Tim Duncan is a class act, but I believe Manu Ginobili deserved the MVP award in the NBA finals. His passion (and play) fired up the local crowd and made the vital difference in the last few minutes of the close Game 7. What a run he has had leading his home country, Argentina to Olympic Gold last summer and before that in the Italian league. The NBA has done well with Nigerian, Yugoslavian and several other players from around the world. So has baseball with the Matsuis and the Sosas. And golf with the Vijays and the Annikas. And, of course, hockey.
While the cynics will argue about these players taking American jobs on these teams, look at how it has helped the NBA and the NFL develop global franchises. The SuperBowl is watched by over a billion people around the world who know little about linebackers and quarterbacks.
Now if the British and Australians and Indians become better marketers, we may someday end up with a kid from Hoboken, NJ saying "Cricket been berry berry berry good to me"!
