The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

AS sports in the Bahamas has taken a back seat to Hurricane Matthew and the repairs in its aftermath, I have been speculating on how much of a hit sports across the country has taken due to this storm.

Last week, I travelled to two of the hardest hit areas in the country - Lowe Sound, Andros and the western portion of Grand Bahama. I encountered circumstances there that could only be described as traumatic and disheartening to say the least.

This is the time for sports to take the front of the stage, shifting focus from the tragedy and pain inflicted by Matthew.

This is not to say that we need to force sporting events to shift the focus. My point is that it would be so terrific for Bahamians to have a break from the reality.

The lack of sports, in my opinion, leaves us with no distraction, no breaks.

In his Finish Line column last week, my Tribune colleague Brent Stubbs made mention of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ “Project Quick Relief”.

The initiative will see monetary donations along with water, non-perishable food, clothing and athletic gear in excellent condition, directed to those left devastated in the wake of Matthew.

While this effort by the sporting community is commendable and should be encouraged, it covers only one aspect of recovery; the aid. The other end of the spectrum is a distraction.

After Hurricane Katrina, one of the biggest natural disasters of modern times, the New Orleans Saints in their play did as much, if not more, for that city’s recovery as the donations received in the wake of that storm.

One of my fondest moments as a football fan was a Monday night football game in 2006. The Saints made their home ‘debut’, their performance on that night demonstrated the city’s culture of resilience. The Saints defeated the Falcons 23-3.

That became the rallying cry of that city. It became all about getting up when knocked down, recovering after being destroyed.

Instead, in the Bahamas we are left to decipher when seasons will return, when athletes will return to the field. Just questions.

My heart and soul hurts just thinking about Matthew. I came across families that lost everything, some that can only ponder where the next meal would be coming from. In West End, Grand Bahama, entire blocks are gone.

What do you leave for those kids to do? Where do they go from here?

Sports would have been the perfect avenue for them to move away from the frustration of everyday life.

Bring the bats out. Put up some new basketball nets and allow the kids to hoop.They, like everyone else, need a break from the tragedy of this storm.

• Ricardo Wells writes Fourth Quarter Press every Monday in The Tribune. Comments and responses to rwells@tribunemmedia.net