Paul Wright | Easter joy and pain

At Easter, millions of Christians around the world start the weekend with a feeling of anticipation, (the trial and verdict) which is followed by sadness (the crucifixion and death) then unmitigated joy (the resurrection) of Jesus.

For West Indian sports fans, this weekend was no different. A depleted and second-rate cricket team arrived in Pakistan for a series of matches - 'anticipation'. Can we cope with the best T20 team in the world?. The worst defeat in the history of T20 cricket - 'the sadness'. The performances of the children of the region during the Carifta Championships - the unmitigated joy.

To agree to play cricket in Karachi, Pakistan, a decision arrived at by men in suits, who do not play the game, without taking into consideration the opinions and feelings of the most important stakeholder in modern cricket - the players, was mind boggling. The result, the most comprehensive and humiliating defeat in the history of T20 cricket!

So while the fans hang our heads and worry about the outcome of the next two scheduled games, the ones who are the architects of the decision say "OOPS! Let's move on" . Oh, how we the fans long for the day when our best cricketers, those who administer the game and those who select the players, all unite and agree on actions that place the best players of the region in the many different forms of the game on the field of play! So far, all the efforts of the leaders of the different islands of the region to generate this unity have been stymied by logistical and political reasons that originate at the highest level of the game (the ICC). But all is not lost. The struggle for unity in West Indies cricket continues, while those selected are humiliated in match after match.

CARIFTA RULE

At the Carifta Games being held in The Bahamas, Jamaican children continue their complete dominance of the athletics event. Luckily for the other children of the region, Jamaica is only allowed two entrants per event. That rule ensures that the three medals awarded to the top finishers in different events are not given to only our children. The loud and prolonged celebration of the attendees when a Jamaican is defeated, reflects (in my opinion), a tinge of annoyance at our annual record haul of medals. There is no doubt that our children in track and field events are vastly superior to the children of our neighbours.

I think that soon we will have to take a critical look at who represents us during these championships. The Jamaican track and field calendar for our children consists of weekly "development" meets that now include the lucrative Grand Prix series, followed by "Champs", then on to Carifta, then the Penn Relays, then the World Under-20 Championships. The result of all of this is that our children are being asked to perform at their best much too frequently for their own good, resulting in injuries, burn-out, and a resultant paucity of young stars who go on to do well as adults at the World Championships and the Olympics.

PROPOSAL

I am proposing that when a child is identified as a prodigy, a national treasure, whose performances dictate that "I am special", a national body is then tasked with the protection and development of the child. Once the child has been identified, priorities are set, and meets/ championships selected to develop and prepare the child for eventual world domination.

That means that some children (not all) would forego Champs, or Carifta, or Penns in a national effort designed to reduce the possibility of injury, accumulated scar tissue, burn-out, and most important, increase the possibility of an education that can and should guarantee a career and employment possibilities when their athletics careers are over.

In this scenario, because Carifta comes so quickly after Champs, quite a few of our best athletes would be advised to bypass these games that really does nothing to improve them and may even injure them. If this plan is implemented, we may not get the usual expected record medal haul year after year at Carifta, but we would be well on the way in protecting and developing our "national treasures".