Hey Fatty Boom Boom

Well it’s official. My 11 days in an all-inclusive paradise has resulted in me being the combined weight of Barry White and Demis Roussos. These guys may have been morbidly obese but at least they could hold a note. The only thing I can hold is several large chicken kebabs simultaneously. I swore an oath to myself that I would not become a stereotypical Englishman abroad at an all-inclusive establishment and eat my bodyweight every half an hour. So much for broken promises, I am eating like a condemned man who has been given the dubious request of having anything he wants for his last meal before being strapped to the Electric Chair and cooked himself. You see these US prison documentaries where the killer – who has normally murdered his whole family and some – always seem to have the same dietary requirements. It’s a variation on burgers, fries, fried chicken, steak, washed down with coke (personally, I would politely ask for a triple rum with the coke considering the circumstances) and an ice-cream dessert. For me the only thing that’s condemned is my waistline. I soon won’t be able to fit into any chair electric or otherwise if I don’t rein in my elephantine appetite. Roll on Friday when I return. It’s Slimfast, Ryvita biscuits and stomach crunches for the rest of the year.

BAYRAM

Last Tuesday was the first day of the Bayram Festival across Turkey, which lasts for nine days. My understanding from the locals is that in this period you sacrifice a lamb and other animals as a gift to the poor and disadvantaged. It’s a form of charity giving. I could not help reflecting on this national celebration whilst watching the England versus Poland match. Roy Hodgson would have been the “sacrificial lamb” for the British press if England did not win and qualify automatically for the 2014 World Cup. Finally, England played to their potential and really did not look in any trouble throughout the match. I thought Hodgson was brave and innovative in his team selections especially the picking of Andros Townsend. I suppose the manager is right to play down English prospects at next year’s tournament. But not me! The side have as much chance of winning the competition as any other European team. You first heard it here folks – England will win the World Cup (most probably beating Brazil 2-1 in the final). I am so confident that I am going to put a monkey on (£500) an England victory. Unlike those poor lambs giving their last rites during the Bayram Festival – my monkey will still be in very rude health with a World Cup winners medal draped around its neck come Sunday 13 July in the iconic and newly built Maracana stadium.

Disco - The End Of A Beautiful Affair

The 17 October 2013 may well go down in the annuals of night clubbing history. It’s the date I have decided to hang up my Jam shoes, put away my tailored-made Egyptian cotton disco shirt and retire my dance moves to the Bournemouth Retirement Home for Disco Dances. Before doing so I am determined have my dance moves (that I like to think have inspired a generation of like-minded clubbers)copyrighted. I don’t want some upstart in 20 years hence purloining my painstakingly choreographed moves (hours practised in front of mum’s mirror) for his or her own benefit. Why you say that specific date. Well to answer your question it is my last full day in Bodrum, Turkey. I think its fitting almost poetic that I dance my final night away on foreign soil as my innovated dance crazies have brought pleasure and enlightened many across the globe. I am returning to the biggest open club in Europe the Halikarnas Nightclub. My first time was less than auspicious. It was there I fell victim to two 50 something ladies from Germany. Hansel and Gretal as I now referred to them, wanted to perform acts on me which a porn actor would decline in the strongest terms. The universal question which has grappled, befuddled and stumped philosophers over a millennium is when are you too old for disco. Similar to sporting icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Maradonna and Muhammad Ali, I may have carried on a few more years than I should of possibly damaging my well-earned legacy in the process. I suppose you have inkling when the Gods of disco signal its time to moonwalk towards the exit, when you are smooching with a gorgeous woman who afterwards introduces you to her mother who is even younger than you are. Thanks Charlotte and mother Debra for showing me a great time. Moreover, it knocks your confidence when the Turkish locals keep referring to you not as Lewis Hamilton but as the Formula One’s dad. Its time to take up other pursuits befitting my age - lawn bowling and croquet should be right up my street.

Turks Love Their Football

My aim last Friday was to watch the England match at 10pm Turkish time and then stroll down Bar Street in Gumbet, dancing the night away in celebration of an England thrashing of Montenegro. I readied myself to venture down Bar Street until I located a suitable Irish theme pub to view the match. There must be an Irish theme pub in every street in every part of the globe. If there was a nuclear holocaust the only thing that would survive would be cockroaches and Irish theme pubs. However, what curtailed my plans was the hotel’s animation team. All were fervent supporters of the Turkish team. They persuaded me that the England match was a forgone conclusion with England easily routing the opposition. The more pulsating affair would be the Turkish match between Estonia. Convinced, I stayed at the hotel hoping they were right. It was not just the animation team, managers, bar staff, front desk receptionists, cooks, waiters, anybody that wasn’t working in those two hours were crammed into the hotel conference suite to watch Turkey’s crucial world cup qualifier. The problem I had was the commentary which was not surprisingly in Turkish. In reality the pictures along with the facial and body contortions, the screams of delight and anguish from the hotel’s employees was enough to give you a good gage if Turkey was doing well or not. The place erupted when the second goal went in to secure a two nil victory for Turkey. A beautiful woman who vaguely resembled actress Sophia Loren was unable to contain her emotions and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. That was the best result of the night for me! The animation team and I celebrated the win feasting on Turkish Delight and Efes (the local beer). I was delighted for my Turkish brethren, which was made even sweeter when I knew that England swept away Montenegro as rightly predicted. Looking forward to watching both teams at next year’s World Cup.

Black Boris Becker of Bodrum

Since the emergence of Scottish wonder Andy Murray I have taken an active interest in tennis. So much so I even paid for private lessons. I now consider myself a player of modest ability. Therefore, I was pleased that the Bodrum resort had a number of tennis courts. Great, I thought. I would bring my racquet with me and play a few friendly games with fellow travellers. No such luck. All the courts were monopolised by German holidaymakers. The Dutch, the English and even the Russians did not have a look-in. I turned up on court, racquet in hand ready to play, but was turned away. It was only the misfortune of a lady who pulled her hamstring that they needed somebody, anybody to substitute for her. I was in the right place at the right time. Thankfully, the German tennis hierarchy were suitably enamoured by my serve and volley technique that I was invited to join their league. For a non-German this was a true honour. It should be noted that these guys who arrived more or less at the same time at the hotel as I, had in that short period set up three leagues of differing ability, with promotion and relegation. They were organised and took their tennis deadly seriously. These Germans had no interest in grabbing the best located sun beds by the main pool or/and beach before anybody else. They were here to play tennis from dusk till dawn. Admittedly, some were able to do both – they were the true multi-taskers. Presently, I am near the top of the third tier of the Tennis Bundesliga (as its known). My aim is to get to the holy grail of the first division. I am reasonably confident of achieving my quest. The reasons for my optimism is that almost all the players are over 55, have had numerous hip replacements between them and one even as an artificial leg (but Hans has more mobility on a tennis court than most people half his age with two legs and he is my main adversary stopping my progress to the top tier). I am fondly referred to as the black Boris Becker. I keep thinking that the only thing we have in common is our penchant for dating beautiful black women. Even that is extremely tenuous; as Boris is a trillion times more successful in that pursuit then I ever was or ever will be. Now I have to come up with a plan in beating Hans. What would be Andy Murray’s strategy in overcoming a 70 year-old one-legged German – I dread to think.

WHY DOES EVERYBODY HATE MUSLIMS?

I was invited by the guest relations manager to dine at one of the hotel’s speciality restaurants. This resort is well-known for its Turkish cuisine. My table was between two couples either side of me. Being in such close proximity it was natural that a conversation would be sparked about our stay in the resort, experiences of travelling and life back in England. One pair were in their mid-forties. They resided in High Wycombe but the man worked in London as a black cab driver whilst his wife was a stay at home mother of four daughters. The other couple were of similar age. Both were born and bred in Yorkshire and proud of it. The guy reminded me of what a typical Yorkshire man would be. Geoff Boycott, Fred Truman, Michael Parkinson and with a few Monty Python sketches on Yorkshire stereotypes thrown in the mix. The evening was going swimmingly – with all the males confessing our love for football and England’s chances of reaching the World Cup next year. For some unknown reason the topic of our conversation turned to religion and the belief that large swathes of England is being taken over by Muslims. This is not forgetting that we were presently in a Muslim country, having our chicken kebabs served by Muslim waiters. The taxi driver spat out that some parts of High Wycombe were being overran by Muslims. His wife added that now it was impossible to see her local GP due to a massive influx of foreigners in the area (mostly Muslims). Her GP was Dr Khan – the irony was lost on her. The Yorkshire man retorted that he had to move away from Bradford after the riots. He felt a foreigner in his own country. Crikey how many times have I heard that expression – more times than I have had hot Muslim curries. Then he propounded about Asian grooming gangs who preyed on vulnerable white girls. He said if that was the reverse whites exploiting Muslim girls there would riots on the streets. The other three nodded in vigorous agreement. I manfully tried to reason with them but not even the combined legal skills of Rumpole, Kavanagh QC and Perry Mason would have of stood much chance. Their minds were closed to any sensible debate or discussion. I left the table with indigestion and a little more pessimism about the future of multiculturalism in the UK. I drowned by sorrows in Baileys or at least the Turkish equivalent of it. Branded drinks are not included in the all-inclusive package. Later that night I ventured into Gumbet and hit the most popular nightspot the X-Club. Amongst the crowd I spotted the Yorkshire couple. They were bumping and grinding with the best of them. Their moves were more ghetto than Yorkshire Dales. I must say they may hate Muslims but they can certainly move their arses up north.

Bodrum - Beautiful By Day, Beastly By Night

Entering my third day in Bodrum, Turkey. Crumbs it feels like I have been here for three months rather than 72 hours. This maybe an indication of how much partying I've done in this short timeframe. For someone who is on the wrong side of forty that's rather good going if I say so myself. Even before my suitcase was delivered to my room I was already carefully planning my first night-time activity in the country. Dinner (it was Turkish theme night naturally), a few mojitos in the hotel bar before catching the bus and the 25 minute journey into Bodrum. Travelling from the airport to my four star resort you instantly recognise that this is a beautiful part of Turkey - the Aegean Coast. You undoubtedly see why millions flock across Europe and beyond to spend time soaking up what this exquisite part of Turkey has to offer. I was hoping the nightlife would leave me similarly awestruck. I was aware that the month of October the tourist season was coming to a close and the nocturnal entertainment would be sparse. Notwithstanding that, my friends told me that there was only one place to go - the infamous Halikarnas nightclub. A massive complex with a capacity of holding 3000 party people. It was Monday night turning into Tuesday morning but the club was reasonably packed with a cosmopolitan crowd. The local beer was expensive at over £3 a pint. After consuming two I was bold and confident enough to make my way smoothly onto the gargantuan dance floor. I was throwing some shapes and contorting my body in the only way that a former 'Soul Boy' from South London could do. As I was getting into my rhythm doing the butterfly, a mainstay of my dance repertoire, I was attracting some attention - unfortunately, the wrong type. My friends and family have always told me that I have an unusual gift of attracting fat middle-aged women with foreign accents. This time it was no different. The two friends from Bavaria were in their early fifties, both divorced and plainly had over indulged in sauerkraut and currywurst. Their broken English was just about audible over the sound of RnB that the DJ was bumping out. They were types who, now free of commitment from needy husbands, would jet off to the Caribbean and pay to have flings with beach boys with big you know what! These Fraulien were devoid of shame - and who would blame them. We chatted, danced - I showed them how to do the 'bump'. They were impressed. Impressed enough to make overtures to me which I politely refused. Has it come to this where I become the meat in a super sized German sandwich. Thanks but no thanks! I headed back to the hotel frustrated that I could not have bumped into Heidi Klum (Seal you lucky bastard) and her best friend Claudia Schiffer. Tucked comfortably in my double bed just before 4am, I reflected on the last 12 hours. Indeed I met two contrasting sides of Bodrum - the beautiful and the beastly.

The Travyon Martin Case And The Hyprocrisy Surrounding It



Trayvon Martin who died at the hands of George Zimmerman

My initial reaction in hearing the Not Guilty verdict from the all female jury in the George Zimmerman murder trial was one of severe disappointment but not surprise. Listening to the all the available testimony I knew in my heart that there was simply not enough evidence beyond all reasonable doubt to convict Zimmerman of manslaughter let alone second-degree murder of Trayvon Martin. The prosecution case was a poor one – muddled and confused.

However, what was interesting was the fact that both defence and prosecution tried to minimize the issue of race within the case. This was in contrast to the US mainstream media and black activists like Al Sharpton. The narrative for Sharpton and others throughout this case was racist white man (Zimmerman is of white and Hispanic heritage) profiles and murders innocent black child.

I genuinely grieve for Trayvon Martin’s parents and what they have gone through and will go through for the rest of their lives. But I equally mourn for all the other black parents who have lost their sons and daughters through the unprecedented levels of gun violence happening in African-American communities up and down the country.

Sadly, this trial would not of received wall-to-wall national media coverage if Zimmerman was black or Trayvon Martin was walking from a convenient store with his purchase of skittles and ice tea in Chicago and was unlucky enough to be caught in drive-by shooting. It would not of made the local press, black people would not be marching in protest and certainly would not of taken the interest of Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton or the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People).

The murder statistics of African-Americans is frankly grotesque. Between 1980-2008, African-Americans were six times more likely than whites to be victims of gun violence and seven times more likely to kill with guns than whites, according to the American Justice Department. African-Americans represent a mere 13% of the US population yet more than 50% of federal prisoners are black.

The question is why aren't black leaders outraged by these figures. This type of violence is played out in many inner cities in America. For instance in Chicago during the recent 4 July holiday weekend, 62 people were wounded by gun violence and 12 others killed. The holiday shooting spree raised Chicago's homicide tally to 200 for the year. Last year about 500 people were killed, and most of those killing and being killed in Chicago are black. According to the Chicago Tribune, "blacks make up about 33% of the city's population, they accounted for nearly 78% of the homicide victims through the first six months of 2012".

With the mainstream media's national attention on the Zimmerman murder trail, I think it's stunning that scant, if any, attention was given to the violence raging in Chicago or other cities across America. It seems that black Americans, have come to accept blacks killing other blacks as normal.

To me it is rank hypocrisy, when a white person (or mixed race in the case of Zimmerman) is accused of killing a black person African-Americans seem to care more. Whereas black children can be killed in there hundreds and nobody cares, no one is there to organise marches, rallies or make passionate speeches on behalf of the deceased.

I am a great admirer of President Barack Obama but in my opinion he was wrong to get involved in this case when he said, "If I had a son he'd look like Trayvon". Yet the president has been a lot less vocal on the killings in Chicago, the city from which he served as a US senator.

The awful tragedy is that black America is not offering any real solutions, to the epidemic violence gripping African-American neighbourhoods. Thus it is far easier to concentrate on cases like Trayvon Martin where racism or perceived racism can be attached and see yourself as the oppressed victim, whilst ignoring what’s happening in your own back yard.

Many commentators see the death of Trayvon Martin as a watershed for all America to have a frank discussion on the issues of racism and racial profiling in particular. For me it is nothing of the kind. It would only fall into this category if African Americans added to the debate the self-inflicted violence, which is destroying their own communities.

I have always believed that the biggest impediment holding black people back is black people. What African-Americans so desperately need are fewer self-appointed black leaders and organisations whose sole aim is to hog the media spotlight and cry racist at every available opportunity. The Travyon Martin case has been the perfect vehicle for this.

However, beyond this clarion call, these black activists and interest groups have no remedies to offer black people as a way towards greater economic prosperity and less violent lives. Regrettably, they are assisted by a black community who are in collective denial, which has resulted in an incalculable cost of lost generations of young black people who are now dead or languishing in prison.

Truth is that for every Travyon Martin there are a hundreds of other black teenagers who have met the same violent fate, but mostly at the hands of other young people of the same skin colour. It shames us all that as a black community we refuse to shine a light on this gargantuan elephant in the living room.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE



Homosexuality is a taboo subject for many black people 

 IT’s A WARM, summer evening on the common. The time is nearing 10.00pm. The park and the surrounding area are quiet and serene apart from a small patch - situated close to a disused public lavatory - where gay men, young and old furtively eye each other. Using hand signals and appropriate body language, each recognises want the other desires - physical intimacy or voyeuristic pleasure. Few words are ever spoken.

Many of the men ‘cruising’ this unassuming spot on Clapham Common, south London, come from a society and culture which regards homosexuality as an ‘abomination’ - the Afro-Caribbean community.

A regular visitor to the weekly nocturnal gathering in the park is Andy. Intelligent, handsome, black and queer, Andy knows first-hand the prejudices towards gays that are still prevalent within the black community.

Andy said: "My parents would never understand or accept me if I told them that I was gay. My father is a traditional church-going Jamaican, and I know he would never speak to me again if I told him about my sexuality."

Andy, 36, confessed that in his early twenties he thought seriously of committing suicide because of the fear of coming out to his family. "Being gay was a major part in why I nearly took my life. Looking back now it was silly. But at the time there was no one I could confide in or trust," he says.

"The mentality of a Afro-Caribbean family is so narrow-minded. If you are gay, you do not want them to find out. But you can't hide it forever as the most insignificant thing can give you away."

Andy had confided in his sister. "She was very understanding and supportive, but she advised me not to tell anyone else in the family," he said.

Unfortunately, the attitude experienced by Andy is not unusual according to the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK's leading HIV and Aids charity.

Simon Nelson, a development officer at the Trust said: "Homophobia in the wider black community is very common. There is a strong belief that black people can't be gay, but there are as many black men and women who have relationships with people of the same sex as there are in any other race or community."

Nelson highlighted the fact that black gay people frequently feel isolated and unable to talk about their sexuality, and are forced by their fears about acceptance to adopt an outwardly ‘straight’ lifestyle.

"Most of the men I try and reach are married or have girlfriends. Because of homophobia among black families, these guys would never openly identify with being gay," Nelson said.

Black and gay himself, Nelson believes that these men face explicit or more subtle homophobia in all parts of their communities, particular in black churches. He claims that the older generations of Caribbeans would take a ‘Victorian’ attitude towards sexuality, passed down through the inherited social conservatism of the Caribbean.

"The most worrying aspect, is that over a last few years a lot of homophobia in Britain is coming from young black men", says Nelson. "There is black music with homophobic lyrics. And because it isn't challenged they think it gives them the right to be homophobic."

The leading gay rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell is also been concerned about homophobic lyrics in black music. Some of the lyrics have advocated shooting and burning of gay people. He regards this as double standards.

Tatchell said: "Imagine the outcry if gay singer Elton John release a record urging the lynching of black people. But when black artists call for the extermination of gays, they get away with it."

He argues that the lyrics may not create homophobic prejudice and violence, but they validate and inflame it. "It gives a green light to bigotry. It makes disordered, maladjusted young straight men feel OK about physically venting their rage against lesbian and gay people," says Tatchell.

Well-known gay black men will not come out for fear of being ostracised. This he says, combined with the failure of black leaders to speak out on the subject has given free rein to anti-gay bigotry in many sections of the black community.

The whole premise that homophobia is rampant in the black community is contested by Ted Brown, the chairman of the Black Lesbians and Gays Against Media Homophobia.

"There maybe homophobia among certain sections of the community, although it is not necessarily broad based," he said.

Brown believes that homophobia is no worse than in any other community. He said: "I am sure if you went to predominately white communities up and down the country, the same level of homophobia would exist."

Brown felt that there was a more sinister explanation in why black people have been viewed as reactionaries when it comes to homosexuality. "This label of homophobia is an excuse for organisations not to deal with black communities and thus marginalizing an already disadvantaged community," he says.

Alison Harris, a spokesperson from Stonewall, a pressure group that campaigns for improved rights for lesbian and gay people echoed his view.

She said: "The whole issue of homophobia within ethnic communities has been exaggerated. There has been no research undertaken to indicate the levels of homophobia within those communities. All the information people receive is anecdotal.

"But if you examine for instance the significant problem of homophobic bullying within secondary schools, it's a problem in schools across the board and in every region of the country and not only in areas of high ethnic density."

Despite this there is one institution that plays a significant role in creating and cementing conservative black opinion - the black church.

The growing influence of black churches can be gauged by the congregations that have grown continually for the last 30 years. Over half of churchgoers in London are black.

The church's attitude towards homosexuality is uncompromising. They believe it is against the bible. Reverend Katei Kirby, the general director of the Afro-Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, defended the church's position, she said: "We are not against gay people per se and it is not about colour or ethnicity. Our attitude towards homosexuality is based on solely on scripture."

Reverend Kirby denied that there was any virulent homophobia emanating from black pulpits. "Because preachers speak robustly against homosexuality does not mean that the church should be seen as fundamentalist or uncompassionate. We are not opposed to gay people but to their behavioural choices," she said.

Mostly parishioners greet the views espoused by black churches with enthusiasm. But according to Marjorie Smith, a health promotion officer, the church's stance has been one of the factors in hindering the progress of HIV and Aids work within the black community.

Smith says that the long-term impact of persistent homophobia has been to stifle sexual health promotion and outreach work within the community, as black men remain afraid to come out.

"If we are going to deal with HIV and Aids then we have to talk realistically about the routes of transmission. The sad thing is no one in the community is talking about it. It's as if black people are in total denial," Smith said.

Andy would concur with the notion that there is a culture of denial gripping Black Britain when it comes to homosexuality. However, he is optimistic about the future.

"With so many openly gay black men I believe sooner rather than later, black preachers, politicians, celebrities and others concerned with the general health and well-being of our community will be forced to finally confront this taboo subject," Andy said.

Of his own future in deciding whether to come out to his family, he was more cautious. He said: "I can see a time when I will be out with them, but I don't think it will be an active process, like me going to them and telling them that I'm gay. They will probably hear it or find out in some way if they haven't already. I don't think I will ever feel ready to tell them."

Book Review: RUNNING WITH FIRE - The true story of Harold Abrahams by Mark Ryan

The more you delve into this meticulously researched and immensely well-crafted biography of Britain’s first 100m Olympic champion, you feel that the author Mark Ryan has successfully encapsulated the depth and complexity of a man driven by self-doubt and contradictions on and off the athletics track.

Most would be aware of the 1981 Oscar winning film Chariots of Fire, which depicts Harold Abrahams’ exploits at the 1924 Olympics and his relationship with fellow athlete Eric Liddell.

The film is a largely faithful portrayal of both men and their contrasting sporting philosophies. For Liddell, a Scot and devout Christian, racing was a celebration of the ability God had given him. He would honour God by running as fast he could.

For Abrahams, it was not God but the fear of failure that was behind his relentless pursuit for perfection. Contentiously, for that era, he employed a professional coach. Many felt that this was against the ‘Corinthian’ ethos of amateur sports. However, Ryan argues that this simply exemplified how ambitious and focused Abrahams was in his yearning for Olympic glory.

Born in February 1900 to Jewish parents, his faith would always play an integral part in his life. Abrahams endured anti-Semitism both at school and University.

Ryan believes that Abrahams did not suffer extensively from discrimination, but what Abrahams skilfully did was to turn any apparent slight to his advantage. If he needed anger, the fire in him to run, he would call upon any perceived anti-Semitism. He employed this mechanism in his head to win races including the Olympic final in Paris.

Abrahams’ success was all the more remarkable, due to his mental frailty that plagued him throughout his life. The source of his anxiety was his fear of marriage. Abrahams had to undergo psychotherapy before he was able to marry his fiancé, singer, Sybil Evers.

On his retirement from athletics, Abrahams became an influential administrator, broadcaster and journalist. He modernised athletic rules and practices, fought tirelessly to promote women’s athletics and led an unremitting campaign to increase BBC coverage of the sport. Ryan maintains that without Abrahams’ zeal, athletics would not be as popular as it is today.

Although an innovator as an athlete, who hired himself a professional coach, Abrahams was surprisingly opposed to any sort of professionalism within athletics. As one disgruntled coach said of him: “He was a poacher turned gamekeeper.”

The book details Abrahams’ role in assisting Roger Bannister to break the 4-minute mile. Abrahams was one of the timekeepers when Bannister ran the historic race in May 1954.

The author also exposes the way Abrahams was abysmally treated by the BBC who refused to send him to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Being a Jew they were concerned this would offend the Nazis. Abrahams went independently and returned with his journalistic reputation enhanced.

Mark Ryan’s enthralling and eloquent insight into a man who literally gave his body, mind and soul to the advancement of British athletics is a genuine must read for any sporting devotee.

FIRE IN BABYLON - Director Stevan Riley - Film Review

 
As a West Indian growing up in 80’s inner city London it was a turbulent time. It was the Thatcher era of police harassment, racial abuse on football terraces and slim job prospects if you were black.

One shining light from this misery was the fact that as West Indians we took great comfort knowing that our team reigned supreme at cricket. As immigrants we may not had the capacity to overcome our colonial masters but we took enormous pride that stars like Clive Lloyd, Vivian Richards and Malcolm Marshall were able to do so on our behalf.

Stevan Riley’s Fire in Babylon delves into the beginnings of this supremacy and illustrates the far-reaching social and political consequences it had beyond the sport.

The documentary, via evocative match footage and charismatic narration by former players, shows a team transformed from being labelled as happy-go lucky cricketers into a side that ruthlessly ruled cricket for 15 years (1980-1995).

The catalyst was the West Indies’ humiliating defeat at the hands of Australia’s fast-bowling attack in 1975. With the side demoralised, captain Clive Lloyd took the radical step of using a four-man pace attack designed to fight fire with fire - with stunning results.

What Steven Riley’s does so well is the ease that he moves his film from being merely a sporting documentary into a commentary on the time, the people, the region of the West Indies and the political and racially charged atmosphere of the world that watched cricket.

The insight of stars of that generation revealed the racial abuse and vitriol they suffered in Australian from both spectators and opposition.

Touring England, players knew they were representing Caribbean immigrants whose only respite from their day-to-day struggles was seeing their cricketing brethren humiliate the ‘Mother Country’.

Riley’s engaging documentary moves at pace with an eclectic mix of Caribbean music, which provides the perfect accompaniment.

For me it is a nostalgic look into a period when West Indies was cricketing gods at a time of immense social and political upheaval.

This uplifting film will undoubtedly appeal to a non-cricketing audience. You may hate cricket but you’ll love Fire in Babylon.

Is It Time To Implement The Rooney Rule In British Football?

Chris Powell Manager of Charlton Athletic

As one surveys the English Football League what becomes painfully obvious is the chronic absence of black managers within the top four divisions.

Norwich City’s Chris Hughton, Charlton Athletic’s Chris Powell and Paul Ince at Blackpool are the exception, across all 92 professional clubs. In the light that 25 per cent of the English game’s 4,500 professional players are from ethnic minorities, it makes grim statistics, if you are a retired black player contemplating a career in football management.

There has been much naval gazing about whether English Football should adopt the Rooney Rule to remedy this imbalance. This concept, pioneered across the Atlantic in American National Football League (NFL), compels teams in the NFL to interview at least one black or ethnic minority for head coach positions within the game. It’s no surprise to many that since the Rooney Rule was established in 2003 - the number of black coaches within the NFL has more than doubled.

I am sure it is not beyond the wit of the FA and the Football League to adopt a similar approach tailored to fit our national sport. Critics may say this is positive discrimination or see it as mere tokenism.

However, if this doctrine were implemented, it would only guarantee an interview – an opportunity to pitch for a job. The added bonus would be that it would broaden the thought-processes of chairmen and owners of football clubs to look beyond the same old faces who are on the managerial merry-go-round. It’s about time that we shatter this cartel and open up managerial opportunities for all rather than the chosen few.

It is early days yet in the fledgling careers of Hughton, Powell and Ince. But what they have displayed in their short tenures as football managers, is that appointing a young, keen, qualified black manager is no more of a risk to a football club than hiring the same managerial type from the same gene pool that the club got the last manager from.

Dogged Darren Sets His Sights High



Moore Determined Defender

Like many in professional football retired defender Darren Moore is shocked at the lack of black managers in the game.

However, like his no-nonsense bullish defending he's determined to reverse the trend in his long-standing desire to become a football manager himself.

The shortage of black managers in the game has been well documented, with at present only Norwich City Manager Chris Hughton, Chris Powell at Charlton and Paul Ince of Blackpool in top positions within the professional leagues.

Moore, who former clubs include Derby, Wolves and Blackburn Rovers, concedes that these types of statistics are a cause for concern but nevertheless would not deter him from pursuing a career in management.

He said: "I am trying to go about it the right way by gaining my coaching qualifications. But it is important people look at the fact that in our British game about 25% of all players are from a black and ethnic minority background. Although 21% of black coaches are currently holders of the UEFA A Licence, there are only 2% of black managers that are in first-team management roles in our professional game that is alarming.

"Players are going through their playing careers undertaking coaching and management courses and when they come out the other side and apply for these jobs for whatever reason many are not getting the positions.

"It could be they are not good enough, so let's not take that out of the equation. It could be a whole host of different avenues to look at, let's not just look at it and say it's just about race but at the same time you have to probably add that in there as well.

"All I can do is go down the rightful measures and undertake my coaching badges because I can do something - obtain that licence and qualification - to try to minimise somebody not wanting to give me the job."

Moore who retired from the game earlier this year after a successful career spanning almost 20 years, knows of former players like himself who have turned their back on a career in management or coaching as they perceived that their race was denying them opportunities. But he is hopeful that he will not experience such discrimination.

"There are a lot more people who are more high profile than myself that have been discouraged. For them to say they have been discouraged is worrying for me and if that is the case then I'm pretty saddened by it," the 39-year-old said.

In American football the 'Rooney Rule' was introduce to ensure minority candidates have more of an opportunity to land NFL coaching roles. Under the scheme, NFL clubs must shortlist at least one minority candidate when appointing a coach and the former Jamaican international sees no reason why English clubs should not adhere to a similar rule.

Moore says: "It can only help to promote equality within the game, because we have seen it being successful in America and we have seen the inclusion of so many black and ethnic managers in American football. I think certainly, why not look at something like that for our game to ensure everybody has got that equal opportunity to succeed?"

Having been such an inspirational leader during his career, making 600 appearances for eight clubs and being in the select few who have played in all four divisions in England, Moore is determined to do the same off the field. The active anti-racism campaigner is hoping to inspire a new wave of black and minority coaches to fulfil their ambitions of becoming managers.