An eclectic mix of elite NBA talent and some of the best soccer players in the world assembled Wednesday at a park on the Lower East Side of Manhattan for the second annual Showdown in Chinatown, an 8-a-side soccer game that benefits the charities of former United States national team captain Claudio Reyna and Steve Nash, the Phoenix Suns point guard and part-owner of the Major League Soccer expansion team in Vancouver.
NBA stars Tony Parker, Grant Hill, Chris Bosh and Nash joined soccer greats Thierry Henry, Salomon Kalou, Javier Zanetti, Mathieu Flamini, Ivan Cordoba and Adrian Mutu for an entertaining charity soccer match.
Not even some pregame rain could keep away the crowd, which was a mix of soccer and basketball fans, as well as some curious onlookers.
"People really do love soccer in this country," Nash said. "They come out in the rain to see their favorite players. New York City is a great place for soccer and I know once the new stadium is built, people are going to be really excited to go out to a lot of Red Bulls games."
The inclement weather made the artificial surface slick, but fortunately all of the players escaped the game without injury.
"Oh man, it was hard," Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill said. "It was too slippery out here and I've got bad wheels. I was very cautious, but it was a lot of fun to be out here playing with Henry and those guys. I just didn't want to mess things up. I did OK. I can beat all them in basketball so that's all that matters."
While the crowd, which was about three-deep around the park's black chain-linked fence, had their pick of superstars from both soccer and basketball -- Nash's two loves -- it was Bosh who stole the show.
The 6-foot-10 power forward from the Toronto Raptors drew some of the biggest cheers from the crowd, some of whom were disgruntled Knicks fans begging him and Nash to play their hoops in Manhattan, as well. They'd love to see Nash pass to Bosh on a regular basis.
"Well, not with my feet," Bosh said. "I don't want him to pass it to me today. I'm not very good at soccer."
At one point in the second half, Bosh swung and missed as he stood next to the goal. Later he headed the ball over the bar as the crowd roared. Bosh, who has attended Toronto FC games, raised his arms over his head in victory.
Parker, on the other hand, impressed with his skills. The San Antonio Spurs point guard from France actually scored a hat trick in the small-sided game.
"Anytime I can help out Steve, I'll do it," Parker said. "It's a great thing he's doing, a lot of charity work and the foundation. I do the same thing in France. Anytime I can help out someone I love to do it. It's a great cause."
Hill also found the back of the net.
"I missed a lot, but I scored a goal," Hill said. "I still can't believe that."
Nash also scored, on a rather dubious penalty kick decision after he failed to connect on a bicycle kick that certainly would have sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Flamini drew some "oohs" and "aahs" for a blast into the upper 90, while Kalou dazzled with some fancy footwork. And after coming on at halftime, Henry didn't disappoint.
"It's amazing to see so many people come out and it's just a pickup game," Reyna said. "It's entertainment for the fans and that's what we wanted to bring to them."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
