The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WELCOME to the professional ranks Deandre Ayton.

If you didn’t get a chance to see him in action for the Phoenix Suns during the National Basketball Association’s three Summer League games, Ayton has proven why he deserved to be the No.1 pick in the recent draft held in New York.

He has been a “man among boys” as he held his own on court, posting his seven-foot, one-inch, 260-pound frame on the inside and he’s handled his centre position very well. There’s a saying that this is only the Summer League, so it will be interesting to see how well he makes the adjustment when he steps out on the court against the more seasoned players in the NBA.

As the 19-year-old graduate of the University of Arizona had a chance to show off his offensive prowess as he lobbed around the rim, either on slam dunks created by himself or ally hoop passes from his team-mates, he hit fade away jump shots and got rebounds that he put back up for easy lay-ups.

But, at the same time, Ayton’s defensive skills were on display and from the looks of things, that is one of the main areas that he will have to work on a little more this summer. I’m sure that once he masters that and becomes a complete player, he will definitely become a force to reckon with in the NBA, maybe not his rookie season, but as he continues to grow and develop in the future.

But for his first three games in the Summer League, Ayton was certainly a beast in the paint and he demanded the respect of his peers as the No.1 draft pick by the Suns.

What about Elisha Obed?

Since there’s so much dispute over whether or not Sir Roland Symonette should be honoured posthumously, I think we can add some national recommendation to the argument for the late Everette Oswald ‘Elisha Obed’ Ferguson, who has been conspicuously overlooked by both the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement.

There’s been a lot of discussion about what he did and didn’t do outside of the boxing arena, but one thing that nobody can take away from him is his legacy as the first and only Bahamian to win a world boxing title - to be exact, the World Boxing Council’s Super Welterweight title.

It happened back on November 13, 1975 when he knocked out Miguel de Oliveira in Paris, France, two years after the Bahamas gained Independence.

History shows that Elisha Obed defended the title twice before he eventually lost it to Eckhard Dragge on August 18, 1976 in Germany.

Up until March 8, 1988 when he avenged a previous loss to James ‘Killer’ Coakley, Elisha Obed completed his 21-year career with a 90-21-4 win-loss-drawn record. But up to the time of his death on June 28 at the age of 66, Elisha Obed was only named in the Queen’s Honours list by the PLP in 1988 as a recipient of the British Empire Medal.

No highway, no national arena or no edifice has been named or erected in recognition of Elisha Obed for a feat that many felt came before its time. It’s a national shame and disgrace that a man whom we hold up in high esteem for his achievement could not be honoured with a more fitting tribute outside of the ring.

Whenever there is a conversation over who is the greatest Bahamian athlete of all time, Elisha Obed’s accomplishment has placed him right in the mix.

There have been others with less credentials that have something tangible to look at even before they died. But here is a man who worked and socialised with the Bahamian people before he passed away, but was considered an afterthought. Elisha Obed may be gone, but we can correct the mistakes made and keep his legacy alive by honouring him posthumously in the way we should have. I’m sure his family and those who lobbied on his behalf while he was alive will appreciate that it’s “better late than never.”

May his soul rest in peace.