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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 31 2003 : 12:16:29 PM
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Let's make a pledge - not a wish
published: Wednesday | December 31, 2003
Tony Becca - FROM THE BOUNDARY
JAMAICANS ARE a proud people and one only has to look at the achievements, the accomplishments of Jamaicans in all spheres of life, at home and abroad, and particularly in sport to understand why that is so.
Down the years, Jamaica, little Jamaica, has produced champions in many sport and it has done some great things in the sport arena. In fact, when one looks at the size, the population and the resources of Jamaica and that of many other countries and then compares their achievements, Jamaica must be, and in many cases is, the envy of the world.
GEORGE HEADLEY
Starting with George Headley back in the 1930s and ticking off names like Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley, George Rhoden, Alfred Valentine, Gerry Alexander, Jackie Hendriks, Collie Smith, Lawrence Rowe, Michael Holding, Jeffrey Dujon, Courtney Walsh, Don Quarrie, Lennox Miller, Bertland Cameron, Merlene Ottey, Grace Jackson, Wynthrop Graham, Juliet Cuthbert, Deon Hemmings, Trevor Berbick, Michael McCallum, and Patricia McDonald, Mike Fennell and Molly Rhone, this country has produced some of the world's greatest cricketers, Olympic and World Championship gold medallists, world boxing champions, a number of world class netballers, and some of the world's top administrators.
And that is not all. Jamaica has also produced world record holders, it has been to the World Cup football finals, to the amazement of the world, it has produced not only a bobsleigh team, but also a strong one, and remembering, among others, the brilliance of the 4x400m relay team at Helsinki in 1952 the unforgettable run by McKenley on the third leg, it has been involved in some of the great moments in sport.
Jamaica, without a doubt, is among the best when it comes to sport, Jamaicans have a right to be proud, and remembering what sport has done for Jamaica's image, what it is has done for Jamaicans including those at the bottom of the social ladder as far as finding a place in the sun and making a good living are concerned, and what it could mean for the country as a tourist destination, Jamaica should do everything in its power to ensure that Jamaica's greatness in sport continues.
Sport, however, is one facet of life, too many of the country's sportsmen and sportswomen, and especially so sportsmen, are weak, very weak in other areas, and in doing so, those involved in sport, those involved in the development of sport and in the development of young sportsmen and sportswomen, should go beyond that.
They should go one step further and deal with the development of sportsmen and sportswomen as people. They should, for example, deal with their education so that in their moments of triumph they can represent themselves and the country well, so that they can care for themselves and not depend on handouts when their days in the sun are over, and remembering that regardless of their effort not everyone who tries will succeed, most importantly so that they will have another way out if they do not succeed.
While there are those who do care and those who do make an attempt to produce not only an athlete but also a well-rounded person, there are Jamaicans who simply do not care Jamaicans whose only interest is in producing a champion regardless of his indiscipline and regardless of whether he can read or write, Jamaicans whose only interest is that Jamaicans perform well so that they can stand on the mountain top and while beating their chests, shout that they too are Jamaicans.
That is not fair to the athletes.
While there are those who dismiss it simply as being the athletes' business, a lot of them need guidance, and in helping them to become champions, the country, and particularly those who work closely with them, should also encourage them to fully develop themselves.
Scoring centuries and taking wickets, winning gold medals, knocking out people and being good footballers and netballers is wonderful.
MAKE A PLEDGE
Life, however, is more than that, and as we move into the new year, those involved in sport and the development of sportsmen and sportswomen should make not a wish, but a pledge.
The pledge should be that in 2004 they will pay more attention to the other side of sportsmen and sportswomen, that they will demand better discipline from them, and that they will encourage them to develop themselves fully so that there will be even more reason to be proud of them.
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Karl |
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JAMAICANS ARE a proud people
