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Wednesday, July 15, 2020

CAMPERS get ready for a basketball drill.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#FOR the next four weeks, Neville ‘Manny’ Adderley will be holding court as he conducts his Power One Summer Basketball Camp at the St Gregory’s Anglican Church on Carmichael Road.

#With the country coming out of the lockdown during the spread of the coronavirus, Adderley said they decided to begin the camp on Monday with daily sessions held from 9am to 1pm.

#“We’re just teaching them the fundamentals of the game,” said Adderley, who also runs Manny’s Point Guard School for the younger players and a developmental club for the older players on Saturdays.

#“We have an opportunity to put them in some small group training and strength training. It’s more personal for their ages. We have kids who are 16. We have 14-year-olds and we even have seven and eight-year-olds.”

#With about two other instructors assisting him, Adderley said they get to provide the players with a more personal, hands-on approach.

#As this is the summer, Adderley said he wants to provide some wholesome activities for the young ball players to participate in and, at the same time, allow them to develop their skills. “We have strength training for most of our 16-year-old campers,” he said. “We watch them as they play. If they are deficient in shooting the ball, we provide him with the additional strength training.

#As one of the premier point guards coming out of the LW Young Golden Eagles era, Adderley, who is also a personal fitness trainer, said he decided to give back to the community through his basketball club and summer programme.

#“We’ve always had a challenge with legitimate shooters in the country, so that’s our main focus,” said Adderley, who was known for his shooting skills in high school, college, night league and with the national basketball teams.

#“We want to get our kids to shoot the ball the way they should be shooting it. So after our strength training, we have a lot of shooting drills, which forces them to concentrate a lot more because they won’t have the energy that they had before they started.”

#Randy McFall, one of the instructors and a 2013 graduate of Jordan Prince Williams High School, who went on to play division II football as a linebacker at Bowie State University, said he got to know Adderley through his son, Daejour. “Manny was like my father. He grew me up from I was a young boy, so it’s no problem coming back here and helping him out,” said McFall, who will graduate in December with a degree in digital cinematography. “Me and his son, Daejour, played sports all of our lives, trying to make sure that we got out here to further our education. It worked for us, so I am happy to come out here and help out.”

#McFall said he wants to encourage the campers to make the best of their opportunity through these sorts of camps, which are designed to help them improve their skills.

#“We know everybody wants to play pro sports, but it’s not going to happen for everyone,” he said.

#“So I want to encourage them to improve their skills and their grades so whenever the opportunity does come for them to go to college, they will be ready.”

#Once they can get into college, McFall said the possibilities are endless.

#“You can ask yourself. Do you want to go pro or do you want to pursue a craft or something,” McFall pointed out.

#“Do I want to play basketball or football, am I studying media or politics? Do I want to come back and help my country out and still be able to make money?

#“If you believe in your dream, I want to encourage them to stick with it. Your parents will always be there to support you in whatever you do, but they don’t always have to believe in your dreams. You have to make them believe in it. But if you tell them about it, they will be right there behind you.”

#As for the camp, McFall said Adderley is trying to use sports as a vehicle to get other young players off to school and that is why he decided to come back and assist him.

#Nasir Hanna, a seven-year-old student of Queen’s College, said he came to the camp to learn how to shoot. “It’s been good,” he said. “I like basketball. I like scoring.”

#His younger brother, Sadiq Hanna, is only five but the Queen’s College student also likes the camp.

#“The camp is good,” he said.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#GREG Burrows Sr, founder of Freedom Farm Baseball, has ascended to one of the top positions of the prestigious Babe Ruth organisation as the Commissioner with responsibility for the Caribbean.

#With immediate effect, Burrows Sr will have jurisdiction over the Bahamas, Curacao, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, St Kitts, Mexico and Bermuda.

#Burrows Sr, a former senator in the Progressive Liberal Party, has revealed that he has already identified a commissioner to serve in Curacao, who will assist him in the development of Babe Ruth Baseball in the region.

#Additionally, Burrows Sr will be looking at possible candidates to fill the role as commissioner in the rest of the member countries, including the Bahamas, with the view of forming a body for the further development of Babe Ruth in the region and ultimately to serve a Caribbean Championships.

#“It gives me the opportunity to not only develop baseball and players in wholesome activities in the Bahamas, but to also interact with foreign leaders in baseball and bring together as plans to formulate and execute the way forward for baseball in the Caribbean,” Burrows said.

#By virtue of sending teams off from Freedom Farm, the Junior Baseball League of Nassau and Grand Bahama to the Babe Ruth Tournament, Burrows Sr said the Bahamas is in a better position to help spread the brand throughout the other countries in the region.

#And with the Bahamas government on the verge of completing the new national baseball stadium at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, Burrows Sr said he intends to take advantage of the sports tourism and turn it into a baseball mecca in the country.

#“We have little leverage to host these types of tournaments so that we can showcase our kids right here at home,” Burrows Sr said. “So there is a lot of potential for the sport moving forward.”

#With no term of tenure in office, Burrows Sr said his mandate is to get the Babe Ruth Baseball as a household brand just as it is in the United States, honouring one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

#Babe Ruth, whose real name was George Herman, died on August 16, 1968 at the age of 53. He was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons from 1914 through 1935.

#Nicknamed “The Bambino” and “The Sultan of Swat”, Babe Ruth began his MLB career as a star left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees.

#Among his list of achievements were two-time All-Star, seven-time World Series champion, American League most valuable player and batting champion. He produced a ,342 batting average with 2,873 hits, 714 home runs, 2,213 runs batted in (RBI) with a 94-46 win-loss record and an earned run average (ERA) of 2.28.

#Burrows Sr, who has helped to mentor and groom countless numbers of Bahamian players who went on to continue high school or secure athletic scholarships to colleges and universities in the United States and even become professional baseball players, said he’s honoured to be serving as the commissioner for the region of such a legendary player.

#Freedom Farm was founded by Burrows Sr in 1989 to help develop the skills of young baseball players. They now cater to players from the coach pitch to senior league.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2020

BENSON YOUNG, Jason Edgecombe and Kirkwood Neely.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH so much time on their hands to spare, former basketball player Jason Edgecombe said he decided to stage the ‘Get Better Basketball Camp’ to help improve the skills of the young boys in the Carmichael Road community.

#The camp, designed for young boys between the ages of five and 18, got started in May at the basketball court on Mermaid Boulevard and will continue throughout the summer. “I decided to come back home and give back to the game that has helped me to go off and get an education,” said Edgecombe, who graduated from SC McPherson in 1996 and went on to Walsh University and Langston University.

#Edgecombe recalled how he met Judson Stubbs in the airport and after they discussed what they were going through, they became good friends and eventually played with the Real Deal Shockers in the New Providence Basketball Association.

#Edgecombe said having had the opportunity to play college basketball, he wanted to make sure that he tried and helped some of the other youngsters in his community to do the same.

#He’s grateful for some of his friends like Mario Pickstock, Vernon Stubbs and Benson Young, who all have their children involved in the camp that is free of charge.

#The camp runs from 5 to 7:30pm each evening and Edgecombe said he’s gotten support from veteran women’s basketball player Latoya Rolle, who hails from the community, to serve as the chief instructor.

#During the day, Edgecombe said he finds the time to take the campers to the beach to have fun, feed them at local fast food restaurants and on tours to some of the historic sites around town.

#While there are no girls involved in the camp, Rolle said she can still impart her knowledge to the young boys. “We have a lot of young players with talent and as a product of this community, I don’t mind sharing the talent and the knowledge that I have in basketball with them,” she said. “I want to see them better themselves.”

#Since she started working with the camp, Rolle said she noticed that a lot of the participants lacked the basic fundamentals of the game. But as she continues to work with them, she has seen some improvements.

#Edgecombe’s former team-mate at SC McPherson, Kirkwood Neely, said as an inspiration to the younger and older guys in the community, he couldn’t help but come out and lend his support.

#“What he is doing has put a fire under the young kids, especially in this pandemic that we are in,” Neely said. “I noticed that the passion of a lot of the participants for basketball has grown tremendously.

#“Their basketball IQs are continuing to grow and the sky’s the limit for them. This is something that I feel a lot of guys in other communities have been doing and are continuing to do.”

#Neely, who attended St Gregory College in school in Oklahoma and North Carolina State, said since he’s been back home, he played in the New Providence Basketball Association, but he wants to join Edgecombe in helping out the younger generation.

#Benson Young, a former rival from AF Adderley, who played against Edgecombe and Neely, said they all became good friends off the court and when he found out about the camp, he decided to bring his son Benson Jr out to participate.

#“I like what he’s doing with the kids so I decided to bring my son out to let him see that I was serious about him developing his skills in basketball,” Young said.

#“He is nine years old and he has the fundamentals down, but he needs more help. With him coming here, I know that he will get better in his development of playing basketball.”

#Edgecombe’s son, Kingsley, is also a part of the camp, which has attracted more than 30 participants who will all be ensured of engaging in some wholesome activities this summer.

Bahamian professional baseball player Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#HE would prefer to be on the field in Miami, Florida, preparing to crack the line-up for the Miami Marlins for the upcoming 2020 Major League Baseball season on July 23.

#Instead, Bahamian professional baseball player Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm found himself confined to his hotel room in Jupiter, Florida, waiting on the clearance to work out again after he had a series of positive-negative testing for the coronavirus.

#“Lately, I’ve been getting too many back and forth positive and negative tests, so I’ve only been on the field for one day,” said Chisholm, the talented shortstop who is ranked at No.3 in the MLB prospects of the Marlins.

#“I need two negative tests in a row to get on the field, but I’ve been getting a positive one day and a negative the next day. The test is just not accurate. I’m trying to get out there, but it’s not happening for me right now.”

#The 22-year-old Chisholm, who was traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Marlins on July 31, 2019, said it’s frustrating for him to have to be confined to his hotel room, rather than going out on the baseball field every day.

#“It’s like they keep telling you that you can go out there and play and then they take away that opportunity when the results come back,” said Chisholm, who admitted that he’s not the only player going through the ordeal with the coronavirus.

#“It’s really frustrating for me as a player, who wants to be out there every day playing,” he said. “I am the only player on our team here in Jupiter who is experiencing this problem.

#“I should be in Miami, but with all of these tests going on for the last three weeks, they sent me to Jupiter to get everything worked out so that I can be ready for the season whenever they need me.

#“With all these tests going on, it’s not happening. They test me every other day and after they test you, if you get a positive result, you have to stay inside and quarantine. The most I can do with the positive result is go out and jog to stay in some shape.”

#With all that’s going on, Chisholm said if he didn’t have a positive mindset, he would really be depressed by now because he doesn’t have any symptoms. He just can’t get two negative tests to get on the field at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter.

#“Every day, if I don’t have a test, I stay in my room or go on a run or a walk,” he said.

#“I try to stay in some type of shape. I can’t really do anything to catch the virus, although I don’t know why I can’t get the two negative tests.

#“I’m watching everybody and I’m really excited that we’re going to have a baseball season.

#“So as soon as they let me out of the gate, I know that I will be ready. I’m coming out with some hatred in my heart because I’m in this room and I know I am healthy.”

#Chisholm, who was invited to his second consecutive spring training albeit with a new team, said he expects that the Marlins will be a force to reckon with in the league this year.

#“With the team and how they have been working out, I believe the Marlins have a chance to win the World Series,” Chisholm said. “I am watching the videos every day from practice and it’s been exciting.”

#As a member of the Marlins’ 40-man roster, Chisholm said it’s one step closer to him getting a call to become the next Bahamian to play in the Major League, joining Antoan Richardson, Ed Armbrister, Tony Curry, Wenty Ford, Wilfred Culmer and Andre Rodgers, the pacesetters.

#“It’s nice to know that they have you under their radar and that this team wants you to be here and they want you to be a part of their future,” Chisholm said.

#It’s been five years since Chisholm began its pro career in baseball, but he felt he should have cracked the Major League at least a year ago.

#“It was my fault that I’m not already there, so it’s my fault,” said Chisholm, who finished last year in Double-A baseball with 21 home runs, a bit down from the 25 he belted two years ago. He also drove in 54 runs last year. “I was more disappointed in myself because I felt I had a chance to get there and I didn’t take it.

#“It was just me not having the right mind set and just going through the motion. I knew I was good last year, but I just had the wrong mindset going onto the field until I got traded. When I got traded, I had a different mindset. When I got traded, I said ‘I was ready. Let me change my mindset.’ I went back to my old mindset.”

#After leaving Faith Temple in grade seven, Chisholm went to Word of Life, now Life Preparatory School Wichita, Kansas to continue high school where he played against Grand Bahamian Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield at Sunrise Academy in basketball.

#As a typical Bahamian, Chisholm not only played basketball, but he also held his own in baseball and football. But he admitted that baseball was his first love and that was why he stuck with it.

#“The coaches saw me playing in physical education and they asked me to come out to practice for the varsity and the junior varsity basketball team and I also played football in the ninth and tenth grades.

#“I was in the ninth grade and Buddy was a senior when I played against him. His team won. I think Buddy had about 20-something points and I had about nine points. I was really small back then, about 5-feet, 6-inches, but I could shoot the ball and dunk.”

#In basketball, Chisholm played point guard and was a safety and wide receiver in football. But he admitted that after he returned home and concentrated more on baseball, he got signed as an international recruit and his career took off.

#The son of Jazz Chisholm Sr and Martinique Coakley was setting the pace for his four sisters and two brothers, including Domonique Collie, his adopted brother, who is now in the pipeline in the minor league.

#With minor league suspended for the rest of the year, Chisholm said he’s already reached out to the more than 20 Bahamian players to encourage them to stick with it and not give up hope of fulfilling their dreams.

#“I sent all of the young guys a video of me talking to them and I was telling them to think about it as a longer off season,” Chisholm stressed. “If you think about it as a longer off season, you will only get better.

#“So if they give you more than to get better during the off season, you should be better by the time the league comes back. By the time you go back to play, you should be able to play next year. You should be better because you had over a year to get ready.”

#Having his grandmother, Patricia Deveaux as his role model when she played softball, Chisholm said he grew up around the sport and that extended to baseball when he got a chance to play.

#“I have a few cousins playing college baseball, but I’m the one who really excelled so far,” said Chisholm of his family members Myron and Shannon Johnson and Wayde Beckford, who are following in his footsteps.

#And with the new national baseball stadium expected to be completed by the end of the year, Chisholm said it won’t mean anything to him and the other pro players if they are not allowed to use it.

#“Are they going to use it for baseball and the professional players to participate in, or are they going to use it for other events,” he asked. “If professionals don’t get to use it, then they can’t say anything about it.

#“I personally would not speak on the stadium if I am not allowed to use it as a professional baseball player. That’s just me. I don’t know what they are going to use it for. If they say professional baseball players can’t use it to practice, then why should I come home to practice if I won’t be able to use the best field in the Bahamas to practice?”

#Chisholm said it would be more convenient for him to stay in Miami where he can utilize the best facility available and to take advantage of the Marlins’ staff that is at his disposal.

#In the meantime, Chisholm said he’s trying to avoid being a victim of the coronavirus where the state has seen an increase of cases on a daily basis.

#“Normally, I just stay to myself. I don’t go anywhere,” he stressed. “So for me, I don’t have a problem with what’s going on and I’m not worried about it. I don’t make contact with people unless me and you are really close.

#“I know the people who I hang out with only hang out with me, so I’m not worried about it.”

#While he’s going through his ordeal, trying to get his negative testing so he can get back on the field, Chisholm thanked the Bahamian people for their tremendous support and their prayers that they will all be great in their future endeavors.

#“We will be great, trust me,” he summed up. “I know I can’t wait to get back on the field and prove that I deserve to be in the Major League.”

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SENIOR TENNIS – The YMCA will soon introduce a tennis program geared to keep seniors active. The free six-week forum will begin this coming Tuesday, July 21, and continue every Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. (PHOT: SHAYNE STUBBS)

Sports  July 17, 2020  

FN Sports Reporter Shayne Stubbs

Seniors 55 and older should be excited about a new YMCA initiative. The YMCA will soon introduce a tennis program geared to keep seniors active.

The free six-week forum will begin this coming Tuesday, July 21, and continue every Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Other that physical activity, the aim is also to help seniors to remain healthy. 

While the junior developmental tennis program continues to grow stronger, the tennis instructor at the YMCA, McArthur Rigby, shared that it’s his desire to get more older persons involved with playing tennis from a health and social perspective. 

“The junior program is going really good now. A lot of people have given a lot to the Y and we think it’s time now to give the seniors, especially Bahamian retirees, who are just sitting down, something exciting to do.  

“So, we’re going to give them a free six-week tennis program. We can make it very easy and enjoyable for them. It will be more than just about tennis for them. From the beginning they’re going to enjoy it,” said Rigby.

The tennis instructor added that he is hopeful the program will do for other older persons what it did for him. He noted that at 65 years old the sport has provided more of a social life for him.

According to Rigby, training will be very easy for the seniors as the proper equipment would be in place.

“What we’ve learned about older persons is that they would go back and stay in their houses and become more secluded. So what I found is, the major benefit is really the social life and exercise together. 

“It’s something to do, rather than just stay in the house all day doing nothing. So, those retirees who have nothing to do, we’re trying to get them on the court. We want them to become excited because every day will bring something new. 

“We got a huge donation of red balls (training balls). The modern day of teaching tennis is very easy. People who have played before feel as though they can’t play because they were playing with a heavy bouncing ball. If you see the kids, they are having fun because they have the right kind of ball they can use. It’s really easy when the sport is introduced the right way. I can guarantee that after six weeks everyone would want to come back.”

The YMCA has an ongoing senior program on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays where older persons can register and join. Shirley Butler, a member of the program and someone who has played the sport for over 40 years, plays at the YMCA three times out of the week and encourages other seniors that the sport is much more than just exercise.

“It’s very social and very enjoyable exercise. McArthur is a really good coach and great teacher, and, this program is a worthwhile one for anyone of any age.”

Marlene Henry, another member, didn’t start playing the sport until she was 55 years old. At 72 years old she voiced that it is something people can play, up into their later years. Adding some more positivity, Henry shared she has competed in a senior tournament that is played annually within the Caribbean region, three years in a row. 

Overall, she believes getting involved in tennis, no matter the age, is incredibly rewarding. 

“You get to exercise at your pace. You just play as much as you want to play. If you play two games and want to stop it’s fine. Out here, even though it gets competitive, there’s no “king of the hill,” and everyone encourages each other. 

“It’s good fun and you get to meet lots of people. I would love for more seniors to play and it keeps your blood flowing.”

Executive Director of the YMCA, Karon Pinder-Johnson, said she is excited to launch this free six-week program. She also indicated it is also a great way to give back to some of the seniors who helped with cleaning up the courts after Hurricane Dorian. 

“The courts were donated back in 2015 by Sir Jack Hayward, Craig Symonette and Cris Limcole. The vision for the courts here is to have as many people moving as possible. The upcoming program is just a testimony to that vision. 

“Hurricane Dorian was tough for everyone here. The courts were submerged under water and as a result the courts were extremely dirty along with mildew. We tried all we could but with limited resources we were unable to get the court cleaned. 

“The seniors, however, came together and they paid for the courts to be cleaned. We just want to say thank you. Thinking so much about it, they were able to go out and get it done,” she concluded. 

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Basketball Federation’s senior men’s national basketball team programme continues its development despite uncertainty of the FIBA AmeriCup qualification due to COVID-19.

#The BBF has partnered with Spectrum Pain Management and Sports Medicine Clinic to treat team members moving forward.

#Spectrum will offer its services to national team members free of charge.

#“We had been looking to partner with an organisation for about two years and in our discussions, we decided to provide care free of charge for the athletes,” said Dr Sy Pierre, anesthesia and pain medicine specialist. “If one of the players had a torn ACL or meniscus tear that wasn’t serious enough to require surgery, but may need some interventional procedure where we can assist healing and enhance healing over a short period of time, we can help to get them back on the court as soon as possible and that is what interventional pain management and sports medicine is about at this point.”

#Players will also benefit from Spectrum’s services as the national team travels throughout the world to various tournaments.

#“We have a group of board certified specialists and we have agreed to travel with the team so that if the team’s needs specialist care for their injuries abroad, we can provide that. If you’re in a place where English isn’t your first language and you have a player that’s injured it may be very difficult to explain to the physician what is going on so I think this might be a good thing for them,” Pierre said, “It’s a great thing for us, a great thing for the federation, great thing for the Bahamas and we are so happy to be a part of this organisation to help.”

#BBF President, Mario Bowleg said the latest partnership falls in line with the federation’s mandate to increase profile of the national team programme.

#“As we move the fed to the next level we also believe that how we treat our athletes on and off the court is also important for us to have them play at the highest level possible,” he said.

#The MNT is set to continue their 2021 FIBA AmeriCup qualification this fall, however those plans are uncertain amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

#In their last appearance, The Bahamas won 76 – 59 win over Mexico in February at the Atlantis Resort to even the series between the two teams at 1-1. The Bahamas is currently second in Group D at 1-1 with the advantage over Mexico on point differential. The USA leads the Group at 2-0 while Puerto Rico is 0-2. The Bahamas will continue play in Group D on November 27 against the United States in game one of the second window.

#Bowleg said the federation will be notified at the end of the month on the path moving forward for the qualifiers.

#“Our senior men are scheduled to play in November in Washington against the United States and also against Puerto Rico on the road in Puerto Rico. We will get an update on July 31st whether those games will still be played in November or will be pushed back to February. Also scheduled in February are the home games against the United States and Puerto Rico,” Bowleg said, “If the away games are pushed back due to the pandemic, then I guess our home games will be pushed back to June, which is more beneficial for us. We will then have our NBA players home and I think that will be something of great interest to the public, to have Buddy [Hield] and [Deandre] Ayton at home playing against the likes of the US and Puerto Rico.”

#With basketball across the globe in flux, Bowleg said the FIBA schedule will be ratified as the organisation communicates with the various leagues.

#“Everything is wait and see. Most of the guys are home now, working out everyday looking at the possibility of going back to their professional leagues and programmes and understanding that in itself is going to have an effect on us. Those dates for when those seasons will start will be hindered by them not completing their seasons this year,” he said, “Just like we are trying to get our local leagues back, the NBA might have the same problem where they are trying to finish their season, but might have to start later in the next season which will affect the decision by FIBA also. FIBA will communicate with all of the leagues that they govern throughout the world and ensure that those dates come somewhere down the line.”

#At the local level, the BBF has continued its activity through several initiatives despite the restrictions of the pandemic.

#“One of the five pillars the federation had when they came into office is that we wanted to ensure that we continue re-certifying our coaches and our officials. During the pandemic, although we didn’t have physical meetings among the peers, we had several virtual clinics held in the CBC that were conducted by our national instructor, Freddie Brown. Also in the FIBA Americas, where the Bahamas would have had various table officials certified. Physical clinics will hopefully commence in September to ensure that those islands, coaches , officials ndn coaches improve their skills to improve the product of basketball in the country,” Bowleg said, “We are excited to officially implement 3×3 basketball in the country. A committee was made up to represent the implementation of this version of the game in the country. So we are continuing to do the work to develop the game of basketball in the country.”

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Fred Sturrup

Sports Scope  

January 6, 2017 

 Freeport News

Grenada has embraced Chris Brown and is leaning on him for administrative and marketing support as that country aims for regional sports history. The Grenada Invitational Track and Field meet is scheduled April 8 and our Eternal One, The Fireman, is the catalyst.

The approach by another country to lead a national initiative is a tremendous compliment and speaks volumes about the level of respect Brown has earned throughout a career of legendary proportions.

The highly decorated Olympic champion, in networking with our sister Island, Grenada, on an event of national magnitude, is making a powerful statement. Brown is indeed a global entity. When he staged the first Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational (CBBI) back in 2013, the occasion was most revealing. It became clear that he had evolved to one of the most revered athletes on the world track and field scene.

It was automatic for the best of track and field to answer his calls and converge on The Bahamas. A second CBBI took place in 2015, but apparently the event has not been prioritized to the point in this country for it to be annual, with full support from our government.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the Grenada Invitational, whether it gets the blessing of that country’s administration, to be included in the national budget every year. Judging by the comments of Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, there are high hopes for the Grenada Track and Field Invitational.

“There are signs that the event will be highly successful.  I say to all Grenadians that the invitational is about the future of the country and we should maximize the potential of the event,” said PM Mitchell at the launch last year. His remark regarding “the future” of Grenada was compelling.

Obviously the prime minister is counting on the invitational to be a signature item each year for Grenada, and the expectation is that Brown will lead the way. Brown is no doubt the architect of the event, with the Government of Grenada throwing its full support, financially and otherwise behind it.

As for the Brown connection to Grenada, it has gotten strong, very quickly.

“I thank the lovely people of Grenada for inviting me to be a part of this happening. Grenada has a world-class stadium, world-class athletes, but what was missing, was the world-class competition of an invitational. I have done it at home and I learned a lot of things from behind the scene. We created something new there. I want to do the same thing in Grenada. On April 8, we will have the first invitational in the region and the first opportunity to witness world class performances,” said Brown at the December 29 launch.

He spoke further of his determination to do all he can to bring world class track and field events to the Caribbean Region, just as others have been doing in Europe, Asia and Africa.

“We will have a show. I am happy to be a part of history. The world will be focused on Grenada. The world will know where Grenada is, the kind of pleasant experience one can get and know about the people of Grenada,” said Brown.

It would be good if all of Brown’s energies could be focused on enhancing the track and field product of his native land. However if others express a profound interest in his expertise and appreciate him, it just makes good sense for Brown to respond in kind.

• To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturup1504@gmail.com

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Fred Sturrup\

Sports Scope 

 January 5, 2017 

 Freeport News

Basil “Bar” Davis, Bruce “Dick Brown” Russell, Sherrick “Sharky” Martin, Jessee Ferguson, Allan Ingraham, Jeff Williams, Jim White, and Don Huyler are names from a past era of American Football that breathe nostalgia.

Very often these days, I interact with the shark, the running back who gobbled up yards like few others, nationwide, have.  No other running back out of Grand Bahama has ever been able to carry the ball at the level of efficiency, comparable to the shark.

I refer to Sherrick Martin, who is the Customs Chief in Grand Bahama.

Almost always, we talk a bit about the golden era of American Football in the country. The aforementioned names are just a sample of the legendary individuals who built the foundation that a revived sport stands on today.

Martin was one of those players who transcended the normal concept of the game of American Football. On many occasions, he played beyond the success range expected. These days, he has no choice but to acknowledge the strides made in the sport by the flag dimension, but he admittedly longs for the tackle aspect to recapture the old days.

Here are some comments of lament from Martin:

“American football was the top sport. The fans flocked the venues to see us play. 

Tackle football is not what it used to be.

“The fans were very important to us. They were instrumental to the success of our game. They followed us and were into the game as much as the players. I don’t see that connection for tackle football now.

“American Football was big. When we travelled to New Providence and when teams came to Grand Bahama, the games captured the attention of a great number of people. That kind of a rivalry in tackle football, you don’t see anymore.”

Without a doubt, tackle football has taken a back seat to the flag version of the sport.  Thousands of players, males and females are registered on teams that compete in three prime flag football organizations, in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco. Based on what I have observed, it could be argued that tackle football, even in its prime in the country, was never as popular as flag football is today.

In fact, it is through flag football that the sport in The Bahamas is on the verge of a major international breakthrough. Bahamian Flag football is at the point whereby it can attract an international audience. The same cannot be said about our tackle football.

So whereas “Sharky” Martin and others of the “old school” ilk relish the high profile their beloved sport is getting because of the inroads made by flag football, he grieves for yesteryear.

“I’d like to see tackle football return to the prominence we once had,” said Martin.

His desire could become a reality, in time. For now though, it is flag football, taking the sport on a glorious ride.

Indeed, the future looks very bright for the sport, because of the major role being played by flag football.

However, the shark and others are entitled to reminisce about how it used to be.

(To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com).

Published  Thursday, January 5, 2017

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• Jonquel Jones enters 2017 on a roll

Fred Sturrup

Sports Scope  

January 4, 2017 

 Freeport News

Jonquel Jones, the 6-6 cen-ter/forward from Holmes Rock, Grand Bahama, is blasting along in the Women Korean Basketball League (WKBL), carrying the Woori Bank Wibee team to one of the greatest regular season runs in history.

Woori Bank Wibee is 18-1, atop the South Korean-based league with a big lead over second place KEB Hanabank (10-9). The Jones-led-Woori team defeated the  Shinhan Bank S-Birds 75-57 on December 31 to close out  2016 on a roll towards the regular season title, barring some catastrophic slide.

Jones in that game, recorded yet another double/double and a commanding performance while contesting shorts. She had six blocks to go with 17 points and 19 rebounds. Add two steals and an assist to the stat line and you get the full picture of what Jones has been to her team and the league in Asia.

Going into Round 20 of the regular season, Jones and company will face the KB Stars on Thursday, January 5. She leads the league in scoring (15.8); rebounding per game (12.6); and blocked shots 3.3 per game.

Incredibly, she is putting up such statistics while averaging just 23.3 minutes per game out of 40 minutes. She is shooting 55 percent from the field, 70 percent from the free throw line and 46 percent from three-point territory. Jones continues to perform at a level, beyond where any other Bahamian professional basketball player, male or female, has ever been,

Amazingly, with Jones exemplifying female excellence in basketball and the national program for women on the decline, the Bahamas Basketball Federation is not seizing the moment to project Jones, given the great item of inspiration she could be to the demoralized members of the local female basketball fraternity.

BTC, led by General Manager Leon Williams, who knows a thing or two about marketing, has made Jones one of their poster products.

Jones has been back in the country twice since her (Bahamian) historic first round selection in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) first round by the Los Angeles Sparks (later to be traded to the Connecticut Sun), last April.

Federation President Charlie Robins showed up at an event sponsored by the Grand Bahama Power Company and promoted in partnership with The Freeport News. He presented her with a plaque, but needless to say, the parent body for the sport in our country has failed thus far, to fully capitalize on the rise of a Bahamian female basketball player to world prominence.

Hopefully Robins and his executive colleagues will plan some kind of an event for the federation to salute and showcase her to the country and in particular connect the star with the female basketball groups as a spokesperson, or something akin.

Indeed the federation is obligated to find a way to heighten the profile of Bahamian female basketball, through Jones. She is appropriate at this moment in time, to put a spark in the Bahamian female basketball program.

• To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com

Published  Wednesday, January 4, 2017 

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Sports Scope  

January 3, 2017 

 Freeport News

For decades, American Football in the country was stuck in a tug-o-war battle, regarding just which organization owned “international recognition” status.

The now seemingly defunct Bahamas American Football Federation (BAFF) seized the opportunity a little over 10 years ago to become the official member representing The Bahamas at the table of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).

Meanwhile of course, those associated with the founding American Football entity in the country, steamed and documented their opposition to the authority upon which BAFF operated. Indeed, the Commonwealth American Football League that evolved out of the first organized group emphasized its disagreement and disgust, nationally and internationally.

The CAFL was on a shaky wicket (internationally) at best though, once the IFAF remained intent to honor its member body, BAFF, as the prime organization in the country for the sport. Based on the international sports code, there was little that the CAFL could do. In this space, on numerous occasions, I pointed out that reality.

As fate would have it though, IFAF became fractured, and BAFF, according to all indications, threw its full support behind one of the factions. Unfortunately for BAFF, its IFAF associates functioned in a manner that was considered quite disdainful to the country and some Bahamians in particular, who were connected to the ill-fated World Flag Football Championships that was proposed for Grand Bahama late last year.

At the height of the controversy, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe convened a meeting of top American Football affiliates in the country. At that time, the CAFL, headed by Tony Maycock, took a position that exemplified it in my view, a matured national outlook. The CAFL declared that it would not support the hosting of an international event that was rushed and destined to cause the country embarrassment.

It was a sound decision and at the same time, opened the situation to a compromise. Alas, the IFAF faction that was linked to BAFF was determined to force a certain time frame upon the sport and the country.

Therefore, BAFF became the Bahamian element of American Football in the country, on the outside looking in. 

As the situation played out, of course, the international event did not take place, and The Bahamas was able to retain its tremendous reputation as a host country.

So, here at the commencement of 2017 we stand and the CAFL is well positioned to take the sport of American Football into a new and immensely progressive era. The relationship the Ministry of Tourism, through Minister Wilchcombe, has forged with the Miami Dolphins and the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, collectively forms a most inspiring backdrop for the CAFL.

It is time for the CAFL to assume a greater overall business concept. The thousands of young males and females who play flag football, the organized tackle football action in several islands, and the multitude of the Bahamian youth communities with aspirations directly related to participation in the sport, send a resounding and encouraging message to Maycock and company.

That message, simply put is: “Maximize the present situation for American Football in The Bahamas.”

Best wishes to the CAFL fraternity and certainly, to other sports groupings for the year of 2017 and beyond.

(To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com).

Published  Tuesday, January 3, 2017