Date Posted:Tuesday July 03 2007 Author: Vereance Burrows and Inoa Charlton (sigh tsk tsk) Author Host/IP: NoHost / 64.150.215.189 Subject: Congrats and give it a rest
since no one else wants to say it, congratulations to ALL swimmers that participated at the CCCAN games, it was the most medals Bahamas has ever received at any CCCAN.
In response to useless ranting by CCCAN parent, give it a rest, the 15-17 boys incident. One simple wave to the crowd has somehow turned to a story where everyone apparently danced on the blocks, waved to the crowd on every flip turn, swam slow, convinced the younger swimmers to do the same and destroyed team morale. Sadly, this is the story that made its way home. The CCCAN referees did not punish the team nor disqualify the relay, so obviously it wasn't that big of a deal to them and anyone else. The issue has BEEN dead and we continued with the meet smoothly. Its just a small group of people keeping it alive, making it grow and dragging it along.
We knew it would only be a matter of time before a parent ran to this message board. Speaking as assistant coaches for the CCCAN trip ( as Mr Bell appointed Teisha Vereance and noa )I feel as if this matteris gettig blown up wayyyy to much and taken to far. Yes the boys did something very stupid and were told off by several parents and the coach and even by me after the race. If the people at CCCAN are over it and even Mr Bell why is this still an issue ??? Do you wish to suspend the boys from swimming forever or something ???? There is too much politics in swimming. The fact that the news about the relay traveled so fast back home is beyond us. The boys admitted they were wrong and said they were sorry and the issue should be over......talking about the 15-17 boys must be dealt with wow...lets not live in the past parents and look towards the future. If your child gets a bad grade in school would you still taunt them about it after they already learn they lesson and its a DEAD issue ?????
We are very fortunate to have a doctor to sacrifice his time to travel to foreign countries to make sure we say in stable health. I know everytime I have traveled with the team, something has happened to me and I had to be saved by the team Doctor. Sometime before we even get sick, Dr. Lightbourne knows our history so well, he is able to treat us properly early. For example, he can name all the swimmers who have weak stomachs, asthma, or sinus problems etc. Changing a Doctor wouldn't hurt, but the reason to do so is petty like most of the anonymous message.
And you could not end your message any better with no excuse for an adult to interfere with a swimmer. That includes YOU parents. Majority of you know NOTHING about swimming and your gossip in the stands about other swimmers, coaches and staff only hurts and divides the team. I am speaking from experience. Leave swimming to the swimmers, coaching to the coaches, doctoring to the actual person who spent as many years as your child has been alive learning how to keep your child healthy for a week.
Once again, Congrats to all, and to the girls, you did well as a relay team, don't let anyone tell you different or let politics get in between us as a team. Leave all this squawking to those who choose to be ignorant, let us continue swimming with our ears closed as we have for years. its just sad that the kids have to see this behavior, unlike us seniors who have already become numb to such foolishness. Who has more influence on the kids anyway, parents or a team member that waved to the crowd?
