Noted sports figure Martin Lundy recently forwarded me a document entitled "The Untold Story of the Two Toms", and I felt compelled, for the purpose of history, to do a detailed review. Let it be emphasized that Lundy is well qualified to present a view of the two legends who departed this life recently. The long-time Director of Sports in this country has meaningful status as an athlete. He was a star high school track athlete. He performed efficiently from the mile-1,500 meters (m) to the short sprints. He was a steady player on the front line in basketball. Lundy was a rugged power forward who would mix it up with anyone. In fact, he loved the contact down low. He brought that same intensity and knowledge to his job as the nation's sports director and the national program is better off as a result.
His comparison of the two Toms is on point. The second name given to Thomas Robinson was Augustus, so fitting for one who could have been a biblical character. Indeed, Robinson carried that dignified aura throughout his 74 years of life this side of eternity. He was forever the diplomat, ready to mediate and reach a common ground on any issue. He was calm in the most extreme of situations, but the competitive fire burned and he was a dangerous athlete in the trenches of battles against opposing runners for well over a decade. They gave Tom Grant, the second name of Wilfredo. Grant certainly looked the part of a dark Latin. He was fiery and flamboyant. Those are features of people from Latin America. Grant had that flair which made him stand out. You always knew when "The Bird" or "Berutti" was in the house.
While Robinson was conservative and fundamental, Grant was outgoing and his stylish ways upstaged his tremendous athletic talents. Nevertheless, despite the character differences, none had a greater desire to succeed than Tommy Robinson and Tom Grant. Lundy has this perspective: "In the minds of the unaware, the uninitiated or those finding bliss in bias, grave suspicion ought rightly be attached to any effort seeking linkages between the epic contributions made to national development by the late Thomas Augustus Robinson the cosmopolitan, and those by the late Thomas Wilfredo "The Bird" Grant, a severe urbanite. Be that as it may, and in spite of their individual distinctions, these two Toms were connected through their successes at cultivating young champions locally and advancing the flag of The Bahamas internationally.
"Just 10 days separated the mortal conclusion of both Toms, both (around the time) of this country's National Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the Class of 2012. Rightfully, both Toms are prominent members of that institution and while they may be considered good material for a study in contradiction, these were two of the icons who presided over the dawn of the new age in Bahamian track and field in 1957," Lundy wrote. Yes indeed, on the one hand, they were markedly different. Robinson easily moved through life, almost caressing all that he touched. He seemed always refined and polished, the one parents wanted their daughters to meet and their sons to hang out with. His athletic peers admired him and were inspired by his graceful ways.
Although they wanted to get the better of him in competition, it seemed that local opposing runners didn't really mind, for the most part, being beaten by Tommy Robinson. With Grant, it was a lot about "watching" him. "Watch that Grant boy" no doubt were words that came off the lips of many mothers as Grant was growing up in the 'Over-The-Hill' inner city of Bain Town. You appreciated the value of being associated with Grant. However, his demeanor was such that one remained on guard, often not knowing exactly what his reaction would be. Opposing runners wanted to beat him into the ground. The year was 1966. Robinson no longer ran the half lap sprint. A young Kevin Johnson, a product of The Pond in the out east district was a hot commodity out of Attucks High in Florida.
He came home that summer with great fanfare. Grant seethe with annoyance. "This young boy was favored to beat him." He would show them all that "Berutti" was still the man for the 200 meters. Well, it was not his day. Johnson breezed by him in the home stretch and won going away. To this day, Johnson considers that victory one of the most satisfying in an iconic sprinting career, particular as a junior. He wanted to beat Grant badly. The two, for years, carried on a banter whenever they met about that day of reckoning at the St. Augustine's College (SAC) track in Fox Hill.
Grant caused his rivals to respond that way. Robinson was different, but no matter the case, the utmost respect was given always to both for the competitive spirit in them. Here's another viewpoint of Lundy's: "Indeed, Robinson was patrician in style and pedigreed from his father, Cyril, renown on the Eastern Parade of his day for sprinting duals against the country's fastest sprinters in the early years of the 1900s. Among these top echelon merchants of speed were Sir Etienne Dupuch, Peter Haven, Charlie Major Sr., Ned Isaacs, George Aranha and Edwin Davies. That Tom possessed a prolific work ethic and was driven by the self-motivation founded on a system he termed the four Ds (Desire, Determination, Dedication and Discipline).
He was also a member and early beneficiary of the rich heritage of St. George's Sporting Club, an elite and unquestionably the most prolific organization in the history of Bahamian sports. In his formative years, this Tom was a multi-sport athlete before concentrating his talents on track and field under the tutelage of Henry Crawford, formerly a horse trainer. Both tutor and athlete were to become members of the Pioneers Track and Field Club, an offshoot of St. George's Club. "Tom 'The Bird' Grant's legacy is just as compelling but unlike Robinson, he was evocative, emotive and extravagant in his flamboyance, projecting a persona reflective of his genetics which he inherited from his mother Julia, a dancer from the United States.
His essence was further shaped by Blanche, his grandmother and legal guardian, and by his neighborhood in the heart of Bain Town, Three Peas Corner to be exact. In his formative years under the mentorship of Catholic priest Fr. Marcian Peters, O.S.B., founder of St. Bernard's Sporting Club, this Tom concentrated his talents on track and field before blossoming into a multi-sport athlete with St. Bernard's archrival of Robinson's St. George's (later the Pioneers Track Club). Isn't it incredibly interesting, this story of the two Toms, untold like this before? The second in the series of this review of Lundy's document will be published tomorrow in The Nassau Guardian.
• To respond to this feature, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com.
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