The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS the new year rolls in, professional baseball player Antoan Richardson will give Bahamian sporting enthusiasts an opportunity to participate in a free educational forum designed to empower Bahamians interested in college athletics and professional sports.

Richardson, home on a break during the off season as he contemplates his future in the sport, will host the event on Friday, January 6 at the British Colonial Hilton hotel from 7:30 to 9:30pm. It’s being dubbed: ‘Career Paths to Athletic Success.’

“This is something for all aspiring individuals in sports,” Richardson told The Tribune. “My hope this event will inform all those in attendance about the different avenues that sports is able to do for people in sports in general.

“So hopefully those people who are playing, this can help them in reaching their goal and even those who are not interested in playing, there are people on the panel who are in front office, so maybe that is something for them to aspire to do.”

Richardson, along with fellow Bahamian baseball player Albert Cartwright, who joined the professional ranks in 2007, will speak on the panel along with MLB player Mike Baxter, Erik Bakich, Head Baseball Coach at University of Michigan, and Rebecca Seesel, Manager of International Baseball Operations for the Office of the Commissioner.

“I think it’s going to be beneficial for people in sports in general,” Richardson stated.

The panel will offer diverse perspectives as the representatives come from different sides of the business: athletes, coaches and administrators.

There will be a round table discussion with each speaker making their presentation and they will entertain questions on any subject that the audience wishes to ask.

“I think they can prick the brains of the panel because there will be a lot of information in the room,” Richardson disclosed. “My goal is that when everybody leave there, they will leave feeling that they have gotten all of the information needed to achieve their goals.

“I want them to help sports to get them an education or to get to the professional level, where it’s just playing at the minor league in the case of baseball, or if they just want to get into front office and be a general manager of a team.”

Richardson, the pioneer in modern era for baseball in the country, said he’s now at a crossroad in his 11-year-old professional career as he try to decide on whether or not he will continue playing or to move into front office of the sport.

“The growth of sports in The Bahamas is rapid and the success is evident as athletes like Shaunae Miller, Jonquel Jones, Buddy Hield and myself among others have risen to perform at the highest level of our respective sporting disciplines in recent years,” Richardson stated.

“Yet, there are too many stories of good athletes not getting to their full potential. It is my hope that with exposure to mentors, coaches and professionals that have been through it, we can bridge the gap between that talent and success.”

The 33-year-old Richardson said it’s important to empower individuals in athletic fields with facts and relevant information so those with the desire will hopefully be better equipped to chart a successful course.

“When individuals meet professionals in this industry and get an understanding of how relatable their stories are, it makes their dreams seem a little closer; it actually turns that dream into an attainable goal,” he summed up.