TWO-TIME NBA MVP STEVE NASH AND SOCCER GREAT CLAUDIO REYNA HOST “SHOWDOWN IN CHINATOWN”

--The two return to headline a star-studded charity soccer game & after party--

June 17, 2009--New York, NY — Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and soccer great Claudio Reyna announced today that their Showdown in Chinatown is returning for a second year to New York City’s Lower East Side. The Showdown, a free 8-a-side soccer match between teams of NBA and professional soccer players, will kick-off at Sara D. Roosevelt Park at 6pm on June 24 to benefit the work of the Steve Nash Foundation (http://www.stevenash.org) and the Claudio Reyna Foundation (http://www.claudioreynafoundation.org).

“This event gets right at two of my passions — football (soccer) and helping improve conditions for kids,” said Nash. “The Showdown shows off what the world’s top athletes can do, what they’re willing to do to help, and I can’t wait to get on the field. We’ll be right in the middle of the Lower East Side, a phenomenal neighborhood in a beautiful city, just a couple of guys getting a match on.”

Players scheduled to appear include:
Basketball:
Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns) Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs), Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks), Grant Hill (Phoenix Suns), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Raja Bell (Charlotte Bobcats)

Soccer:
Claudio Reyna (US/Former NY Red Bull), Thierry Henry (France/FC Barcelona), Javier Zanetti (Argentina/Inter Milan), Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast/Chelsea), Ryan Babel (The Netherlands/Liverpool), Giovanni van Bronckhurst (The Netherlands/Feyenoord), Mathieu Flamini (France/AC Milan), Ivan Cordoba (Columbia/Inter Milan), Adrian Mutu (Romania/ACF Fiorentina)

"I’m very excited to be part of bringing soccer to New York City sports fans in a fun, friendly, and unique way. We hope that we can at least match the excitement that was created last year when we had players from the world of soccer and basketball come together to provide great entertainment,” said Reyna.

“It’s a tough time for non-profits across the country,” said Nash, “and we’re so grateful to our partners for supporting our efforts. They all love the game -- ICAP, Medco, Metro PCS, GREY GOOSE Vodka, vitaminwater and Calle.” The players will be wearing Calle Soccer uniforms, inspired by the street play that rises up in neighborhoods all over the world.

The Showdown comes to New York City thanks to the help of Nash’s latest soccer innovation, Football-For- Good.com (http://www.football-for-good.com).

Taking a cue from his love for soccer and also for helping children, Nash is forming Football for Good to create opportunities for elite-level development among children in war-affected regions of Africa. With academies and attending assistance to introduce players to the global stage, Football for Good will put profits back into capital projects in African communities that need them most. The first such project will be the Gulu Youth Centre for Sport, Culture and Reconciliation, driven by Nash’s Foundation and partner agencies, and funded by this new social business venture. A viral short, created by Nash’s film enterprise, Meathawk, leaked onto the internet last week. Starring international greats Alessandro Del Piero, Kaka, Joe Cole and Henry, the film is a comedic jab at Nash’s attempt to infiltrate the beautiful game. “The Player” is on-line at http://www.stevenash.org/showdown.

The Showdown in Chinatown will be followed by an After Party held at the Hudson Terrace at 9pm featuring GREY GOOSE Vodka. A limited number of tickets will be available for sale at http://www.stevenash.org on Friday, June 19. Ticket sales are eligible for a tax receipt from the Foundation.

For more information, please contact:
ILANA NUNN, BDA Sports Management, inunn@bdasports.com, 203-545-3855
KRISTINA ANDERSEN, BDA Sports Management, kandersen@bdasports.com, 916-221-0007