The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

IT’S not how you start, nor how you get there. Most importantly, it’s how you finish.

• The Finish Line, a weekly column, seeks to comment on the state of affairs in the local sports scene, highlighting the highs and the lows, the thrills and the spills and the successes and failures.

AFTER taking a couple weeks off to relax, it’s good to be back from vacation. But I’ve noticed that it’s still sports as usual. Nothing changed. Still the package that includes a little bit of everything, including some controversy. After all, that is what sports is all about in the Bahamas.

THE WEEK

THAT WAS

HATS off to the New Providence Softball Association’s Commando Security Truckers and the Lady Stingers. They emerged as the Bahamas Softball Federation’s men and women national champions over the weekend in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

The national round robin tournament, which was originally scheduled to be played between five teams in both divisions, encountered some problems when the Eleuthera Softball Association pulled out after their men’s team was denied the opportunity to have pitcher Alcott Forbes play for them.

Forbes, who helped the Ira Dez Hitmen clinch the NPSA men’s title last year, opted to play in Eleuthera. But because of the residence clause, he was not permitted to play for Eleuthera in the round robin.

It was a contentious issue that needed to be addressed and even though it was just his first term as the new president of the federation, Ted Miller and his administration tackled it. Not only did their ruling affect Forbes, but it was also handed down for a couple other players.

While I feel that provisions should be made to accommodate those islands that need help, rules and rules and whenever they are in place, they should be adhered to. Maybe, this could be a good lesson for the affiliated associations to agitate for some changes so that moving forward, they won’t have to go through this whole process again.

In addition to the residence clause, the federation also had to deal with one or two teams who were affected by producing rosters that didn’t have players on them before the required period. That is also a major issue that has affected the sport in the past and this too needs to be addressed.

When the teams come to the nationals, the fans want to see the associations bring their best tams based on their performances during their regular season. The Bahamas is small enough that everybody knows who plays for who and who didn’t, so it’s a no brainer when it comes to teams trying to add players who didn’t participate for those teams.

In the whole process over the weekend, Rommel ‘Fish’ Knowles, a former president of the federation, resigned as an executive member. Knowles felt that the ERA that he serves as president was treated unfairly. While he has the right to resign, I felt he should have stayed and fought for his rights from within.

But I guess he felt there’s no use trying to change anything.

Again, I must commend Miller and his administration for doing what they did and that was to stick by the rules that govern the sport. All this means is that there is still some work that the membership has to do to ensure that they are all treated fairly when it’s time to play.

And while there were some issues that the federation had to deal with off the field, they should also be commended for getting through the tournament and crowning the two champions in the Truckers and the Lady Stingers. It was the first time in quite some time that both titles remained in New Providence.

The Truckers, managed by Perry Seymour, returned to national prominence after a three-year hiatus to not only win the NPSA title, but they went on to dethrone the two-time national champions 5 Star AG & Tuff Bulldogs out of Abaco. Although they had the offence, many were concerned about how well their pitching would hold up.

But they didn’t have any problems there as ace Thomas Davis excelled as the most valuable player.

And at the same time, the Lady Wolverines from Grand Bahama were poised as the team to beat in the ladies’ division. But with some injuries to pitcher Thela Johnson and right fielder Keisha Pratt, they got the job done. Pratt, by the way, was named the championship’s MVP.

This weekend, look for the Truckers and the Lady Stingers to be paraded through the streets of New Providence as they hold a joint motorcade to celebrate their well deserved feat. Gary ‘Super’ Johnson, manager of the Lady Stingers, and Seymour, who coached the team, will be leading the charge.

With all of the social ills that have affected us as a nation, we need to take some time to celebrate those things that make us proud and the achievement of our sporting personalities are just one of them.

THE WEEK

AHEAD

ON Monday, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has planned a reception at the National Arts Gallary to honour Team Bahamas. The invitation doesn’t state exactly who all will be celebrated, but the event, hosted by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson, is scheduled for 6:30pm.

The event is expected to be a part of the ministry’s month of activities that will include the National Sports Heritage Week. Hopefully both quarter-miler Shaunae Miller and hurdler Jeffery Gibson as well as swimmer Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace will get some of the recognition that they deserve for their recent accomplishments on the international scene.

BAAA ELECTIONS

THE gloves are now on as the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations gear up for its election of officers. The elections will take place during the annual general meeting, set for November 28 at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Rosamunde Carey, a former executive in the BAAA, officially introduced her slate of officers who will run on her United Purpose team during an impressive launch at the Crab House. They include former athletes Tonique Williams for first vice president, Troy McIntosh, second vice president and incumbent Carl Oliver for secretary general.

On Saturday, incumbent president Mike Sands will formally introduce his slate of officers at a launch that will take place at the Ministry of Sports. And just like Carey and her slate did, Sands and his team are expected to head to Grand Bahama where they will meet with the delegates there.

This is shaping up to be an all out war as there is a whole lot of action taking place behind the scenes. It seems as if it’s a script coming right from the political arena where the local parties are gearing up for the general election scheduled for 2017.

Once Sands officially presents his slate, we will take a closer look at the head-to-head match-ups as the elections loom over the horizon. It’s just a pity that only the delegates will get a chance to vote.