Michael Grange Gives Props to Steve Nash, But Only Passive Aggressively

These Toronto folks are just too annoying right now. Yesterday, Sportsnet’s Michael Grange put a little English on Steve Nash’s decision as he wondered aloud (well, on the Internet) about why in the heavens Nash hadn’t yet signed with Toronto. He seemed to realize – in the middle of his article – that Nash just didn’t want to come to Toronto, but he then warned Nash that his window of opportunity and trading partners was closing.

Yup, nuclear chicken works well.

Well, this Thursday morning, Grange gave Steve his props, admitting aloud (again, on the Internet) that the Lakers and a duo with Kobe or Pau or Bynum was the best move for Nash, his family, and his title hopes.

Of course, he wasn’t too happy about it.

Or, if he was, you couldn’t tell.

“How sincere the former national team star ever was about trying to right the Raptors ship in Toronto after too many lean years he’ll have to answer for himself. He wasn’t returning messages Wednesday night. That his sincerity is even up for question is something new for Nash, who has been able to trade on it for most of his career.

The developments of this week and little wrinkles like him calculatingly choosing Tuesday to launch one of his patented cheeky ad campaigns this time with the tag line — “check out my new team” — will test that a bit. Would Chris Bosh have gotten away with toying with fan’s anxieties like that? LeBron? Unlikely.

That Nash heard the Raptors offer early on and then seemed to spend the next four days waiting — hoping — that some other team would figure out a way to make it easy for Nash to say thanks but no thanks to Toronto is going to be a hard one for a lot of Raptors fans to swallow.”

First, why should Nash have to answer for his sincerity, in this case? Does he really owe Toronto an explanation? I mean, he’s never played there, never lived there, and never claimed to be from there. Oh sure, they can say it’s about Canada, but it’s not, otherwise the whole city wouldn’t be trying to push the Argonauts out of town to make way for a CFL franchise.

Toronto is self-interested and self-serving. It’s not an insult, it’s just how they are. They don’t really care about Canadian basketball, they care about Raptors basketball.

Steve Nash owes nothing to Toronto. No explanation, nada. He’s not a Raptor. He never has been. Jesus, Toronto, get over yourself.

Second, in what way is he like Chris Bosh? Bosh was Toronto’s franchise players, and he held them hostage with his contract and trade status until he decided to leave for the greener pastures of Miami and win a championship two years in. We can see why Raps fans are upset with him, since there was an actual betrayal there. But, Nash? Again… he’s never been a Raptor!

Third, is it really that hard to swallow?

Toronto can now move on to do what it’s always done: losing basketball games. It wasn’t going to change under Nash, they were just going to sell some more jerseys.