(The following column was originally published in this newspaper in August of 1994 (issue no. 1303). Semi-pro basketball had been introduced into Belize City in 1992.) 

   The UDP Belize government apparently helped to subsidize the Belize vacation tour last week of Los Angeles Clipper Pooh Richardson, other UCLA basketball alumni and some Hollywood actors. In return, the basketball players played three friendly games against a Belize team selected by Pulu Lightburn and coached by Pinas Staine. The American basketballers also ran training camps in Belize City for young men ages 8 to 17.

   The visit received major publicity on Channels 5 and 7 (television) and on the BCB (Friends FM and Radio Belize Gold). The attitude of the BCB sportscasters was remarkably enthusiastic, when you consider that these same three people criticized and disrespected the Belize semi-pro basketball league all season long, and in so doing seriously damaged the attendance at the BBL games.

   This is a tricky subject for me to deal with, first of all because there is some personal animosity involved, and secondly because there is basketball rivalry and jealousy here.

   The fact of the matter is that when the Kremandala Raiders joined the semi-pro league in its inaugural year (1992), the defending champions were Jah Jam, a team which featured the three BCB sportscasters as prominent managers and coaches. There was a bitter rivalry between Raiders and Jah Jam, as there had been between Penta Lakers and Jah Jam. Raiders beat Jah Jam four straight times, and after last year the three individuals decided to give up semi-pro basketball and dedicate themselves to sportscasting fulltime.

   Anyway, this column is not just about basketball; it is more about business and industry and jobs in our community. The semi-pro basketball league generates, for seven months out of the year, part-time jobs for 90 players. The BBL franchises also generate about 40 to 50 part-time jobs for coaches, managers, statisticians, masseurs, custodians, flag men, half-time entertainers, etc. Semi-pro basketball employs about 10 referees and 12 or 15 desk personnel. The BBL provides income for print shops, ticket vendors, radio announcers, food and bar employees, security guards, policemen, videographers, etc.

   In addition, the BBL pays all the bills for the amateur basketball games at the Civic.

   If one were looking at the economic benefits the BBL provides for this community, then one would say that there is no reason why the industry should not be supported, even subsidized by the government if necessary. But there have been problems, especially this year. The impression some of us are getting is that the politicians in power have a negative attitude.

   So they jumped on the one-week NBA bandwagon. But this was a case of selling 7-day dreams when the reality was right there to support for 7 hardworking months. Which is more important: for one Belize player or two to be lucky and good enough to make the NBA, or for 90 Belizeans players to continue having jobs?

   I think we have to be realistic and sober. The Maravilla syndrome which encourages Belize politicians to finance 7-day miracle solutions to the problems of our young people, is the cosmetic approach. It looks good and smells good, but it doesn’t last very long.

   I noticed that Amandala editor Glenn Tillett did not cover the “NBA tour”, although the newspaper purchased photographs of the games from David Jenkins. I think Glenn should have covered the tour, but I can’t be angry with him. He is also the general manager of the Johnson Raiders, you see, and he saw all the s–t that came down this year, and he felt the pressure and the pain. So I think when he saw the same people who dumped on the Raiders and the BBL getting so excited and positive about the exhibition games last week, it turned him off.

   In this column, I have tried not to let my anger show. The whole season, while we were losing thousands and thousands of dollars, I tried to act like a businessman. This is an issue which now requires public debate, because the BBL is more than sports: it is an entertainment industry.    The most important thing a young black man in Belize City can have is a job, any kind of legal job. When you dedicate yourself to eliminating those jobs which do exist, then I think your agenda is a sick and dangerous one.