Batelco Radars back In spotlight with noble gestures to stalwarts

Wed, Apr 2nd 2014, 11:19 AM

I remember quite well, the period during the 1960s when the Batelco Radars was one of the best softball teams in the country. It was a pivotal era. The ethnic gap in the game of softball was about to be totally bridged. Traditional softball competition at Garfunkel Field, that saw the participation of few black players, was transforming into league play at the new John F. Kennedy Drive Park.
Prior to that change, the Southern Recreation Grounds (now Cannon William Thompson Park) was where a large number of black players performed. On Sundays, the Southern Recreation Grounds (SRG) was one of the main venues of activities for black athletes.
At the same time, many of them were playing cricket or soccer at Clifford Park, Windsor Park or St. George's Park. The SRG enjoyed that kind of popularity and the Radars were the softball darlings of the time. The top players evolved as stars, household names. When visiting the SRG, most often, fans watched Brian "Boldie" Gibson, the last of the great underhand delivery specialists.
He was the star pitcher of the Radars. Then, there was Russell Franks who was an avid athlete and a bit of a socialite. He was one of the original Radars. The peers of Gibson and Franks included Anthony "Boots" Weech, Keith "Muggins" Archer and Audley "Congo" Williams, who also thinks of himself as one of the better whist players in the country. Well, the jury remains out on that one.
They were a part of the catalyst group that contributed to etching the name Batelco Radars into Bahamian softball history.
A few years behind the aforementioned stalwarts but significant, nevertheless, to the tradition of the Radars, was Charles "Chuck" Mackey. The 1960s and 1970s were special decades in the development of softball in the country. The Radars, through the outreach connections of it players, had much to do with the expansion of softball into commercial and recreational play.
These days, Williams is still as boastful as ever, Weech remains quiet but profound and Muggins forever the supreme unionist, all of them still in love with the game of softball. Boldie gave us a scare a while ago. He was fading rapidly, but through the power of the Almighty, he is back, seemingly as vibrant as ever.
The same can't be said for Franks and Mackey. They are both facing challenges and are greatly incapacitated in comparison to the active individuals we once knew.
It was thus a fitting gesture, when the Radars decided to pay tribute to their colleagues. Weech first mentioned the plan to me and I thought it a great idea. This past weekend a social bash was held at the home of Archer, in Imperial Park, and it was a great reunion of Radars, honoring two of their very own.
This is a special moment in time in Bahamian sports history.
More and more, organizations are recognizing the importance of connecting the generations by bringing back into the spotlight those who made a positive sports difference. Now, a little bit more is known about Franks and Mackey.
Best wishes to them!
o To Respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

 Sponsored Ads