BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 16, 2020– In these dread times of the novel coronavirus pandemic, there is talk of the possible resumption of some sports without the fans. Of course, a strong current of feeling is that, “it could never be the same;” but that’s a given in these serious times, so anything is possible. If the only choice is between “games of death” with Covid-19 still a threat, and games without fans in attendance, what would you choose?

In the “good old days” of not so long ago, there were no restrictions; and not only were fans a force at football games because of their sheer numbers, vocal energy and enthusiasm, but on quite a few occasions in the past, certain fans were more than spectators at the games, and we would like to reflect on some of those, and hopefully shake up some more memories among our readers.

Aside from those artists of the game that lighted up the MCC for us in the early 60s (and before that at Edwards Park, now Rogers Stadium), there were always among the legions of fans a few personalities who brought their own brand of entertainment on the sidelines and in the bleachers at football games. Full of flair, opinions and “braggadosho,” they commanded their own space and attention, so that no game was ever boring. If the action was not smoking hot on the field, they filled the gap for fans in the stands and on the sidelines with their unique style of antics, acrobatics and vocal outbursts and exchanges with anyone willing to engage.

From the 60s, I recall the one “Rabbi Dead” (Robert Flowers) who talked the whole game with an unfinished Guinness Stout, his badge of honor, hanging from his fingertips. During that period also there was “The Hawk” (Mr. Burns), a BEC mule-and-cart deliveryman (Phone #3674, if I recall correctly, proudly displayed on his cart) during weekdays, whose powerful voice on Sunday afternoons didn’t actually need the bull horn he employed to chant the name of his BEC team, “the inter-continental ballistic Missiles.”

From the latter 60s and 70s, I remember “Peely,” a waterfront stalwart with a very powerful voice in a small compact frame, who was a die-hard Lake and Berger-404 fan. Then there was “Crucific,” who would flash a handful of twenties as he circled the field perimeter challenging anyone to bet against his team, whether it was Chitos Rangers, or some other team as he later moved up north.

In the 80s we had “Stamma,” decked out in his robe with a cigar in his mouth, as he “smoked puro” inside the goal of his opponent before a game against his Duurly’s team.
And there were others.

With the destruction of the zinc-roofed cool and comfortable set of western bleachers at the MCC by Hurricane Greta in 1978, the coziness and camaraderie of fans has diminished, as they tend to be scattered around the field, the main cement bleacher to the north-west lacking a roof, and thus not having the inviting atmosphere for development of the type of fan culture enjoyed in times past.

But when the ‘ballers were really “bringing it,” the fan entertainers had to keep their seats, lest they themselves miss out on the action.