Does Steve Nash’s Foul On Ray Felton Deserve A Suspension?

Truthaboutit.net posts on Steve Nash fouling Ray Felton:

Ray Felton drove the lane, easily getting past with a spin move Nash as most do; Steve Nash was knocked off balance, but clearly stuck out his leg tripping Felton, who went down very hard, in the process. Ray was able to shoot the FTs, but got taken to the training room after that.



Now, I really respect Steve Nash’s ability. And I’m fairly confident that he deserved those MVP awards. But he’s not the innocent white cream pie that people perceive him to be. He’s a warrior, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be dirty too. He’s just a little more deceptive and smart about it than others. Think John Stockton.

Verdict: 1 game suspension....and yes, "hypocrite" maaay be a little harsh, then again, maybe not.

If anyone disagrees, I’d like to know why his foot was that high in the air and reaching back.....and if I’m totally off-base and wrong on this one, I will apologize.

My Quick Take: We live in the age of youtube, cell phone cameras/videos, and instant replay from so many angles fans get dizzy. Many of today’s athletes are scrutinized like Britney Spears taking a barefooted pee in a public bathroom.

By now, Nash’s foul on Felton has made the rounds. It’s troubling. But there are a few points worth considering:

1) Nash is no boy scout. He’s one of the NBA’s most competitive players. His passion comes from coaches and scouts doubting his ability. For example, his coach at Mount Douglas High School in Victoria told him he wasn’t good enough for Division 1 ball in the States. And check out his brother’s memories of their childhood:

“I remember looking out the window of our house, watching Steve shoot free    throws in the rain. I didn’t do that. Look, I have no regrets. I played in three world cup qualifiers (soccer). I had my chances. But with that little extra drive-that Steve drive-who knows? (Steve’s brother, Martin, from Jack McCallum’s :07 Seconds Or Less)

2) We’ve established Nash is feisty. But there’s a difference between feisty and dirty. Feisty is competing, dirty is intentionally attempting to injure. The two-time MVP wouldn’t deliberately injure anybody, especially Felton because …

3) ... they’re tight. The point guards are good friends. Felton made the trek to Vancouver for Nash’s charity game in July. I was sitting in press row right next to the bench. The two were laughing, joking, and carrying-on throughout the evening.

Bottom line, the suits at league head office should let Nash off with a friendly reminder to watch his legs, which is fair for a first-time offender. The all-world table-setter is a clean player, but nobody can escape the glare of youtube.

Should Nash be suspended? Get at us in the comment box below with your thoughts.

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