Sir. Garfield Sobers , The Caribbean's Ultimate Talent
The Caribbean Is One Nation.
There is, or at least was, a picture of Sir Garfield Sobers,
in the hall of the Bay Primary School, located in Bayville that most of us will
recall was once called Bay Land. The striking aspect of the picture is that Sir
Garry is standing there with bat in hand it and appears to us that he is
batting slightly outside the leg stump. In other words, all of his stumps are
exposed. Many young boys have stared at this picture for years trying to figure
out how Sir Garry could “move so fast” to avoid his stumps being uprooted. In
those days, we argued whether that stance was genuine or if it was done merely
for the cameras.
by William Skinner
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| Sir Garfield Sobers |
This photo, for me, began
a fascination with this great man which has grown throughout the passing years.
As a frequent visitor to one of my greatest friends Mike, who lived in
Walcott’s Avenue, Bayville, I actually grew up knowing where Sir Garry lived
and as time went on, I got to know his mother, sister and brother. So in my
little way, I felt extremely honored to tell people, up to this day, that I not
only attended the same school as Sir Garry but knew where he lived and could
easily identify members of his family including nephews and nieces.
However, it was an encounter with an Indian gas station owner
in The USA that drove home the admiration that others had for Sir Garry. After
my purchase, the gas station owner asked me where I was from and my answer elicited
the response: “You from Barbados; that is where Garfield Sobers is from.” The
ensuing conversation went on for almost twenty five minutes. When I told him that
I went to the same school as Sir Garry; knew where his family home was and has
seen him driving around and actually had very brief conversations with him, the
gentleman acted as if I were Sir Garry! He enjoyed the conversation so much
that I had to decline his offer to give me back the money I paid for my
gasoline. For him, having met somebody who had the slightest real connection to
Sir Garry, was almost as good as meeting the great man himself.
I drove away from that station, very proud to be an old Bay
Primary boy and grateful that one of my best friends lived on the same avenue
as Sir Garry. Throughout the years, when I related this story to others from
any part of the world, the esteem in which Sir Garry is held has always amazed
me. I am also of the opinion, that we
have never truly utilized or recognized the greatness of this humble extremely
pleasant and polite National Hero.
He is perhaps the only sports man whose exceptional talents
have not been surpassed by any in his sport and who remains unchallenged as the
greatest all round cricketer to have ever played the game. It is therefore fitting
that the government has included Sir Garry and the attainment of his eightieth
birthday in our fiftieth independence celebrations.
Sir Garry has walked with Kings and Queens but has never lost
the common touch. The entire Caribbean region
has not produced any citizen who has displayed such excellence, in his or her
chosen field, and whose talents have not been surpassed.
Happy eightieth birthday, Sir Garry.
William Skinner is a social commentator
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