Monday, February 20, 2023
The first commissioner of the inaugural semipro basketball league in Belize back in 1992 was a business executive, Gus Perrera, and he successfully presided over a sensational first semipro basketball competition, in which the rookie Kremandala Raiders team lost in the championship final to a Penta Lakers team that featured two young Belizean stars who were attending junior college on basketball scholarships in the United States. Fred Garcia, Jr. (6’8″?) and Kirk “Shabba” Smith (6’7″?) arrived in Belize after their college summer break in time to play big roles in Penta Lakers’ inaugural semipro basketball championship.
The commissioner or president of a new league has a big responsibility: to ensure the credibility of the league, while at the same time commanding the respect of the participating teams/clubs, and executing his office in such a way as to engender adherence to the rules and by-laws governing the league.
Gus was well prepared for his task as commissioner of semipro basketball, because he had previously gotten a good insight into possible pitfalls to avoid. A couple years prior to his appointment to the commissioner post to lead the new basketball league, Gus had been tasked with conducting an inquiry into a football controversy, where the then Coke Milpros football club had ended up being briefly banned from football by the BNFA shortly after the end of the 1989 season. Perrera’s findings were never made public, but the procedural and constitutional inadequacies unearthed were certainly enough to impress upon him the importance of maintaining strict allegiance to the by-laws and constitution of any sporting association to avoid the flare-up of nasty and quite avoidable controversies that could only tarnish the image of the sport and spoil the fun for legions of loyal fans.
Aside from the findings during his 1990 research into the Milpros protest/suspension controversy, Gus also had the opportunity to observe the conduct and demeanor of the first commissioner of the semipro football league, which was formed as a result of that same controversy, and which was launched in 1991 under the leadership of former championship footballer as well as decorated public service administrator, Telford Vernon. Gus was the general secretary of the new semipro football league for a year before moving on to lead semipro basketball.
The inaugural seasons of both the Belize Semipro Football League (BSFL) in 1991, and the Belize Semipro Basketball League (BSBL) in 1992, were stellar successes.
There have been two major controversies over the past decades where a national playoff race or championship title was on the line, and a team had been so strong in their conviction about an issue that they had chosen to forfeit a match rather than appear for a scheduled game.
In basketball, back in the 1979 season, the Happy Homebuilders basketball team, led by Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn, had refused to play over from scratch the championship match in which they had led with 4 or 5 seconds to go and their opponents Belikin Wheels had managed to score in what the Builders claimed was a “long” 5 seconds. The basketball committee’s scheduled re-play of the game was boycotted by Homebuilders, resulting in Wheels being declared the champions.
In football, it was the 1989 national semifinals between two Belize City teams, Coke Milpros, fresh off their Concacaf success against Nicaragua’s Diriangen, and the Duurly’s team. Milpros had lodged a protest after their first encounter, which was a 2-2 draw. After the second game was also a draw, 1-1, Milpros again protested, and informed the BNFA that they would not appear for a third game unless their protests were first heard and decided upon. This was not done; so when Duurly’s squad took the field that Sunday, there was no Coke Milpros team to oppose them, and Duurly’s was thus awarded the victory, and went on to the championship final.
In both those two previous instances, the controversy and team withdrawal from the competition occurred at or near the end of the competition, which, although causing disappointment to fans, did not affect the whole schedule of games which had already been played in the season. Matters were dealt with in the off-season, and when the next season came around, fans were back to see their favorite teams compete.
What has transpired recently in this inaugural season of the new Belize Elite Basketball League (BEBL), which succeeds the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL), is very regrettable and runs the risk of spoiling a whole season of basketball competition, because a major controversy has erupted at the very start of the tournament, and involves two of the pre-season favorites, at that.
It is to be presumed that there were well-researched and structured by-laws in the former NEBL as well as in the new BEBL, which, as we have been informed, only involved a name change of the league and a new commissioner, as Christopher McGann has succeeded Karim Juan, who now coaches the Western Ballaz franchise, and was the major spokesman for a group of BEBL teams in the controversy surrounding the supposed double-signing of Belizean American player Kirk Smith, Jr. (6’7’’) with the Belize Hurricanes after he had reportedly signed with the Belize City Defenders.
For the game, the fans are the most important to be considered by teams and clubs in competition; but the pride and principles of teams and clubs on rare occasions move them to make really painful decisions, like forfeiting a match or withdrawing from competition for what they deem are very good reasons, and which their fans will understand when they get their side of the story. No competitive team/club relishes the idea of enduring a loss voluntarily, or withdrawing and giving up their chance to win a championship. Both the Happy Homebuilders and Milpros teams/clubs sacrificed their chance at a championship; were confident that their fans would understand their stand on principle; and most importantly, neither of these teams/clubs took their grievances outside the arena of the respective sporting body. Both eventually returned to the sport and again contended for a championship.
What has transpired so far in this BEBL controversy is very concerning, because the season has only just gotten underway, and paying fans have had to leave the Civic venue disappointed in a very well advertised and promoted basketball game that was aborted in the first quarter.
It’s a tough spot for young Mr. McGann, BEBL commissioner. Fans want to see basketball, and the quality of play of most teams so far is very promising for a potentially great season. But it is up to the league’s leadership to clear up this mess with urgency. While our whole society seems to be struggling with lawlessness, sports, because of its irresistible allure, is an area where our youth, sportsmen and fans, should all get an opportunity to learn to “play by the rules.” The law is the law; who bex, bex! And if the law needs to be changed, there is a way to do that too.
This weekend, when the Belize Hurricanes are slated to host the Belize City Defenders at the Civic Center, there will be a test of BEBL’s leadership. This basketball season will either fly high with much excitement for eager fans, or it may crumble in confusion. If it soars to higher heights, much of the success will likely be attributed to the powerhouse Belize Hurricanes franchise and their aggressive promotion; but if the season crashes, much of the blame will also fall on the Hurricanes. Let’s be positive and say, “The BEBL is ‘one big familee’!” Play ball!!