From Mark Masters at the National Post (click here for the source):

Steve Nash may be the wild card in the race to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Vancouver.

The Phoenix Suns star confirmed he has been involved in talks with MLS commissioner Don Garber, Vancouver Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot and former Yahoo! president Jeff Mallett.
Nash, whose brother Martin plays for the Whitecaps in the United Soccer Leagues, said he has been a fan of the team since the 1970s, and would like to see the MLS expand to three teams in Canada. Montreal is also lobbying to make the jump from the USL.

"In part, due to the overwhelming success of Toronto FC and the history of the NASL in Vancouver, both Vancouver and Montreal are drawing strong interest from the MLS," Nash wrote. "I think having three Canadian cities in the MLS will provide a 'Canadian national soccer footprint' that will benefit the fans and media, making it more viable and attractive to the MLS.

"We've had positive and ongoing discussions for the past year. At the moment the MLS is reviewing the Canadian soccer market and the viability of not only the two prospective cities but the country as a soccer market.

While Garber wrote on the league Web site that the two-time NBA MVP may be interested in getting involved as part of an ownership group, league president Mark Abbott said the MLS is hesitant to speculate further.

"Steve Nash is obviously interested in soccer in Canada and what his role is. I don't know how to say it, he would have to say what his role is with respect to that," said Abbott, who is the league's spokesperson on expansion issues.

Major League Soccer will expand to Seattle in 2009 and Philadelphia in 2010, bringing the total number of teams to 16. An additional two franchises are likely to be added by the 2012 season.
Many American cities have expressed interest, including Atlanta, Detroit, Miami, Portland, San Diego and St. Louis.

While Montreal just opened a new soccer-specific stadium --an MLS requirement --Vancouver is still scrambling to start a project on the waterfront. A disagreement with the Vancouver Port Corp., which owns some land the Whitecaps need, is holding up the project. But Bob Lenarduzzi, the president of the Whitecaps, said he would gladly welcome any support Nash offers.

"With his profile and his interest in the game and the fact he's a great Canadian that we're all very proud, of course we would welcome him. As far as his involvement, that's certainly premature from my perspective." Nash, who recently invested in Women's Professional Soccer described himself as "a huge supporter of the game in Canada. "Soccer is our first-love sport," his brother Martin said. "We grew up playing it and my dad played it and still plays it, so it's just something embedded into us."

The next key date in the process will be July 24 when the MLS gathers in Toronto for the All-Star Game, with expansion talk expected to be on the agenda.

Nash is hoping for more. "My dream would be to announce Canadian expansion," he wrote.




Yours,
The Nobleman