|-- THE BEST SPORTS DEBATE IN BERMUDA --|

The Game

Don Burgess
Guatemalan ref Carlos Batres came in for a lot of flak for his alleged transgressions against Bermuda in the World Cup qualifier against Trinidad. Looking back at the videotape, Josh Ball of the RG, says that Whitley didn't get two yellow cards. Added to that, it was the fourth official who is to blame for allowing the sub to come onto the field as Batres didn't okay it. Mind you, it's still an officiating goof, it isn't Batres fault though.
Trinidad were deserved winners of the match, but Bermuda can be proud that we almost eliminated them.
The team is still fairly young with only three players in their 30s - Meshak Wade, Tim Figureido and captain Omar Shakir - so it is a good nucleus to build upon for future campaigns, including the Digicel Cup in August.

The 5,000!

By James Whittaker
Bermuda will be roared on by more than 5,000 fans in Sunday's World Cup clash with Trinidad.
The BFA has been given permission by FIFA to increase the capacity of the National Stadium by 700.
The extra tickets will go on sale from 10am tomorrow at the BFA's office on Cedar Avenue..
That means there will be the biggest crowd ever for a Bermuda home game.
It should be a cracking atmosphere on Sunday. Let's hope everyone makes some noise and creates an intimidating atmosphere for the travelling Soca Warriors. Trinidad are still the favourites and the Bermuda team needs all the help from the stands that it can get.
If Bermuda do get through, more mouthwatering clashes against the likes of USA and Cuba await.
My (slightly optimistic) prediction: 1-1 and Bermuda to advance. Anyone else?

Half-way there

Don Burgess
There's been a lot of crying in Trinidad over the past few days after Bermuda 'humiliated' the Soca Warriors 2-1 on Sunday. Comments in the Trinidad Express and on Socawarriors.net have really put down the fine effort of Bermuda's football team. Several called our players 'pudgy' or all we did was "defend and counterattack."
Calls have gone out to fire the Trinidad coach. Let's hope that we can make their dreams come true by beating Trinidad again this Sunday.

Smoking weed — the new national sport?

By Lionel Cann
Smoking dope has become the national sport in Bermuda.
If we really want to increase the number of players available for the national team and get guys to training, we need to do something about the drug problem in this country.
We’ve heard more talk this week about the number of players not turning out for the national squad and as someone who has been around cricket my whole life I can tell you the biggest problem is marijuana.
If we could stop people smoking weed we would have triple the amount of players available.
It’s a serious social issue and it’s something we really need to address. If you can’t give up marijuana to play for your country and reach the pinnacle of your sport then you have a serious, serious problem.
I know for a fact that there are a lot of players who won’t give up weed to play for their country. It’s crazy.
Kids as young as 13 and 14 are getting hooked on it.
If we invested money into educating people and stopping the country’s marijuana problem it would do more for sport than anything.
We’ve had this problem for years and we have turned a blind eye to it but we can’t turn a blind eye any more because it’s right there infront of us every day.
Every football match you go to, every cricket game you go to, you have the scent of marijuana.
You can’t hide from it because it’s everywhere you go.

Kenwyne Jones injury — let's not celebrate

Don Burgess
The picture of Kenwyne Jones lying in agony in the Bermuda Sun can stir many emotions in Bermuda football fans.
Coach Kenny Thompson told the Sun: "You never wish anything bad on a player, no matter how important they are to the opposition...I won't be sitting here hoping he's injured."
Okay, so we won't be breaking out the party hats, but Jones' injury does make Bermuda's task of pulling off an upset of beating Trinidad a little easier in its World Cup Qualifiers on June 15 and 22.
We'd want to beat Trinidad's best team, but deep down many Bermuda fans are secretly happy that Jones will be one less obstacle to worry about.