Steve Nash

Steve Nash (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Steve_Nash.jpg ())

"The virtues lie in the struggle, not the prize" (Richard Monckton Milnes). This is a perfect quote that exemplifies the accomplishments of Steve Nash. Steve Nash is a Canadian basketball player born on February 7, 1974 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was chosen with the fifteenth pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and has been a dominant force on the court due to his outstanding passing ability; his marvelous skills led ESPN to name him the ninth greatest point guard of all time in 2006. Now 38 years old, Nash has earned two consecutive MVP awards and eight all-star appearances in his NBA venture so far but even with such a successful career, Nash's journey to the top has been filled with difficulties. He finds himself where he is today due to his perseverance during harsh times and his loyalty to his teammates. He is also known for his compassion, accomplishing an overwhelming amount of charity work to aid children in poverty. Overcoming any predicaments, Steve Nash has not only pushed his teams to new heights, but has also improved the lives of those around him.

Perseverance has led Nash to where he is today. (http://www.thesportsbank.net/core/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Steve-Nash.jpg ())

           Perseverance has led Steve Nash past many road blocks to his dream of joining the NBA. One of the many obstacles that he had to face was the criticism from his country, so he made a decisive decision: "Steve knew that in order to make it to the NBA, his best option would be to move to the United States and play college basketball" (Basen 15). Nash's opportunities were limited since he lived in Canada where basketball was not a popular sport. Not only that, even his friends believed that he was wasting his time pursuing it. Despite all the negativity that Nash experienced, he did not let it get to him and continued practicing. He used their criticism to his advantage and strove to prove his critics wrong. Eventually, he moved to the United States where he had a better chance of making his dream a reality. As Nash prepared for his college venture, he was not given much to choose from: "Steve had never even heard of Santa Clara. But with no other options to play at American schools, Steve signed a letter of intent to play for the Broncos" (Basen 17). Without an opportunity to demonstrate his skills to "big-name" colleges such as Syracuse or Washington, Nash had no other choice but to play for the Santa Clara Broncos. Playing with such a weak team would make it harder to be noticed and get drafted into the NBA. The lack of response from American colleges hurt Nash but instead of presenting his feelings with his fists, he decided to show it on the court. Making the most out of what he had, Nash led his team to the top of their division and won many upset victories against tough opponents. When many would have viewed this to be bad luck, Nash used this chance to prove that he was ready for the next level. All in all, Nash was able to penetrate the obstacles that stood between him and his dream; his determination to never give up inspires others to do the same and work toward their goals no matter what barriers block the path to success.

Nash credits his teammates for his MVP award (http://www.monumentaleffort.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Steve-Nash-HoF-Part-II.jpg ())

          What makes Nash such a respectable player in the NBA is the loyalty he shows his team. Looking at his career statistics, it is shown that Nash takes loyalty to a whole new level: "Having participated in 86 playoff games, Nash holds the record as the only active NBA player to compete in so many playoff games without winning an NBA title. He has played 10 seasons in the NBA without making it to the NBA Finals" (Basen 111). As of today, Nash has unsuccessfully pursued an NBA championship. His chances of obtaining one are also slowly diminishing as he ages. Even with the odds against him, Nash has been loyal to his team and continues to play with them. The Phoenix Suns have been unable to acquire enough talent to back up Nash on the court, but he feels obligated to set an example and lead the team and its players to their ultimate goal. His chances of being traded to a "title-contending" team are high, but Nash would much rather play with teammates he has known his whole career than new players he would probably only know for a few years at most. When Nash received the MVP award for his performance in the 2006 season, he showed his fans and everyone in the league the loyalty that earned him it: "To show how much he valued his teammates, Nash called the rest of the Suns up to the podium when he received the MVP award" ("Steve Nash" Steve Nash (Biography Today)). When Nash won the award, he knew he could not have done it without the contribution from his teammates. He accepts that it was not just his own performance that led to the award, but also his teammates' performances. Nash stays loyal by not taking all the credit like most players would. He realizes how much he benefits from the play of his teammates and expresses his gratitude by calling them up to share the award with him. Nash's dedication to his team is extraordinary. Even when there is no reward at the end, he is willing to stick by their side through the most of grueling times due to the chemistry that they have built. By and large, Nash's loyalty has proven to be undaunted against adversity.

(http://www.canadiandesignresource.ca/officialgallery/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/steve-nash.jpg ())

             Nash expresses compassion by using his popularity and wealth to help people in need. He shows his kindness by reaching out to others through his foundation: "Through SNF (Steve Nash Foundation), Steve works to change the trajectory for children in poverty, or struggling with illness, abuse or neglect" ("Page about Steve"). After entering the NBA, Nash sought a way to give back to the community so he developed the Steve Nash Foundation. With it, he aids kids with physical and mental disabilities. Nash uses his resources in a way where he can improve the lives of those around him instead of keeping everything for himself. He wants to atone for all the community had given him. Steve has not only demonstrated his compassion in the United States, he has exposed it to the entire world as seen in this quote: "Nash has drawn praise for his public generosity, using endorsement money to fund a pediatric cardiology ward in a Paraguayan hospital" ("Steve Nash" Gale Biography in Context). Even though he could have ignored the rest of the world, Nash's passion to help led him to assist the people in Paraguay. He decided to act and use his money so everyone could benefit from it. His caring heart has gained recognition from the NBA and his fans. Nash feels it is his responsibility to give to these kids the good fortune he had while growing up. All things considered, Nash took advantage of his social status and utilized it to improve the lives of the people around him.

             Nash deserves the title of hero because he strives to make the world a better place for everyone. Through his perseverance and loyalty, Nash has demolished any obstruction that's blocked him from his goals. Now, he sets out to help others who face the same negativity he did growing up. "'Steve is not only a great player,' said Suns chairman Jerry Colengelo. 'He's one of the few players who I believe makes everyone better around him'" (Basen 7). Today, movie stars and singers are often mistaken as heroes due to their wealth and fame. Simply said, heroes should be people who we can look up to our whole lives and not for just a month because they hit the billboard top 100. Heroes are the ones who guide us through life, remind us of the good that is in every one of us, and tell us to strive for the most impossible dreams. Nash is one of these people because he inspires others to be the best they can be whether it is at a sport, in school, or at life. He motivates you to try new things even if you are not good at it. In conclusion, Steve Nash may only be remembered for his achievements in the NBA, but it is the "virtues in the struggle" that capture my image of a hero.

Works Cited

Basen, Ryan. Steve Nash Leader On and Off the Court. Enslow. Print.

"Page About Steve." The Steve Nash Foundation. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.    

"Steve Nash." Gale Biography in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Gale Biography In

            Context. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.

"Steve Nash." Steve Nash (Biography Today) (2010): 1. Biography Reference Center. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.