The Importance of Alphonso Davies

[Unnamed Trialist 5,792]

46 minutes ago, Snowcrash said:

Happy for Davies.  For me, this is equivalent to Steve Nash being named First Team All Star.

Only individual award that tops this is Ballon d'Or.  The equivalent would be Nash winning the MVP.  Twice. Still doesn't get enough recognition for this accomplishment, in my book.

Up there with Cliff Thorburn and John Part

 

[Kadenge 2,103]

46 minutes ago, Snowcrash said:

Happy for Davies.  For me, this is equivalent to Steve Nash being named First Team All Star.

Only individual award that tops this is Ballon d'Or.  The equivalent would be Nash winning the MVP.  Twice. Still doesn't get enough recognition for this accomplishment, in my book.

Perhaps, if you live in North America; but just take a look at the nationalities of those 11 players. Soccer  is truly a world sport and this is much bigger than a NBA/NHL/NFL/MLB all star 

[Mikmacdo 1,218]

4 minutes ago, Kadenge said:

Perhaps, if you live in North America; but just take a look at the nationalities of those 11 players. Soccer  is truly a world sport and this is much bigger than a NBA/NHL/NFL/MLB all star 

Basketball is getting pretty popular and is a world game. Nash winning mvp is bigger than this I'm sorry. Soccer is definitely the biggest sport but don't sell basketball players short. 

[Kadenge 2,103]

2 hours ago, ADP10 said:

amazing. Who would have thought 5 years ago a Canadian would be on here. Has an american ever been?

A TSN article today indicated  it was the first time a NA player had made the 55 player short list. I don't know if that is fact, given the source.

[Unnamed Trialist 5,792]

8 minutes ago, Kadenge said:

Perhaps, if you live in North America; but just take a look at the nationalities of those 11 players. Soccer  is truly a world sport and this is much bigger than a NBA/NHL/NFL/MLB all star 

I think that basketball is a world sport as well, I think Nash's accomplishment was deserving and of world-wide importance in sport. 

Baseball or hockey do not even have a fifth of the worldwide importance as basketball.

[Kadenge 2,103]

2 minutes ago, Mikmacdo said:

Basketball is getting pretty popular and is a world game. Nash winning mvp is bigger than this I'm sorry. Soccer is definitely the biggest sport but don't sell basketball players short. 

The initial reference by @Snowcrashwas to Nash being named to first team all star not MVP

[Aird25 1,268]

Fantastic accomplishment by Phonzie. Absolutely incredible.

How many cities outside of the states would have a basketball team that's the most popular sports team in the city?

Edited December 17, 2020 by Aird25

[SpursFlu 2,687]

2 minutes ago, Aird25 said:

How many cities outside of the states would have a basketball team that's the most popular sports team in the city?

How many in the states can you say the same? LA Lakers is all that immediately comes to mind

[Unnamed Trialist 5,792]

17 minutes ago, Aird25 said:

How many cities outside of the states would have a basketball team that's the most popular sports team in the city?

If not the most popular, up there. In the ACB, which some argue is the best league after the NBA, Joventut is in Badalona, the team in Fuenlabrada, Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela, the team in Andorra (far bigger than any soccer club), Burgos, and Manresa (a small city in Catalunya that once won the league). Then Canarias CB is in San Cristóbal de la Laguna in the Canary Islands, though you could argue that is near to Tenerife. Before Alavés rose to prominence in Vitoria, in the Basque Country, Baskonia basketball team was the major sports entity there, and I'd say they are still par (Baskonia is in Euroleague and has a spectacular arena). Right now, as we stand, Murcia basketball is par with the football team.

So to answer your question: a third of the second best league in the world, actually.

Shall we do Italy and France? In those countries the majority of teams in their basketball leagues are bigger and more important than the football clubs.

Edited December 17, 2020 by Unnamed Trialist

[Cheeta 1,748]

Absolutely amazing.  Just amazing.  Never in my lifetime yet there it is.  What more is there, can there, be said?  Only one thing I suppose.

Here's to 'Phonzie.  

[kacbru 465]

1 hour ago, Mikmacdo said:

Soccer is definitely the biggest sport but don't sell basketball players short.

Ha!

[Bertuzzi44 1,923]

2 hours ago, Unnamed Trialist said:

Shall we do Italy and France? In those countries the majority of teams in their basketball leagues are bigger and more important than the football clubs.

Wow I honestly did not know basketball was more popular than football in France and Italy! Crazy how popular it is.

[ShaneC06 18]

And everyone who was angry about a "tie" for the Lou Marsh award is silent. 🤣🤣🤣

Seriously though, it's one of the biggest moments in Canadian soccer history. Never thought I'd see a Canadian win something like this. 

[SpursFlu 2,687]

We shouldn't be surprised i guess but seeing him there in a Canadian shirt is kinda surreal. What a story and so much still to come. 

[Unnamed Trialist 5,792]

5 hours ago, Bertuzzi44 said:

Wow I honestly did not know basketball was more popular than football in France and Italy! Crazy how popular it is.

The comment asked about cities. And I was answering about cities, as was obvious in the post. The last line was not fully phrased like that though.

Look at either France and Italy, their basketball leagues have a majority of teams in cities where the biggest sports team is not football, it is the basketball team. Of course many, but not all of those cities, are relatively small where the footie team has never thrived. 

Also Germany (Bonn is there), Turkey--many top European basketball leagues have a large or even majority % of clubs in cities where basketball is in fact the biggest pro sport.

[BrennanFan 2,452]

Simply beyond anything I thought possible in my lifetime for a Canadian footballer. Sky is truly the limit. 

[Kent 5,216]

On 12/17/2020 at 2:53 PM, ADP10 said:

amazing. Who would have thought 5 years ago a Canadian would be on here. Has an american ever been?

According to this article he is the first North American to receive this honour. That should include Mexico as well, but it isn’t explicitly mentioned.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/12/17/alphonso-davies-becomes-first-north-american-named-fifa-best-mens-world-xi

[JuicyHam 463]

21 minutes ago, Kent said:

According to this article he is the first North American to receive this honour. That should include Mexico as well, but it isn’t explicitly mentioned.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/12/17/alphonso-davies-becomes-first-north-american-named-fifa-best-mens-world-xi

Yeah what do they consider North America. I'm almost certain Navas would have made the best 11 at least once winning the champions league 3 times in a row 

[cronaldo7 470]

Here you go

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFPro

[Aird25 1,268]

It's only Eto'o, Drogba, and Davies outside of Europe and South America that have made the team

[Kent 5,216]

Davies has as many world 11s as Suarez. Lots of very good players with 1. Davies is in elite company.

[JuicyHam 463]

Anyone know where he would rank among the youngest players to make the best 11? Potentially one of the youngest defenders? 

[Kent 5,216]

11 hours ago, JuicyHam said:

Anyone know where he would rank among the youngest players to make the best 11? Potentially one of the youngest defenders? 

From the MLS article. “Davies also becomes the third-youngest player to be voted onto the FIFPRO World 11, behind French superstar Kylian Mbappe and Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt.”

[CanadaFan123 1,908]

43 minutes ago, Kent said:

From the MLS article. “Davies also becomes the third-youngest player to be voted onto the FIFPRO World 11, behind French superstar Kylian Mbappe and Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt.”

Actually he would have been younger than de Ligt who was named just last year and is a ‘99 but born in August, Davies is a November birthdate. 

[dyslexic nam 9,908]

Davies starting at LW today. Can’t watch it live but PVR’ing it for later.   Excited to see them turn him loose in attack.