Diplomacy lacking all round

Sports go beyond merely one’s performance on the field, in the water, in the air, or on the court, or wherever the event is staged.

With the heightened benefits attached to sports, the glamour, the money, the public acceptance and other spin-offs, the tensions are increased; the tolerance levels go up several notches and the list goes on.{{more}}

So, what occurred two Sundays ago at the New Montrose Basketball Facility, in the finals of the National Lotteries Authority National Club Basketball Championships, between Calliaqua and Playaz, when the latter forfeited the match in the second quarter, was more than unfortunate.

Set aside the issues which led to the premature termination of the match, Basketball in St Vincent and the Grenadines, like other sporting disciplines, has its inherent nuances.

But, irrespective of one’s grouses, there is always redress and taking the first and definitive option, which eventually infuriates tensions, should be the last resort.

What the occurrences on that night and the subsequent fallout have done, is to further scar the sport as one which lacks diplomacy and is fraught with inherent problems.

It was all unfortunate for Basketball, granted that the sport has been given a lifeline by the National Lotteries Authority, through its sponsorship of the national competition.

Let us be reminded that it was not too long ago that local light and power company Vinlec withdrew its financial support for the national tournament for similar happenings.

The current situation though, must be handled with some maturity, tact and wisdom.

Neither of the opposing parties is immune to errors.

The organizers of the tournament are at fault, as they too sometimes inflame situations with their glaring inefficiencies.

The late commencement of matches and the limited number of match officials were among the debilitating issues which struck the tournament head-on.

The Executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines cannot hold its head high, when it heralded in the tournament in February, with a less than acceptable opening, which lacked meaning.

However, anything which brings the game into disrepute cannot be condoned.

So, the sport is more or less back to square one, and the combative nature of our people becomes more pronounced whenever confrontations are evident.

It will a travesty for all those who profess that they love Basketball to let the most recent flare-up in emotions and revelation of personality differences further retard the sport.

Sitting down like men and women and sorting the things out in the shortest time frame and with the most amicable conditions are paramount, if the confidence of the diehard spectators and that of the sponsors is to blossom.

But we in St Vincent and the Grenadines are not alone, as was demonstrated recently by West Indies wicket keeper/ batsman, Trinidadian Denesh Ramdin.

Ramdin’s actions were nothing short of stupidity, when on achieving his century during the fourth day of the third test at the Edgbaston, he unveiled a piece of paper inscribed “YEA VIV TALK NAH”.

Ramdin was reacting to Sir Vivian Richards’ comments following his performance in the second test.

Ramdin needs to know that Richards, a former West Indies Captain and the most successful one too, has the moral authority to be critical of him and others, as Richards has put down the markers, which they are yet to attain.

The Trinidadian’s premeditated action was just a follow fashion of cynical behaviour being adopted by some over exuberant sports men and women who crave the limelight.

Ramdin and others must remember they are ambassadors and diplomats for the millions of people of West Indian origin they represent.

Many were lauding the West Indies’ most recent show of fight, statesmanship and new found life under Captain Darren Sammy.

The sporting world now has baptised the entire region in the same water of shame, with that of Ramdin.

Maybe, the current crop of cricketers like Ramdin, despite being specially asked to view “Babylon on Fire” – a 2010 British documentary on the successes of the West Indies team of the 1970’s and 1980’s, are determined to extinguish that passion with their flagrant disposition.