Manners maketh sportsmen too

THERE were three things that my late mother preached continuously to her six offspring. The value of education, diet and etiquette. She would quote from books written by two ladies about diet and etiquette.  Today, I am not sure which of the two was written by Ms Donna Mc Fadden. It should be mandatory that the West Indies Cricket Board, and all other national and international sporting bodies start classes on simple, basic etiquette for players who are going to represent us in foreign places.  Much more important, I would say, than replacing Gus Logie at this critical time as coach, with a foreigner who knows absolutely nothing about our style of cricket which is an integral part of West Indian culture. Has the board ever heard the saying that “you never change a winning team.”

In today’s world of sport, stardom and fame sometimes come quickly to those who are unable to deal with all that goes hand-in-hand with this new-found status.  The unexpected thrust into the limelight, with no proper foundation on which to build, leads to all manner of chaos and confusion outside the field of play and the new-found stars are unable to handle all that has become a real part of their lives. Take for instance my most recent encounter with gross discourtesy from one of our “stars” who just returned triumphantly from the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in England, where he played just one game and had to be sidelined because of an injury.  Having looked with a great deal of sympathy at this Trini bowler sitting on a chair, literally, on the sidelines, I set up an interview so that he could share whatever he may have felt sitting out this tournament which had transfixed us all. 

I should have seen it coming a mile off when at the end of my first call asking for the interview, he replied that it was alright with him but would have to check with his wife. Whereupon I said, well will you call me back when you have checked, and his reply was: “you had better call me in case I do not remember.” The warning light did flash since in such instances the person is usually happy to call back the journalist who is about to give them some mileage. However, I called back the next morning, as requested, and this time got the Missus herself who sounded like she didn’t know too much about it but after some conversation we agreed on a time.  This was Friday morning.  The interview was confirmed for Monday afternoon, three short days later.  I said “please take my number in case anything comes up and you may have to cancel.”

Last Monday was a particulary hot day and leaving one’s house at 3.45 pm was not my idea of fun, but the appointed “People” photographer and I drove into the townhouse development, where a departing housekeeper advised that she was just about to leave.  She obviously had no knowledge whatsoever of our arrival, despite the fact that she had just spoken to her boss who had told her to go ahead as he was nearly home.  Half an hour later, having stood on the green lawn of the “Greens” in the humid atmosphere, with no sign of father, mother or children, I slipped a note under the door and went on my way. I left my number again and suggested that if he wished to re-schedule, I would appreciate being called.  As this story goes to print, there has been no call, neither one of apology for not being there because the children were ill and had to go to the doctor (I had picked this up along the way), and the exact reason why I had given my number to the mistress of the house in the first instance, nor a call to re-schedule the interview.

In addition to being taught the rules of the game, our sporting personalities must be taught the simple rules of courtesy in dealing with not only the media but people generally.  There are times when these men and women detest members of the media whom they believe are prying into their lives.  Remember it is the media who will assist in your climb to fame, and in your descent if it occurs. You cannot use the media at will and expect them to disappear when you have made it to the top.  In the case of the above-mentioned couple, one simple telephone call was all that was needed, either to cancel the planned interview or to apologise for wasting my time and the photographer’s.