Before you get too excited, let me just preface by saying that the Pre-Showdown brunch is $5,000 per, and the After-Match drinking with Nash and Claudio Reyna requires a minimum $250 donation. If you’re only a high roller in training like me and you’re in Lower Manhattan tomorrow, you should probably consider just going down to the free event. I’ll be the guy snapping pics with the HTC Incredible and scowling at Tony Parker. Here’s the full detail:

NBA stars.  Soccer’s best.  An urban field.  A sweet 8-a-side game of futbol in the middle of a city benefiting children’s programs on three continents.

Steve brings his passion to play in this innovative match that any sports fan will love.  Showcasing athletes from two sports, Showdown is the beautiful game at its most creative.  With international rosters that have included Steve Nash, Thierry Henry, Claudio Reyna, Tony Parker, Adrian Mutu, Grant Hill, Ivan Cordoba, Baron Davis, Javier Zanetti, Ryan Babel, Salomon Kalou, Simone Sandri, Martin Nash, Mathieu Flamini, Edgar Davids and Chris Bosh the Showdowns are events not to be missed!

The Showdown in Chinatown is a free to the public event located on Chrystie St. and Stanton St. on the lower east side.  Steve Nash, Claudio Reyna, Tony Parker, Simone Motto, Brandon Jennings, Giuseppe Rossi and more!

Chris Bosh is allegedly decent, but I bet I can capture a photo of him looking goofy. Check out this recap video from last year’s tournament featuring Bosh:

Go to stevenash.org/showdown to learn more about the Steve Nash Foundation and Claudio Reyna Foundation.

That Malcolm X by Edward Jackson is part of Grant Hill’s extensive collection of fine African American art. But first off, wasn’t he fantastic last night? I can’t remember a game where I saw someone disrespect Kobe with so many mid-range jumpers. His team is still going to lose the series, but I’d love to see Hill keep up.

Even though the Suns appear to be on their way out of this year’s NBA playoffs, Grant Hill, painting and sculpture aficionado, is just starting to pique as a renaissance man. For instance, we recently learned that Hill signed on to executive produce a documentary about Duke basketball. He discussed his philosophy on having passions outside the game with USA Today this week:

Hill doesn’t believe he’s the exception among NBA players in his unique interests, which include exhibits for 20th century African-American art.

“A lot of times they’re scared to comment on it or to share their interests with the public,” Hill says of other athletes. “We should. It’s encouraging to see that. When I shared my art collection there were a lot of positives that came from that. Hopefully it showed a lot of other athletes it’s OK if you have a hobby or interest you’re involved in. Use your platform as an athlete to expose, to share, to bring knowledge to people.”

That was deep Let’s be honest, Hill’s going to have to have another assassin’s game and Phoenix needs to win game three in anyone other yours truly is going to acknowledge that Grant Hill, film auteur, art connoisseur is in the midst of a renaissance. Otherwise, it’s just an aging athlete doing stuff with money.

MGMT at McCarren Park Pool this coming Sunday is the Rock ‘n Roll social event of the week. (it’s free too!)

Check out a video after the linking gold…

• Steve Nash and Baron Davis Just Cruisin’ (Barstool Sports)
• The Great NBA Cheesecake Factory Conspiracy (Fanhouse)
• This is Real (Deuce of Davenport)
• Great Moments in Demolition Derby History (on205th)
• The Lovely Hidden Gems of Indie Rock (Epic Carnival)
• Socialism has solved every traffic jam in the World (Deadspin)
• Invest in an NFL Team (Sports Agent Blog)