Like life, like Basketball

Time was when fears were expressed about losing our crop of young cricketers, especially fast bowlers because they were gravitating towards basketball. Many reasons were proffered for the youths’ choices. It was acknowledged that cricket was under siege, its popularity and appeal to youngsters diminishing. {{more}}

The glamour of the American lifestyle and the impact of cultural penetration were seen as factors for the inclination. The frequency of basketball on television served as an additional attraction to the average Vincentian, no matter what age. With the mushrooming of Cable television and the multiplicity of Channels, the choices grew, and so did the drift away from the traditional Caribbean sport, that of bat and ball.

Because the time to think beyond the normal pattern descended on us like the Tsunami which left a trail of destruction on the Indian Sub- Continent.

Adjustment to the modern approach must be priority, and the region must adapt the steps towards technological development for all its worth, or we will be forever be wallowing in the doldrums, dreaming of what used to be.

The performance of the West Indies Cricket team is a vivid example of our lax attitude to the progressive embrace.

Many like to harp on the break down of law and order which seems to have a corresponding trait of our development. We tend to grab those aspects, which reflect a negative tendency.

The revelations that have taken place on the American basketball circuit within the last month have underlined the reality of a new pattern. Whereas the emphasis had been on male basketballers, the focus has shifted a pattern that has national overtones.

The success of Sancho Lyttle and Sophia Young is testimony of the unveiling trend.

It has been established that males are not attaining their fullest potential in academics, at the work place, and sports. They are gradually being sidelined by the emergence of an aggressive and more assertive female generation.

Women have rebounded with resilience, from stigma of marginalisation, and stereotyping, and they are showing discipline, which contribute to their advances. Not that all is lost for men, but they don’t display that sense of urgency necessary to progress.

Since Adonal Foyle’s entry to the American National Basketball Association (NBA), no other home grown Vincentian has elevated to such ranks.

Without any prompting, with little preparation, but huge will power, Sancho Lyttle has cruised up to the counterpart heights. Her accomplishment is an act of immense pride to the Vincentian community, and another reflection of human endeavour.

Sophia Young is destined to follow Sancho’s footsteps, endorsing the embodiment of gender empowerment.

Calls were made in the House of Parliament here for Adonal Foyle’s inclusion to the list of persons granted ambassadorial status.

It would not be out of place for Sancho Lyttle and Sophia Young to be accorded such privileges. They have done enough to raise this country’s flag to a level where recognition or curiosity are natural phenomena.

That would be a further boost to our athletes and cultural performers, inspiration for them to carry on and incentives for others to persevere.