when returns were released a week ago, he's slipped to third in the latest ballot update behind runaway leader Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and the Man Without a Team.
Rockets exile Tracy McGrady is back up to second, nudging past Nash, who trails by a scant 1,005 votes. The rest of the West starting lineup, if voting ended with this update, would include Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets) and Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks) at forward, and Amar'e Stoudemire (Suns) at center.
The Eastern Conference leaders are: LeBron James (Cavaliers) and Kevin Garnett (Celtics) at forward, Dwyane Wade (Heat) and Allen Iverson (76ers) in the backcourt, and Dwight Howard (Magic) in the middle. Voting concludes Jan. 18. Starters are announced Jan. 21 on TNT.
The only real races are in the West. Chris Paul (Hornets) remains in the running at guard, while Tim Duncan (Spurs) and Pau Gasol (Lakers) have Nowitzki in their sights. The overall leaders also owe some of their popularity to commercials and puppets. Kobe leads the pack with 1,606,032 votes, with LeBron checking in at 1,579,530. The others to crack a million are 'Melo, D-Wade, Howard, KG and Stoudemire.
It appears unlikely T-Mac will be playing for Houston when the All-Star Game hits Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 14. The gathering of the league's best could be seen by a record crowd approaching 100,000 and is being broadcast live on TNT and ESPN Radio domestically, and to more than 200 countries abroad.
Whether Nash is there may depend on his wacky viral "campaign." Nash is certainly no stranger to video foolishness. He's provided a steady offbeat stream through Meathawk, a production company formed with his cousin Ezra Howard. Nash is also not the first NBA player to go for laughs in an All-Star campaign. Raptors forward Chris Bosh -- a participant in Nash's summer soccer charity match -- famously went used car salesman leading up to the 2008 All-Star Game in New Orleans.
Phoenix sixth man Jared Dudley called Nash's effort a "funny spoof" that fit his acerbic sense of humor. Suns coach Alvin Gentry noted, "I don't see Nash campaigning (seriously) for the All-Star Game."
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