The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

‘TIS the season to be jolly.

While we get prepared for the festive season and stuffing ourselves with all that ham and turkey, let’s pause to give God thanks for what has been another banner year in sports.

While we’re going into the final month of the year mourning the death of two prominent icons - Tom ‘the Bird’ Grant and Thomas Augustus Robinson - we can take solace in the fact that they left their footprints in the sand of time.

As time starts to wind down and we prepare to look at the performances that have left an impression on all of us and even in the almanac of our sports history books, there’s a lot of names being thrown around for the most outstanding athletes, coaches, officials and even executives.

It’s a pity that there’s no such recognition or awards ceremony to laud those performances.

Once again, while the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation has already named Grand Bahamian Tammy Stubbs as both their Athlete and Female Athlete of the Year and Jimmy Norius as the Male Athlete of the Year, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations intends to host its banquet on Sunday, December 23, to officially name their recipients.

Over the next week, you the public can share your opinion on who you feel should be selected as the country’s outstanding athletes.

In a poll that I would like to present next Friday, you can vote on your choice for the following categories:

• Athlete of the Year

• Male Athlete of the Year

• Female Athlete of the Year

• Junior Male Athlete of the Year

• Junior Female Athlete of the Year

• Coach of the Year

• Executive of the Year

• Official of the Year

• Fan of the Year

• Team of the Year

• Performance of the Year

• Story of the Year

If you feel that there are other categories that can be included, please submit them as well.

All you have to do is send in your list to bstubbs@tribunemedia.net You can also fax in your results to myself at 328-2398.

The deadline is set for Wednesday, December 19.

You can include your name and phone contact.

I hope that those of you who have been following this column and have an interest in sports in general in the country will respond.

No doubt, The Tribune’s Sports Department will be producing our usual End of the Year stories, but this is an opportunity for you the public to get to make your contribution. I look forward to your input.

Condolences

As I end this column, I wish to offer my condolences to the family of the late Vander Edgar Francis. The 43-year-old who was known to me and others as Van Thompson, will be laid to rest on Saturday.

Francis, or Thompson, has moved around working with a number of schools in their physical education department and coaching both basketball and track and field teams. He also served as an officer in the Baptist Sports Council, on which we had the pleasure of working closely together.

Thompson, as we referred to him, was a very hard working individual who carried out his duties to the best of his ability. He will be sorely missed.