The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

rwells@tribunemedia.net

TO say my last column touched some nerves may be an understatement.

In the days that followed last Monday’s column, I have received countless calls, emails and a few texts that took my input on country’s track and field product to task.

In addition to being implored to pen an apology to Christine Amertil herself, I have been asked to “go look up and study all of her feats and accomplishments, one by one”.

Further to that, I have been lectured on the “talent pool” of Bahamian track and field and its pace of development.

Yes, it has been a long week.

Now while I respect and appreciate all of this, I see it necessary to publish the one constant view that drives my writing; no one view is final, as no one view is all-encompassing.

With that said, I extend an understanding to all the views and comments presented to me over the last week, all of which were read, researched, addressed where needed and added to my ever-expanding view on the nature, direction and development of Bahamian sports.

This week, I commend one respondent in particular who, whether he intended to or not, brought me to the crossroads of limitations due to size, population and talent, and the need never to rest on one’s laurels.

In addition to being a staunch student of history - both social and athletic - I am a proud Bahamian that views our small, but successful country as one never limited by its size, deficiencies and outright inability to match wits with others.

To Vaughn Nembhard, your claim that, “the pool will just not be deep enough (to) consistently (compete) like Jamaica and USA”, may be true when composed against time; but I am of the view that this could change with a simple influx of funding.

This has been my view from day one. The Bahamas, despite its size and population is not falling short due to these elements, rather it has and continues to succeed in spite of them.

The greatest obstacle to Bahamian athletics has always been the lack of funding being directed toward development.

I have written for much of the last year about circumstances in which kids are succeeding and overcoming despite a lack of facilities, equipment, technology, medical capabilities; and in some cases, proper coaching.

Thus, my argument continues to be, the talent pool in The Bahamas isn’t small, it is just severally under developed and encouraged.

Case in point, in a country with a handful of indoor, properly contracted, hardwood courts; The Bahamas has for the past five decades produced compelling basketball talents.

Moreover, the caliber of this talent has pushed not only NBA level executives to question what else may be hiding on these scattered rocks, but collegiate personnel to make The Bahamas a noted stop on its journey to discovering top tier talent.

Despite this however, both the public and private sectors have continued to walk around the idea of establishing proper youth leagues that compiles the best features of church leagues, school leagues, and even the night leagues.

To its credit, the Bahamas Basketball Federation has done a great deal to pull these independent factions together to work toward a single and absolute goal - improving basketball skill in The Bahamas.

To recall a column written by one of my more respected media colleagues, Mr Fred Sturrup: “This is interesting because while these events enjoy huge television markets and generate heaps of money, somehow the BBF remains always in dire need of funds to effectively coördinate a meaningful national program.”

You see, I used basketball as my prime example because it is the case most familiar to the public.

But this is also the case with track and field, tennis, swimming, softball, baseball, boxing; heck, all across the board.

No matter the sport, the issue remains, not enough funding.

If you were to reach out to any coach associated with any professional sport the world over and were to ask them about The Bahamas, I can guarantee that they would be aware of some athletic talent here that could be a star.

Further to that, I can almost project, word for word, their second point - there is also this other kid that if placed in a better position, could be something special.

The Bahamas, for whatever reason has been blessed. With that blessing comes so much naturally capable athletes.

However, financing has limited how that natural talent is discovered, addressed and directed.

Far too often our country opts to put money into events and circumstances that celebrate the result of athletes. Hardly ever is that seem enthusiasm and financing placed behind planting the seeds that yields the fruit.

So if my point last week was missed, allow me to note again, in our rush to celebrate the fruits of this spectacular Bahamian tree, may we remember to nurture the soil that yielded the tree.

After all, if we do, those one or two fruits we celebrate can be the precursor to many and not just the lot that survives a tough and rugged bearing process.

• Fourth Quarter Press appears every Monday in Tribune Sports – comments and responses to rwells@tribunemedia.net