By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 2, 2022 — Zac Rogers, who according to his Facebook page studied at The University of Oklahoma and lives in Shawnee, Oklahoma, posted a collection of photos on Facebook with this brief narrative: “Freeport + 8 Mile Rock 2022. Words can’t describe. Buddy’s changing a nation and it’s incredible to watch.”
Although he lives in Oklahoma, I am assuming that Mr. Rogers is a Bahamian, and I fully agree with his conclusion that “Buddy’s changing a nation and it’s incredible to watch.”
At a time when far-too-many young men in The Bahamas are making life-destructive decisions by taking a wrong turn at a crossroad in their lives, Chavano “Buddy” Hield’s annual Basketball Camp and Clinic more likely than not has over the years deterred many of its participants from entertaining thoughts of embarking on a life of crime and possibly long-term confinements at Fox Hill Prison.
Buddy has unquestionably been an exceptional role model for them, having overcome the challenges of growing up in poverty as a young boy in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, and through grit and perseverance today is a superstar in the National Basketball Association.
Now in its eighth year, Buddy’s annual Basketball Camp and Clinic, officially opened at the Jack Hayward High School in Freeport on Wednesday, July 27.
The Hon. Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama, who was the guest speaker during the opening ceremony, praised the Buddy Hield Foundation for having demonstrated its commitment to nurturing athletes in The Bahamas, adding that the foundation fully deserve the support of the government and the Bahamian people.
“This is one of the reasons that the new unit with my ministry, Collab, partnerships for development, will collaborate with organizations like these for best impact,” said Minister Moxey.
“In my previous life, as a founder of a non-profit organization, Buddy, his family and I worked together on other camps to assist young Bahamians,” said Minister Moxey. “As the Minister for Grand Bahama we will continue to collaborate on projects that impact our people and our community.”
Minister Moxey applauded Buddy “for his love and dedication to the people of Grand Bahama and The Bahamas and since we are both originally from Eight Mile Rock, I am even more elated to support the work that Buddy is doing, as we collaborate on making Grand Bahama grand again.”
Minister Moxey reminded the campers of Buddy’s pride as a proud Bahamian who has never forgotten his roots, using the global platform available to him to tell his inspirational story of his upbringing, his mother’s love and dedication and of those who supported him along the way.
“As an accomplished NBA player and son of the Eight Mile Rock soil, Buddy carries the 242 in his spirit wherever he goes and we, as Bahamians, carry our beloved Buddy Hield deep inside our hearts,” said Minister Moxey. “I am thankful to the Buddy Hield Foundation for the outstanding works it has done and continues to do in our communities.”
She added: “Initiatives like this camp are near and dear to me, because it creates a safe environment for our youth, where they can be active and sharpen their athletic skills. This basketball camp gives young people a place to thrive and an opportunity to absorb valuable knowledge and insight from our very own superstar who has accomplished so much and who consistently gives back.”
Given increasing success that Bahamians are having in professional sports, the government should as a matter of policy encourage other Bahamian professional athletes to follow the example established by Buddy Heild in interacting with young Bahamians during the off season, not only in their sporting genre, but as guest speakers in our schools.
Although he was selected as the starting second baseman for the recent Major League Baseball All-Star game, Jazz Chisholm Jr., the outstanding Bahamian superstar with the Miami Marlins, did not play in the game. However, he was interviewed during coverage of the game held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles by Kevin Burkhardt, alongside baseball icons David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, and Frank Thomas.
He was very articulate as he talked about his playing style and, of course, The Bahamas.
“I just go out there to have my kind of fun,” he noted. “I’m from The Bahamas, which is only a 30-minute flight from Miami. I feel like basically Miami and The Bahamas have the same kind of people. We just like to enjoy life, just have fun, be ourselves, and be who we want to be, so I just brought that to baseball.”
In narrative accompanying a photo I posted on Facebook of that interview, I suggested that the Ministry of Education should arrange regular speaking engagements in our public schools for Jazz, who by now has “hero status” among young male students in our public schools.
I still think this is a wonderful idea that Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario K. Bowleg, who as I have noted on more than one occasion, is doing an excellent job, should work along with Minister of Education Glenys Hanna Martin to implement during the new school year while Jazz is back home.
