Other C’s and May Month Therapies
(Should I apologise for using an entire page for my column on “Jagan’s ‘Rice’ government” last Friday? It won’t happen again.)
Taking it relatively lighter today, I am moved to offer my views on Guyanese Test Cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul. This is influenced by the “stature” that would allow him to leave his team in mid-match, as well as two commentators’ remarks on his approach as he assisted the West Indies to beat Sri Lanka in Trinidad last Sunday.
Whether you are interested in international cricket or not how much do you know of this still rustic Guyanese international sportsman? Share a peek into his rapid rise from a humble, agricultural–oriented fishing family into the sporting realm of West Indian achievers who won’t be easily forgotten.
It might not have mattered, if he himself did not have, then developed his cricketing skills and related talents that he was born with in the Demerara coastal village of Unity. Yes, his birthplace would not have featured that much even though that general area of Guyana also produced the current President and Prime Minister and Colin Croft another famous West Indian Test cricketer.
But the little village did provide him with a “perpetual ball-field” on which to play his beloved cricket. His cricketing father and sister both allowed him the freedom and assistance to hone his skills. It appears that too much childhood cricket prevented him from attending to his academics. (I suspect that both the late Education Minister Deryck Bernard and the WPA – friendly Red Thread group had something to do with his literacy-improvement after his initial stardom.)
The cricket-possessed young man always had the desirable attitudes for success however: determination, consistency, willingness to be coached, the patience to wait and the shrewdness to seize the right moment. One local cricket analyst predicted early on, that “that youngster is going to make some bowlers cry!” One English cricket writer who visited his Unity Village, met his parents and peers and saw his cricket scrapbook, recorded young Chanderpaul’s reaction immediately after scoring a double-century for the young West Indies test against England – in England: “something wrong wid my batting”. Even non-cricket-lovers can understand the character of this cricketing star.
Fortune, favours-and frailties
I’m not emphasizing Chander’s achievements on the field. His statistics and his now unquestionable status as one of the West Indies batsmen of records, reputation and stature seem bound to endure long after he has left the test arena.
But I want youngsters to savour the “rags-to-riches’ theme of Shivnarine’s success. He was not initially rich or academic, well-placed or favoured. Until his skills and determination made him so. Yes, soon interest and influences got him into the leading (once-elite) cricket club; he received more sponsorship and prizes than others – at one time even more than Carl L. Hooper, who, allegedly, fell “ill” so that Chanderpaul could play that first test match at Bourda at age nineteen.
He was dogged and dedicated, committed to country and to the team. Arguably, I don’t think that he knows to work at any other discipline. Cricket is his life and he has made it pay. Contented to be a team-man, his leadership skills when having to contend with a polyglot team of ambitious and moody Caribbean peers, were bound to suffer.
Early on, his initial fame and fortune catapulted some off-field sensational news.
Like when he hit pedestrians whilst driving one of his vehicles; or causing one or two girlfriends some grief, or a shooting incident when he was with an earlier companion on Georgetown’s famed sea-walls one night. Managing to surpass Hooper and Sarwan in terms of longevity so far, Chanderpaul’s cricketing accomplishments have submerged any personal sensations.
We tend, rather, to remember his heroic stamina for the team when he would resume batting for the West Indies just after treatment for an injury at hospital. (Sarwan is like that too!)
Chanderpaul’s current stature
…..and challenges. You might find it strange, but for years I was no fan of the “tiger”. I never liked his stance, his slow scoring or his then leg side only strengths. He cared not about me and now has won me over.
Relinquishing the challenging and unsuccessful captaincy of the troubled West Indies, he has returned to what he loves best – batting. (Carl Hooper’s friend Captain Burns once remarked that Chanderpaul cares not for cricket as a whole, “just batting”.) Even though a joke, Jimmy Adams observed that on Sunday when, with the test virtually won, Chander hurled himself into the wicket to avoid being run out.
I think he has a personal management adviser in Florida. But I trust that those now handling Mr Chanderpaul will attend to a few issues surrounding his current laudable status and stature. For example, if his own judgment and decision determined that he leave the team mid-match to accept overseas awards, then he should have been advised not to play (or given some charter flight special!).
And I’m not assuming that fame and achievement have gotten to his head but I don’t care to know about some special chair of his being left off a flight when others on that same flight are in much more distress. Now among the top-scoring West Indies Test Batsmen, let’s try to insulate Chanderpaul from arrogance and conceit. For when Michael Holding marvelled at Chanderpaul’s jumping into Devon Smith’s embrace to celebrate Sunday’s win, that’s the Guyanese star I want to behold – and remember.
“C”s – and therapies
I’ll leave my city council “C” for another time. That has to do with a few simple but vital activities the Council of Georgetown can do – but doesn’t.
Instead, I remind you of what the month of May brings for us, nationally. It brings National Therapies – those anniversaries and observances that we seem committed to mark – whether to “celebrate” or to merely “observe”. I suppose a nation needs to honour certain events, milestones, aspects of national identity. I’m ambivalent about them these days but I’m still moved enough to support.
So stand by for Labour Day – (what solidarity? What Unity?), all the Arrival Days (those who were brought, now celebrate) and Independence Day (??!!). Try to be committed, countrymen.
Until…
Lusignan (ECD), after the January 26 unsolved massacre, got a new nursery school after 33 years. Two government Ministers attended the opening in the little village.
Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Robert Williams says his city police patrols are not safe in the city’s jungle-like cemetery. What about us?
What about city treasurer, Mr Edinboro?
For every Carifesta Event there is a cost. List ten events and their projected costs.
Coming soon – more on how aid continues poverty.
’Til next week!
