SPORTS SECTION E
FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025
Bahamians to get National Honours By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
F
our Bahamian National Basketball Association players, a WNBA player, a Major League Baseball player, a quarter-miler and several women softball players and a bowler were on the list conferred by the Bahamas Government for the 2025 National Honours. The list was released by the office of Governor General, Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt from Government House, but no indication was made as to when and where they will receive their awards. A number of Bahamians were named to the list,
NO.1 RANKED SABALENKA UPSET AT WIMBLEDON – PAGE 5
BUDDY HIELD
JAZZ CHISHOLM JR
JONQUEL JONES
DEANDRE AYTON
but following are some of the top personalities who stood out. Heading the list for the Order of Distinction Companion award are Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield of the Golden State Warriors and Deandre Ayton, who just signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, along with Grand Bahamian Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty in the WNBA and Major Leaguer Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr of the New York Yankees. They were made Order of Distinction for Companion, along with Abaco’s Olympian and world champion Steven Gardiner in the men’s 400 metres, Daniel Strachan, longtime commodore of the National Family Island Regatta in George Town, Exuma, Natasha Miller of the Royal Bahamas
Defence Force and a member of the women’s national basketball team. The Order of The Bahamas for Companion awards went to Olympian Leslie Osbourne Miller, Grand Bahama’s International Softball Federation’s Hall of Famer Neko Grant, the late former baseball player turned Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Peter John Bernard Bethell and the late Director of Sports Winston “Gus” Cooper. Among those named as officers were the late boxer Ernest “The Androsian Tiger” Barr and Warren Seymour, who played a pivotal role in the formation of the Bahamas Chess Federation. Another boxer, Quincy “Thrill-A-Minute” Pratt, who had three epic bantamweight and lightweight title fights with the late Ray Minus Jr, was named
as a Companion for the Order of Merit. Receiving the Member award were Arnold “Bain Boy” Bain, a former track athlete and basketball player who eventually served as a former president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation and Athama Bowe, a former commissioner of the Bahamas Baseball Association. Named to the Order of Lignum Vitae are NBA players Kai Jones, who is now with the Dallas Mavericks and Bimini’s Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe Jr, who was just chosen with the number three pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Among those receiving the Distinctive Service Medal are female softball players Alice “Snowball” Wells, Barbara Knowles, Grand Bahamian Candice McGregory, the late Cherly
Turnquest, the late Cyprianna McKinney, Daisy Walker-Hanson, Deborah Forbes, Denise Reckley, Ernestine Butler-Stubbs, Florence Rolle, Grand Bahamian coach Godfrey “Gully” Pinder, Janett Pratt, Karen “Kay” Moxey, Linda Ford, Mynez CargillSherman, Naomi Ellis, Nell Wildgoose, Oria WoodKnowles and manager Sidney “Bobby Baylor” Fernander. The softball players/ coaches were among the members of the women’s national softball team that was ranked at number three in the world in the 1970s. Also named in that category was Grand Bahamian Monique Leary, one of the top female bowlers, who went on to become the first female president of the Bahamas Bowling Federation.
Chisholm Jr, Page 8
SOUTHERN RECREATION GROUNDS BASKETBALL CAMP TURNS HEADS By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net EVERY year since its inception in 1992, the Southern Recreation Grounds Basketball Camp has attracted a number of players who are eager to learn how to play the game. And the instructors are just enthused about imparting their knowledge to the players. The camp, spearheaded by Brent Young, started on July 31 and is scheduled to wrap up on August 1 with sessions being held during the week. “We’ve been holding this camp for the past 32 years and some of the parents, who participated in the camp, are now bringing their children to participate,” Young said. The camp is being held in conjunction with the Bain and Grants Town Urban Renewal. Participants, who are attending the summer camp at CR Walker Secondary High, come over to the basketball court to participate in the basketball camp on their break. On any given day, Young said they cater to more than 50 campers. They also are working with Member of Parliament Wayde Watson, who is putting on a summer programme for the community. “We also have persons from within the community, who come out and speak to the campers on violence prevention, conflict resolution and drug and mental health. “We try to use the people in our community to show the youngsters that they can be just like them,” Young
SEE PAGE E4
MAR BUOYS AND Fred ‘Papa’ Smith inspiring BAHA GULLS REPRESENT THE next generation through his BAHAMAS WITH PRIDE free annual baseball camp THE Bahamas Dragon Boat Federation’s (BDBF) historic participation of the nation’s first-ever Club Crew Team at the 2025 Pan American Club Crew Championships went very well in Montreal, Canada. This marks a major milestone for The Bahamas as the team makes its international club crew debut, competing among the top paddlers from across the Americas. The Baha Mar Buoys and Gulls, the pioneering team
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN dual sports legend Fred “Papa” Smith continues to give back, inspiring the next generation through his free annual baseball camp. The camp started on July 7 at the Archdeacon William Thompson Park at the Southern Recreation Grounds and will run through the end of the month. “The camp is going really well,” said Smith during Wednesday’s session before they broke for the Independence celebrations. “We have about 20 youngsters. So it’s going great.” Smith, who played professional baseball in the minor league and could have played basketball if he wanted to, said he was delighted to share his expertise to the youngsters in attendance. “We have some good tools, but the players just have to stick with it and work,” Smith pointed out. “They just have to keep working at it.” But in order for the campers to get any level
endorsed by the BDBF, represented The Bahamas with determination, pride and unity. “We are incredibly proud to see our athletes take the international stage,” said Van Kei Lok-Tong, president of the BDBF. “This is more than just a race – it is a demonstration of how far the sport has come in our country and the immense talent and commitment of our local paddlers.”
SEE PAGE E2
THE SPORTS CALENDAR
CAMPERS take advantage of Fred “Papa” Smith’s free annual baseball camp which got started on July 7 at the Archdeacon William Thompson Park, Southern Recreation Grounds. of success from the camp, Smith said it’s imperative that they develop a sense of discipline. “We have to have that discipline. I’m teaching the fundamentals of baseball, but in teaching them the fundamentals of baseball, they will understand that
this is what they will go through in life. You will win some and you will lose some.” He further noted that the campers also have to handle conflicts, especially with them coming in from different communities with different personalities.
The camp caters to youngsters between the ages of seven and 17 years with sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays held from 9:30am to noon, while on Tuesday and Thursday, they go from
SEE PAGE E6
PEACE ON DA STREET FAMILY NIGHT PLANS are underway for the staging of the Peace on Da Streets’ Basketball Classics’ Road to 30 years of existence. The event, being organised by the Hope Center under the theme “Shooting hoops instead of guns,” is slated to be held from July 14-19 at
July
the Michael ‘Scooter’ Reid Basketball Center. The highlight of the event will be the Family Night, scheduled for Sunday, July 20 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when the finals in all of the divisions will take place, starting at 3pm. There will also be the Mr Ship It Three-point shootout and the Joe’s
SEE PAGE E2