Game Over. Game On.

PHX

December 2008

D-BACKS GM AT HOME WITH CARDINALS

JOSH BYRNES STUD DARNELL DOCKETT
His journey to Wait until you see his closet!
this elite job was
as interesting as HE’S A ‘DIRT LICKER,’
it was fast ‘GROUND POUNDER,’ AND
BROADCASTING STAR
FROM JUMP SHOTS How Ron Wolfley morphed
TO PHOTO SHOOTS into the best color
Boris Diaw is opening commentator in the NFL
the coolest photo
studio in the Valley THE FBR OPEN
IS AROUND THE CORNER
POST hangs with defending
champ J.B. Holmes

THE ‘I DO’ THAT HE DID

A Fiesta Bowl volunteer’s
idea that made history

InterNASHional
PLUS
// BRANDON WEBB AND HIS
FAMOUS FRIENDS HEAD TO CABO
Aid You think Steve Nash
makes an impact on the
court? Wait until you hear
what his foundation does
// THE PGA’S BIGGEST HITTER for needy people around
MOVES TO THE VALLEY the world
// THE HALF-MILLION-DOLLAR 1
DEC
OLYMPIC BASKETBALL www.postphx.com 2008
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2009
 Steve Nash
DECEMBER 2008 He plays on Planet

Inter
i Orange, but is more
concerned about going
green on Planet Earth.
He puts smiles on the
faces of Suns fans,
and brings hope to the

NASH
lives of young people in
Africa. There really is no
other superstar in any
sport that can compare
to Steve Nash when it
comes to a commitment

Ional
to helping needy children
and preserving the
environment.

By Zack Simon
Photos by Tracy Rasinski

o you have a calculator handy? 

Aid
Wait, to figure out the odds of what I’m about to say
would require access to a mainframe computer at
NASA or a friend who picked up a PhD from MIT.
How the heck did someone who grew up in Canada,
loving soccer and hockey, who went to college in a city
more known for being a tech-geek haven with eBay,
Yahoo and Google headquarters around the corner
then producing future hoops stars, go on to become
one of the best NBA point guards to ever lace up a pair of sneakers?  And not just
any kind of sneakers, we’re talking about environmentally friendly Nike sneakers
made up of almost entirely recycled products.  You know what?  Don’t even try
to figure it out, just enjoy and relish and appreciate the fact that Steve Nash
ended up in Phoenix. Twice. And through a dozen seasons, scores of hairstyles,
two MVP awards and more wins in a four-year span than any other Sun has
been part of, keep in mind the greatest thing Steve Nash has accomplished in
a Hall-of-Fame playing career has all taken place away from the spotlight and
out of a uniform. “Steve is undoubtedly the most socially aware person I’ve met
in the NBA,” Suns GM Steve Kerr told POST. “He has a great understanding of
the world, thanks to his background, his education and his passion to travel and
learn. He also understands that as an NBA star, he has the power to influence
people and literally help change the world.” 
In a season of giving it’s important to hear the story of an A-list sports
superstar who lives in a world where giving never goes out of season.  What
Steve Kerr said would be echoed by everyone that has dealt with Steve Nash in
and out of basketball in Dallas, Phoenix, New York, Vancouver, China, Africa
and a lot of points in between.  But before he turned his Steve Nash Foundation
into the preeminent charitable arm of any professional athlete in any sport, Steve
was a rookie from Santa Clara University; new to the Valley, new to the NBA,
and probably more concerned back in his first season of keeping his job so he
could eventually have something to give back.  “I think it was my second year in
the league that I realized how easy and how rewarding it was to lend a hand to
the community. So it took me a little bit, but I started to understand that there
are people out there that could use our help, and we have a unique ability and the
resources to really help people. So that’s when I really started doing all I could,
and really consciously getting involved.”

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 Steve Nash
In 2001 he formed the Steve Nash Foundation. Based in Vancouver, it was DECEMBER 2008
given U.S. charitable status in 2004, and Canadian charitable status in 2007.
It is dedicated to assisting underserved children in their health, personal i
development, education and enjoyment of life. This is a hands-on endeavor for
Steve.  He is involved in all major decisions, and has day-to-day contact with
Jenny Miller, the Executive Director of the foundation.  “Every day I’m involved,”
Steve said.  “I’m very busy with it.  Jenny runs the foundation in Vancouver and
her days are very full. Between the two of us, we’re working on it every single
day. There’s always something to spend time on.  We have a
lot of projects we’re working on and constantly developing. 
But with all the work, you have to make it fun, exciting and “I’m very
rewarding. You have to get in there and work with your
people, and be part of the team.  That’s definitely part of my
busy with
strategy, because without that kind of teamwork internally the foun-
there is no way it would be as impactful.” 
One of Steve’s greatest characteristics is his dation. You
thoughtfulness. He just never seems out of control, even have to get
when he’s spinning through the lane with Kobe Bryant
trying to catch him and a 7-footer trying to squash in there and
him.  Same thing with all his work with his foundation. 
Everything is thought out, executed and followed up on. 
work with
Plus, he finds unique areas of need and addresses them.  your people,
There is nothing cliché or predictable about the causes he
serves.  His foundation is doing work all over the world. A
and be part
particularly important and mammoth project is what he’s of the team.”
doing in the African country of Uganda, where he literally
is building the Gulu Youth Centre for Culture, Sport and –Steve NASH
Reconciliation.  It will be the first of its kind in northern
Uganda, where war has ravaged the area for the past 22 years. The Youth
Centre, a project born from a partnership between The Steve Nash Foundation
and Athletes for Africa, will bring together activities that will empower, heal,
build confidence and provide leadership opportunities for youth affected by
the conflict.  It’s truly an unbelievable endeavor that will change, prolong and
save lives in Africa, while at the same time give hundreds of children some
hope and joy that would normally be robbed of them.  Construction begins in
a few months. 
“Our center in Uganda was an opportunity that really started with my wife
(Alejandra).  She wanted to help somewhere and also have the opportunity to do
something on her own, and what I did was set her up with the Athletes for Africa has worked closely with APS to promote solar power, recycling and conservation. 
Foundation. She went to Uganda with the founder of Athletes for Africa, and got He and his wife have installed solar panels in their home, they drive hybrid
an education on the situation there, which is horrible, after two decades of war.  vehicles and they teach their daughters the lessons of conserving energy and
Her experience led me to start thinking I wanted to start building something water.  It’s really inspiring.” 
concrete there. Fortunately, between my cousin, myself and Adrian Bradbury, Nash partners with the Suns on numerous causes, and he never says no
the founder of Athletes for Africa, we’ve come up with a new platform. With to an autograph request, photo with a fan, or a chance to just talk to someone
the center we’re building, we’re going to ask the soccer community around the and make their day. And with his status as an NBA superstar comes incredible
world for some of their tremendous resources.  We’re going to touch a lot of their endorsement opportunities.  Unlike other walking, jumping, dunking,
fan bases, soccer moms here in America, really, anyone around the world that product-pitching brands in high tops, Steve Nash is much more concerned
loves soccer, and we’re going to take care of a lot of people in Africa.  There will about how he can make other people’s lives better and finding a way to work
be a soccer academy for young kids. Soccer and its whole fan base is going to together with his partners, like Nike, and any company that wants him to
pay for the art, culture, and reconciliation components there. So hopefully this promote their products.
will be the first of many, high-performance youth centers for sports, culture and “My philosophy is that all of my endorsements have a charitable component,
reconciliation,” Steve told POST.   and some of my endorsements I don’t get paid for, it’s strictly for my charity. I
If that’s not ambitious enough, (and keep in mind he does have a pretty intense think it’s a unique opportunity to have the ability to make change, and I lean on
day job, too) Steve is also part of Athletes/Celebrities that actively support the these companies I work with to put the resources together,” Nash said.  
Afghanistan Relief Organization.  They deliver relief aid directly into the hands By no means is Steve Nash done with his playing career, but like everything
of the needy throughout Afghanistan, and offer general education programs else he does with his life he could go completely against the norm and surprise
designed to encourage self-sufficiency at the ARO Technology Education Center us by playing until he’s 45, or retiring in a couple years. Whatever else he
(TEC) in Kabul.  They’ve distributed food, medicine, hygiene supplies, school accomplishes as a player, as spectacular as it is, will pale in sheer volume and
supplies and winter relief supplies (blankets and clothing) and now provide inspirational value to what he’s doing through both his foundation and his truly
education to over 800 youth and adult students. special personal gifts that just make him care about his planet and fellow man
“Steve is a guy who doesn’t just talk the talk,” Kerr told POST.  “He follows a little bit more than most of us.  And because he’s an NBA star, he has the
through on his goals and works hard to promote his causes.  His work in resources, voice and credibility to actually get something done.  And you have
promoting green initiatives and environmentalism is a perfect example.  Steve to believe that we’ve really only seen the beginning.

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