The Tribune

CARLOS Mackey, television host of the Best of Sports World show, joined alongside the late Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe to make history in 1991.

Mackey and Wilchcombe shared the vision of hosting one of the country’s first football clinics with the goal of helping interested Bahamians attain scholarships to carve out a bright future.

With Wilchcombe being laid to rest yesterday at Christ Church Cathedral, the sports show legend shared one final as I knew him.

The late politician served in his most recent position as Minister of Social Services and Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini.

However, despite his tenure in politics, many knew the former president of the Commonwealth American Football League (CAFL) as an avid sports lover.

“His heart was in sports. He knew that as a people coming from where we came from, we had to be educated and he knew that sports was the vehicle to help young men and women achieve their goals,” Mackey said.

He continued to say that Wilchcombe knew that everyone would not make the pros but school gave them a gateway into a professional career that would last beyond sports.

With both of their views aligned, Mackey and the former journalist worked together to bring the Larry Little Football Clinic to life in June of 1991.

The overall idea was to host the football clinic so that Bahamians could have the opportunity to showcase their skills and eventually be granted scholarships for schooling abroad. Little, two-time Superbowl champion, was invited by CAFL president at the time, Wilchcombe, because he served as Bethune Cookman’s head coach.

The former Miami Dolphins offensive guard also brought six assistant coaches along with him to represent his alma mater.

While at the clinic, Little became enamored by the potential of Michael Wilson. He asked the Bahamian to partake in a few football drills and about his secondary schooling and grades.

The rest was history as Bethune Cookman’s head coach recruited Wilson and the Bahamian was granted a full football and academic scholarship.

The sports television host said that is one contribution of Wilchcombe that he will never forget. “I would never forget Obie’s contribution because he worked very closely with me. We helped the young man who wanted to go to college but didn’t know how, didn’t have the money, but he was blessed with the skills to do that and we gave him an opportunity,” he said.

The former ZNS journalist was described as selfless in his pursuit to help others accomplish their goals. He played as a quarterback for the Sunburners Football Club in the CAFL and also played some basketball at the YMCAs gymnasium in Grand Bahama.

Although Wilchcombe’s sporting aspirations did not materialise, he was always passionate about assisting others that had the gift to do what he was unable to.

“He loved the sport and even though he did not excel to where he wanted to go, he always felt that others could do that and had the gift and tried to assist as many as he could to do it,” according to Mackey.

Among the other accomplishments of the duo, the CAFL president along with Mackey coordinated the first collegiate football game in The Bahamas on November 17, 1991. The “Conch Bowl” game was played between the Bethune Cookman Wildcats and Morris Brown College Wolverines and drew thousands of spectators from abroad. With only the memories remaining, Mackey thanked Wilchcombe for being selfless, helping others to achieve their goals, and opening the doors to make history together.

The former politician, journalist and sportsman will be fondly remembered and missed by his loved ones.