Senior Thesis: Court Vision
March 5th, 2010I never had to write a thesis in college, but if I did, I think I’d write it on Steve Nash. I’m pretty sure I figured out why he’s so good. It’s in the power of his lazy-eye!
source: life.com/nba.com
Think about it…Nash is known for his acute passing ability. He leads the NBA in assists almost every year. He sees the court better than anyone in the league, often setting up teammates for easy baskets. Often times, the announcers are left exclaiming praises like, “How did Nash see him?!?!” or “He’s done it again! It’s like Nash has eyes in the back of his head!!!” Well, I’m telling you, it’s in the power of the eye! It might not be in the back of his head, but it’s close. I could even argue that Nash has an unfair advantage because he has a right eye that always sees straight ahead, and a left eye that is left free to wander here and there as he covers all spectra (“spectra” is the plural form of “spectrum”, I looked it up) of the court.
- side note: I’ve always loved when his file photo comes up on ESPN or some other network, because of his googly eyed head-shot. I remember the first time I saw it, I thought he was wearing gag glasses and I thought, “that’s awesome, he got away with wearing gag glasses in his file photo.” Nope, that’s just how he looks –
So, as you hopefully can tell, I started this theory as a joke, but the more research I did, I found that I might actually be on to something. I believe the clinical term for “lazy-eye” is strabismus, and Nash isn’t the only person of fame, past or present, with the condition. Did you know Rembrandt had a lazy-eye. Here’s an excerpt from a letter published in 2004 by Margaret S. Livingstone, professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School:
“…An analysis of 36 self-portraits of the great painter suggest he had a strabismus — a misalignment of one eye that caused it to point slightly outward. This condition, popularly known as wall-eye, may have given Rembrandt van Rijn an advantage in translating three-dimensional scenes into two-dimensional paintings.”
If a lazy-eye could make Rembrandt a better painter, isn’t it quite plausible that it could make Steve Nash a better passer.
source: jamesgroves.com
Some other famous people of note who have had the good fortune of the lazy-eye.
Abraham Lincoln: Maybe his magic eye gave him the foresight to abolish slavery…
source: U.S. History
Ben Turpin: Comedian well known for his work in silent films in the early 1900′s. Holy shit!
source: mirror.co.uk
And my personal favorite, Marty Feldman: I still remember him for playing “Eyegor” in Young Frankenstein. By the way, great movie.
source: cinemarina.ilcannocchiale.it
In conclusion, Steve Nash has a lazy-eye and it gives him freakish ability.
- dru
