THE EDITOR, Sir:

I THINK the West Indies cricket team must be given lectures on the history of West Indies cricket because the players seem unaware of how much cricket means to the people of the Caribbean, both at home and abroad.

If they had known, they could have lost ­ no problem, but certainly not in the way that they did.

In a world with much depression and exploitation, cricket counts as one of the few times West Indians can have a fair game.

In a world where so-called 'Third World' countries are hardly given prominence, except when they are killing each other or dying because of AIDS, etc., cricket counts as a time when we can invite the richer half to see us at our best.

Let's from the beginning, however, take Brian Lara out of the equation, because I think, we put too much pressure on the lad, and not half as much pressure on the other players.

In any case, the boys summed up much of Caribbean society and that is a society which fails to think and reason in every day actions.

Chris Gayle is a perfect example. If you get so many runs in one over, having spent little or no time at the crease, why don't you relax for the final ball?

Why go swinging your bat in the air, as if you are playing on the beach? That's not a cricketer thinking. And that is certainly not Test cricket.

It is not a nice thing to hear the English commentators talk of calypso cricket. Actually, I really believe it is an insult, of course, in the subtle English fashion.

Calypso cricket is cricket which puts a few runs on the board in an exciting manner and then, sooner or later, one is back in the pavilion to watch the rest of the game. It is playing cricket for the short-lived adulation of the fans. After all, all West Indians like to see a boundary, especially if the bowler happens to be a foreigner.

In all fairness to the calypsonians, though, they give us lots of things to dance about, most of them usually think long and hard to produce their stuff.

West Indian cricketers must think and relax themselves when they go out there to play cricket.

No more can we play cricket with just natural abilities, we have to use our brains and think. A lesson for the rest of Caribbean society also, in the way we carry out our everyday business and private lives.

I am, etc.,

IRENAEUS VINCENT

OP (Rev.)

irenaeus.vincent@english.op.org

Blackfriars, 64 St. Giles Rd,

Oxford, England

Via Go-Jamaica.com

THE EDITOR, Sir:

IT IS very surprising that a sport such as pool cannot get any decent sponsorship or media coverage in Jamaica. Every parish in Jamaica has about 30 bars having at least one pool table.

That is a lot of playing venues across the island. The number of pool players in Jamaica rivals sports such as basketball and is significantly higher than sponsored sports such as chess and skittle.

A personal survey has revealed that there are more persons under the age of 25 years playing pool today than over 25. This is significant because it means that the younger generation is catching on to pool as a favourite pastime. The sport is not difficult to learn initially but very challenging and can be played by both sexes in competition which is a rarity for any sport.

Pool is associated with bars and bars are associated with alcohol and smoking, yet it is virtually impossible to obtain sponsorship from any of the producers of these items. Producers of alcohol are more likely to sponsor a hockey game than a pool tournament. Where is the vision of these so-called marketing strategists who cannot see the potential benefits of marketing a sport such as pool?

In all fairness, the blame cannot rest solely on the sponsors... or should I say non-sponsors. Sports such as chess do have a governing body (the Jamaica Chess Federation) which is active in seeking sponsorship.

Skittles has a league which is played among skittles clubs across the island. I do not see that type of organisation in pool. I have heard about a West Indies Pool Association of which Jamaica is a member but what about the local governing body? What about the parish bodies?

The lack of organisation in the sport is what's killing the sport. Even if there isn't an official body, a well-organised competition across the island could get significant sponsorship. With proper organisation of the sport the badly needed media coverage would follow.

I am, etc.,

RALPH BROWN

wimbajam@hotmail.com

Pan Peas, Hopewell, St. James

Via Go-Jamaica.com

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