The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS he continues to turn back the hands of time, running steadily at an older age, veteran national record holder Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown inked his name on another financial deal with the Bank of the Bahamas.

BOB, through its deputy managing director Hubert Edwards, made the announcement as Brown came home to run in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Track and Field Championship at Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium this weekend.

At the bank’s Carmichael Road branch yesterday, Edwards revealed that they have secured a “priceless” arrangement with Brown to serve as their BOB Express ATM Ambassador. Through the agreement, Brown’s image will appear on billboards and online promoting the BOB products.

“As you know, Chris Brown is a powerhouse and one of the things that we have seen and admired in him is his humility,” Edwards said. “At age 36, he is one of the elder statesmen of the sport  and he has taken care of his body and has always represented the Bahamas at the international level.

“So we are looking to align ourselves with someone who has had a longevity in the sport. We know that world-class athletes like Chris Brown come very expensive, but he has been very gracious with us over the last few years in allowing us to use his image on our product. So we are very happy to work with Chris Brown. He is a very phenomenal athlete and a phenomenal individual.”

Edwards attended the press conference with Tonique Williams, BOB’s manager of public relations and communications, Yvette Johnson, call centre manager, Leonardo Thompson, merchant services manager, Jabari Rolle,merchant services officer, Ricardo Saunders, merchant services technical support and Julius Seymour, manager of sales solutions.

While Brown is not the first Bahamian to have been engaged by BOB, Edwards said they will be looking at other Bahamian sporting icons in the future. Brown, however, joined a list of other athletes, including retired tennis player Mark Knowles, sprinter Anthonique Strachan and retired ‘Golden Girl’ Tonique Williams, who is now employed in the bank.

“This is a good way to have national sports persons, national heroes, who make some money out of it, to help promote what we are doing in the banking industry,” Edwards said. “It’s something that they get to run to the world bank with, but it signals the type of relationship that we are trying to develop with our sporting personalities.

“Track and field is a sport, but it’s also a business. It’s one that you can’t do without the support of corporate Bahamas and at the same time, corporate Bahamas get to benefit from the value that these athletes bring by the recognition and influence that they possess.”

As he gets ready to compete this weekend, Brown said he is thrilled to have the relationship with BOB extended for another year.

“I think it’s a great idea and also moving forward, it helps to pave the way for future athletes at home because there are not that many companies that have endorsed our athletes,” said Brown, who admitted that outside of the combined sponsorship by BTC for the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay team, this marks the first individual endorsement that he has received so far in his career.

With his career being extended as a result of his outstanding performances as he continues to mystify everybody with his fabulous times he’s running this year, he said:

“It just shows that Bank of the Bahamas sees the value in what I’m doing and they believe in me and I believe that as an ambassador for the country, as long as people see you believing in yourself, they will be willing to believe in you by throwing their support behind you,” Brown said.

“So I think it’s a great opportunity for me and I look forward to being a great ambassador for the bank, just as I try to be an ambassador for the country.”

And as he prepares to compete this weekend, Brown said his focus will only be on the 200 metres as he intends to work on his speed to get him better prepared for the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China in August. Having already qualified with the fastest time of 44.54 seconds by any Bahamian, Brown said he has opted not to contest his signature event in the 400m.

“My goal is to get ready for the World Championship and to get on the podium,” said Brown, who is still seeking his first individual medal at the World Championships. “It’s going to be an interesting summer and so I want to make sure that I am fully prepared to compete.

“Looking at the performances of the other competitors out there, I know I will have to concentrate a little more on my speed and if I can get it downpacked, I should be in a better position to compete with everybody. I’ve been working hard and my times have showed that, but I know I have to be at my best in order for me to get on the podium.”

Having been down the road before, winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 2004 and the IAAF World Championships in 2005 in Helsinki, Finland, Tonique Williams said in “God’s time,” Brown will get his day on the podium.

“I really don’t think that Chris has to worry too much about his speed. He has done all of the necessary work to get ready and I think he’s running fast enough to get there,” said Williams, who trained with Brown when she accomplished her dual feat. “So I just think it’s going to be a matter of time before God grants him his wish and allows him to succeed.”

Williams, now in charge of public relations at BOB, said it was a natural fit when they decided to continue their relationship with Brown.

“I think as a former athlete who had to go through the dollar day experience on the side of the road, it’s good to see the improvement that our country has made in sports with corporate Bahamas coming on board and assisting our athletes in nation-building.

“Right now we are experiencing the highest level of crime in our country, but we are also seeing the corrolation of sports and our athletes because you can’t put a price on national development. So I’m happy that BOB is able to continue the tradition of supporting athletes like Chris Brown and I hope that we can do even more in the future.”

After the press conference, Brown stayed until the bank closed to sign autographs for visitors in the bank. The event was carried live on Island FM by host Bodine Johnson and Rochelle Walker, manager of marketing at BOB.

One of the vistors, 13-year-old Renford Munroe from North Andros, told Brown that he intends to beat him in the 200m. Munroe, in town for the summer holiday, is a track star who runs both the 200 and 400m.

“I was shocked that I met the Golden Knight,” Munroe said. “He was so cool. But I want him to know that I will be coming for him.”