It was indeed a gala event at the Hyatt Regency Wednesday night as the cream of Trinidad and Tobago’s top athletes was present with the expectation of being recognised in their respective fields of endeavor. This was the first ever ‘Spirit of Sport Awards’ event – a joint venture between the Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago. Not only athletes were honored but community groups and sports journalism. Ato Boldon and Sophie King performed superbly as joint Masters of Ceremonies.

I applaud this effort and the Minister of Sport, the Honorable Anil Roberts, lucidly described the awards in the following manner:
‘Every champion athlete comes from humble beginnings – whether in a community or school – and is guided by a teacher, coach or sports medicine practitioner who was able to recognise the potential, nurture the talent and prepare the body and mind for the rigours that sport demands. The Spirit of Sports Awards seeks to unearth those unsung heroes as well as to reward sporting excellence at all levels. The Spirit of Sports Awards represents the greatness within us all, as patriotic champions of sport and boundless faith in our destiny to become a truly great sporting nation.’

The list of awardees includes:

Pre-Show
Community Champion – Allan Ramjass, Carapichaima
Journalist (Print) – Kwame Laurence, Express
Journalist (Electronic) – Paul Montano, TV6
Sport Photograph – Anthony Harris, Guardian (Going for Goal)
Coach/Manager – Marjorie Thomas, Cricket
Consistent Performer – Anisa Mohammed, Cricket
Best Community Coach – Earl Bourne
Best Performing School – Shiva Boys’ Hindu College
Best Sport Educator – Judith Ann Robertson-Daniel
Emerging Athlete – Quincy Alexander

Main Show
Breakthrough Athlete – Anisa Mohammed, Cricket
Record Breaking Performance – Anisa Mohammed, Cricket
Comeback Performance – Lendl Simmons, Cricket
Corporate Champion – Atlantic LNG
Athlete with a Disability (Physical) – Carlos Greene, Power lifting
Athlete with a Disability (Intellectual) – Shaddai Simon, Equestrian
Athlete Philanthropist – Brian Lara
Community Group – Roxborough Police Youth Club
Community Programme – Waterloo Institute of Soccer Players
Team – 4x100m Women’s Relay Team, 2010 World Championships
Male Athlete – Daren Bravo, Cricket
Female Athlete – Kelly Ann Baptiste, Athletics
Fan of the Year – Allyson Hennessey (award to be named after her henceforth)
Sport Personality (People’s Choice) – St. Anthony’s College football team
Lifetime Achievement – Rodney Wilkes
Sport Performance of the Year – Kelly Ann Baptiste, Athletics

The categories were well documented but I would also like to see the recognition of the youth, perhaps under-18 star performers. Therefore in the future we can have ‘Youth Male Athlete of the Year.’

Talking about ‘unsung heroes’ – one gentleman springs immediately to my mind – Nigel Grosvenor, football coach of St. Anthony’s College in Westmoorings. Prior to the function, I interviewed ‘Grove’ at the Hyatt and he was just simply honoured to have his team nominated for the Sports Personality (People’s Choice) Award. About three weeks ago, I was the first sportscaster to do a television interview with ‘Grove’, who was very grateful for the opportunity. Grove was simply shocked when it was announced that St. Anthony’s won the People’s Choice Award. Go forward my brother!

I also had the opportunity to speak with visually-impaired weightlifter Carlos Greene: his story was wonderful to hear. Former Trinidad & Tobago cricket captain Daren Ganga rolled out the successes of the Daren Ganga Foundation to me while Soca Warrior Brent Sancho recounted the unforgettable experience at the Germany 2006 World Cup. The cultural and ‘joie de vivre’ celebrations of thousands of Trinbagonians certainly transfixed Deutschland.
Brent was also very displeased over the non-payment of millions of dollars still owed to the 2006 World Cup footballers. What about the accounting of this money? One might find a needle in a haystack before anybody finds half-a-dollar of the 2006 Soca Warriors rewards.

On the cricket front, Australia brushed aside India by 122 runs with a day to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the first of four test matches. Now remember the Indian batting line-up: Gambhir, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Kohli and Dhoni. Yet the Aussie fast bowling trio of Pattinson (6 wickets), Hilfenhaus (7 wickets) and Siddle (6 wickets) bowled some unplayable deliveries.

According to ESPNcricinfo stats editor S. Rajesh:
‘Eleven batsmen were out bowled in this test, which equals the highest in Australia over the last three decades. The last time more batsmen were bowled in a test in Australia was way back in 1979, when 12 batsmen were bowled in a test between Australia and Pakistan, also in Melbourne. The last time more batsmen were out bowled in a Test anywhere was in 2006, when 12 were bowled in Fatullah in a test between Bangladesh and Australia. It was also only the fourth time in his 161-test career that Rahul Dravid was bowled in both innings of a test. The last time it happened was against Pakistan in Delhi in 2007.’
India’s home record must be one of the most compelling in test cricket but lately on the overseas clashes, Dhoni’s men seem to be playing in a freezer. For the all-conquering West Indian side of the late 70s and mid 80s, it did not matter where they played – sand dunes, dust bowls, the South Pole – Clive Lloyd and his troops were simply unbeatable.
Action photos of Nigel Grosvenor and Rahul Dravid – abas400@tstt.net.tt