Being on the local sports beat you learn a critical lesson, one that cant be denied by even the staunchest of critiques, Bahamians Don't Support Local Sports and Sporting Events, as much as they should. However, I was once like that and in some ways still am.
Like the rest of the world we have come to expect a sports game such as basketball or tennis to not just be about a match up but to be about entertainment. We need our sports to have story lines of good versus bad, David versus Goliath. We need someone to root for and a reason to root for them, we want a hero or heroine. We are Bahamians and we love to talk trash and scream and shout. The passion we have for the Lakers (as if we are from LA) or our Boston Celtics is weird, you must admit. We argue vehemently for those teams but how many people know about the Pyramid Food Rockets or the Commonwealth Bank Giants and can name even one player in the entire New Providence Basketball League?
However, I have come to a conclusion that its not at all our fault, blame the leagues, the organizations, the storytellers, the media but dont blame yourself. You don't care because they never trained you to care and in a day and age where everyone and everything is demanding your attention either through email, text, IM, twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or the others, when would you have time to even consider the nation's athletes and sports? Really now, when? Oh yes, most definitely the Olympics, when the entire world is forced to make time as it is now a global competition where my country is pitted against your country. Other than that when will you find out about a young phenom like Shaunae Miller or Athonique Strachan? Also don't blame yourself if you only care if they win because truth be told only winning matters so don't let anyone make you feel bad about not remembering them after the Olympics.
The leagues must become better storytellers and marketers and stop crying about support. Social media is a gift from God, Himself, to help the disenfranchised leagues who feel left out. Tell the story about a team that is so powerful and athletic that we just must see them. Brand someone as the next Lebron if we have them or a track athlete to one of the great like Pauline Davis or Jackie Joyner Kersey. Is there a cyclist that can make it to the Tour D'France? Tell the story leagues and make it compelling and watch us listen, want to watch and support. Stop crying and start working.
