A little less than a year ago, I announced my ridiculously optimistic, slightly delusional, completely serious dream of watching the 2010 World Cup in South Africa… with Steve Nash. While I still believe that it healthy and worthwhile to set big, huge goals even with no immediate idea of how to acheive them, sadly, this one did not come to pass.
But, Steve Nash is at the World Cup, and he is actually letting me go with him. Albeit through his video camera as he is a special correspondent for …CBS Sports. Huh? CBS Sports is known for two things: college basketball games, and uninspired NFL broadcasts. It’ is not a kind phrase, but they really are the poor man’s sports network. I would not consider myself a fan. I would not press the “Like” button.
However, in an apparent effort to broaden their appeal beyond white guys from the midwest, CBS Sports has hired America’s favorite international (South African born, Canadian raised) white guy to report on the goings on at the World Cup. Well, it’s not really reporting. They just want him to do funny videos with them like the ones on my link above, or this one that he did with Amar’e Stoudemire:
Maybe they are hoping that it will be the Steve Nash Effect in action outside of basketball. He seems to bring out the best in others, and perhaps he is doing the same thing with CBS Sports.
Here is the last video that he made himself just before teaming up with CBS Sports:
(If you just watch one of the videos in this article, watch this one. It’s the shortest and the best by far.)
For some reason, his videos with CBS Sports don’t have the same type of pop that his other videos have.
As I watch these, I want to laugh and be engaged in the spirit of the video, but it’s just not happening. I’m a ridiculously huge Steve Nash fan, and an even bigger World Cup fan, but the mixing of the two has not been a recipe for success. The CBS Sports curse brings Steve Nash down a couple of notches in the funny department.
Oh well, he’s back in America now for his charity soccer match on June 23. I’m sure that Steve will find his touch with the video camera again soon.
Just to show that not all of these grapes are sour, I will leave you with the one video that did actually have me laughing out loud. Enjoy:
