Happy Birthday Andre

ANDRE is 13 today, Saturday, September 22

A - active
N - neat
D - detailed (trying hard to be)
R - responsible
E - energetic

My son, Andre P. Helps

No Sun Shone for Jamaica's netball team

Jamaica's Sunshine Girls suffered the biggest defeat by England in over 15 years, when they went down 52 - 32 in game one of a three test series on Monday, September 17.

The venue of the National Indoor Sport Centre, where Jamaica beat England 46 - 42 in 2003 for third place, saw England leading at the end of each quarter of the game; 10 -8: 24 - 14; 38 - 25;

As Jamaica prepares for the 12th WOrld Netball Championship scheduled for New Zealand in November 2007, they will be hard pressed to maintain the number three spot in the world. In the meantime, England has had encouraging series against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Only time will tell!

On the tip of my tongue...with DICKEY

Well dears,

It is right on the tip of my tongue...to tell you that Eric Jerome Dickey was in town, yes Kingston and I was there to see him live and direct.

LA, CJT and ROR...three of Dickey's greatest fans encouraged me to attend the launch of Dickey's latest "Waking with Enemies" another riveting piece from the master himself.
Well as I am sure you can well imagine, there were scores of women and men lined up to have their copies autographed. Nonetheless I never got in the line (I hate lines), but needless to say "I wuz very happy to be dere"

If you haven't read Sleeping with Strangers yet, you should...cause then you will the whole picture.

Hail to the Dickey fans!

Selah!

Course Changed...and much more

Well I am sure you all know there is a new government in Jamaica. Orrett Bruce Golding becomes the island's eighth Prime Minister and will be sworn in on September 11 at 4:00 p.m.

Bruce also says if current members of the Civil Service were performing up to standard, there will be no major changes. What of the non-performers? I wait to see...

He is to announce his Cabinet soon. Let's see how they deal with sports.

Speaking of sports...Asafa Powell tried to erase the disappointment of the World Championships (Osaka); when he erased his own time to run a blistering 9:74 seconds in Reiti, Italy on Sunday, September 9. WOW! It is another world record...performance.

Singapore beat T&T in Netball - what is that all about?

England's netball team will be here in Kingston (September 16 to 21) to play against the Sunshine girls. World Netball Championship is in New Zealand in November.

Captain Horace Burrell will head JFF (again) as of November 4, 2007

Essence of Jamaican Sports

Essence of Jamaican Sport
by Carole Beckford


As we watch the 2007 IAAF World Championship in Osaka, Japan, we see the best athletes in track and field in the world on show. Jamaica, a major force to reckon, has set Japan on fire with its bold energy and spark which is commonplace wherever Jamaicans go.

I heard Ludlow Watts in a radio interview state that at the training camp up to a week before the start of the championships, people journeyed up to three hours to watch the Jamaican athletes in training. That says a lot about the brand.

The essence of our sport should not only transcend what happens on the track or field of play, but also in the changing rooms and every where that athlete goes.

The question is what is the essence of Jamaican Sport? I know a lot of us have never thought about it, but I have a few suggestions.

Responsibility: taking control for one’s action and being a role model at all times under any circumstance

Respect: Recognising the contribution one makes to sport treating them with dignity and consideration, as well as caring for property and equipment; hence ensuring safety to all

Fairness: making the most honourable decisions at all times operating within the rules and regulations and not to use any unfair advantage/tactics

These can be some bases with which we carry out the practice of physical education in schools and should also be three areas of focus for athletes (at all levels), coaches, officials, administrators, management and the general public at large.

A lot of what we practice and INVEST in as a people will have great returns. Some of the returns include:
- (more) top class athletes
- positive stories on the success of Jamaican athletes
- ability to attract more major events to Jamaica
- economic growth and development

I think if we adopt and apply the factors of responsibility, respect and fairness across the board with all the stakeholders involved then we will be able to, over a period of time, feel the positive effects in sport development in Jamaica.

The governing bodies for sport in Jamaica should seek to adopt this positive initiative as we seek to pursue our nation as a place where sport and physical education is available to all.

Jamaica has to unite on this decision as we go forward to propel sport as a sector which requires greater effort and support from all those involved.

For feedback, write to cubeckford@gmail.com


Note: Beijing will be the place to be for all elite athletes, August 8 – 24, 2008; another great year for sport on the horizon. Look out for Jamaica!

Hurricane Dean (recovery)

Well Hurricane Dean has come and gone
Leaving a lot of damage, while it carried on
It missed Cayman by miles
But flashed Mexico, and left a lot of people with no smile

People came and people went
Media was here in their numbers
CNN, Weather Channel, NBC, CBS, ABC, AP, Reuters
You name them, they were here...
Carrying the news, without any CARE.

SOUTH COAST TOUR - Day one

Nestled in the hills of Manchester is a town called Christiana...resting at Hotel Villa Bella...driving to Black River thru Junction, Newell, Southfield was a glorifying experience.

Fruits of allkind, melon, coconut, oranges, ripe banana...

Far from the 'hustle and bustle' of the HOT city of Kingston...it is a good get-a-way

Even a trip to Lovers Leap....Andre loved it

I will tell you more.

CB