What Others are Saying
- Observer West On The Sporting Edge
By Paul Reid
Source: Observer West / Jamaica Observer
Advice for
Donalda
It
is refreshing to see someone relatively new to western
Jamaica taking the reins of the Western Basketball
Association (WBA).
At the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), Donalda
Reid edged former president Charles Stephenson
by three votes (17-14) to take over the running of the
association for the next two years and, we hope, move it
forward.
Anyone seeing Donalda at games will notice that her
sandals are decorated with a number of miniature
basketballs. She will need every one of those balls if
she is to be successful in turning around a sport that
is spinning wildly out of control.
From thuggish attacks on the court, to top players
loudly berating officials, to ignorant louts in the
stands abusing all and sundry, the atmosphere at
basketball games is not the friendliest.
And while I don't envy Donalda her new responsibilities,
there are a few things I would do if I were president.
One of the first things I would do is call a meeting
with the police high command and the management of the
Montego Bay Cricket Club where all the games are played.
Unlike football, the crowds at basketball are not all
that big and those displaying antisocial behaviour are
easy to spot and may be asked to leave and to stay away
from what is in essence private property, until they can
learn how to behave appropriately.
Ganja smoking in the stands has become increasingly
popular and I would ask the police high command to send
someone to games, like they do for football. Anyone
caught smoking ganja would be dealt with by the law,
arrested and charged.
Like netball, basketball attracts a certain crowd
including women who take their young children to games,
and it is criminal to have the youngsters and others
being forced to inhale second-hand ganja smoke.
The next action would be a meeting with every single
affiliate to emphasize that it cannot be business as
usual. I would make it clear that the laws of the game
and of civil behaviour will be adhered to.
Given that both football and netball in western Jamaica
have failed to create a family atmosphere at their
games, the WBA should take the lead in trying to change
what has been the norm for too long.
One of the biggest selling points for sports in most
developed countries, especially the United States,
Canada and parts of Europe, is that sport is marketed as
a family event. The entire family is able to enjoy
events without being exposed to unsavory behaviour and
obnoxious people.
Last but not least, the new WBA administration must work
together with the Cricket Club to get those
candle-sticks masquerading as floodlights replaced ASAP.
