Fresh in almost everyone’s memory is 11 July 2010, when Spain’s national soccer (football) team won the FIFA 2010 World Cup, played in South Africa.
Spain - World Champions 2010 (soccer)
Perhaps not as easily or quickly remembered is 3 September 2006 when Spain’s national basketball team won the 2006 FIBA Basketball World Championships in Japan.
ESPN recently reported that Steve Nash is in South Africa for the World Cup, and is spreading the word about basketball while he’s here:
“Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash (190-G-74, college: Santa Clara), who was born in Johannesburg, dropped by Discovery Park to play soccer with Patrick Vieira, formerly of the French national team, and Lucas Radebe, who used to play for the South Africa.
It wasn’t just a coincidence, though. Nash was joined by the Milwaukee Bucks’ Luc Mbah a Moute and Obinna Ekezie, the former Maryland star who spent a few years in the NBA before playing overseas, as part of the NBA’s campaign to extend its influence in Africa.
What does the NBA have in common with soccer’s FIFA World Cup taking place this year in South Africa?
Your guess is as good as ours, but SLAMOnline has ventured to find the link between the two – “South Africa is certainly gonna be “where amazing happens”“.
In their article, “Cup Comparisons”, they compare the NBA teams to the different countries taking part in the World Cup, noting the favourites for the tournament to be Brazil, Spain, England, Italy and Germany.
