Friday, September 3, 2021
celebrity interview art fashion books history puzzles animals
Weekend
Have a ‘tee talk’ Page 07
Through the looking glass Photographers are changing perspectives
pgs 08 +09
02 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 3, 2021
celebrity
The Weekend Fashion Report Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda 2021 Venice Show
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Jennifer Lopez
Normani
Helen Mirren
Doja Cat
Jennifer Hudson
Karin says: “Stunning; just pure decadence. Perfectly suited for the venue and the event. The cape, of course, is everything. But I also love the two-piece with the highwaisted pants and bejewelled bra top. Not everyone can pull off dramatically mixed prints like this. And check out the cute ‘Devotion’ bag (for a mere $7,500 or so).”
Karin says: “The internet has dubbed her the real life Tiana from Disney’s ‘The Princess and the Frog’ in this hand-painted D&G custom gown. I do absolutely love the dress, but am less fond of the hairstyle. I love the intricate braids, but the ‘baby hairs’ are a bit too over-the-top here.”
Karin says: “The queen! As usual, I love how daring she is fashion wise compared to her peers. This is just so dramatic; I love it! She may be 76, but she is such a style icon in this gown with the embellished gold corset and skirt printed with Renaissance paintings.”
Karin says: “In a way I love this extremely voluminous number withthe floral appliqués. But it’s maybe just a bit too maternity dress for me. It sits a bit too high up front. I do love the colour scheme though and the fact that she’s accessorised it with some chic shades.”
Karin says: “I absolutely love the top half. The gold, jewel encrusted bustier and matching hair band are simply stunning. And check out that bejewelled mini bag! But where this gown lets her down is the skirt. It’s just looks like gold lamé, like cheap foil.”
Cara says: “It’s the cape for me. So dramatic and I am loving the jewel tones. The prints are both bold and yet they come together so effortlessly and flawlessly. And I love, love, love the hair jewellery, shoes and handbag. Jenny from the block is serving pure royalty in this outfit.”
Cara says: “This is my least favourite this week. There is a lot going on, but it’s a bit of a mismatched mess. Her hair is as confusing as her dress. And I get the comparison to ‘The Princess and the Frog’, but to me that’s because the green in her dress reminds me of a swamp, and not in an appealing way. Sorry, I am trying to find a nice way to say I hate it.”
Cara says: “This is absolutely stunning. It’s like an art gallery come to life. Helen always shows up in the most perfect ensemble for the occasion and shows everyone how it should be done. I adore everything about this look.”
Cara says: “I like it, but I don’t love it. The colour and the appliqués are pretty, but it seems a bit shapeless. I also feel that the bodice may be a bit too small. It doesn’t stack up to the drama the other ladies are serving. So I’m not the biggest fan.”
Cara says: “I needed sunshades, because this ensemble is like the sun itself walked down the red carpet. I love the shape of the classic strapless ballgown. But yeah, that skirt is giving me 1970s evening fashion vibes. It’s a little shiny. However, I think that a little extra is OK given the drama of the event.”
(Photos/Instagram courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana)
With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt
The Tribune | Weekend | 03
Friday, September 3, 2021
Weekend Inside
My Perfect Bahamian Weekend Orion Bethel Singer
Interview 4 – 5
Fashion icon and author Flo Miller finds a new outlet for her creativity by displaying the Bahamas’ natural beauty on everyday items.
Puzzles 6 Fashion 7
‘Care for a tee talk?’ Newly launched boutique celebrates viral memes and Bahamian vernacular with custom T-shirts
Q: Beach or sofa? “I’d go with beach. Being able to go to the beach is a statistical rarity and we need to cherish the fact that we have beaches a few minutes away from our house. Most people in the world have never seen a beach.”
Art 8 -9
Six photographers capture life through a different prism in new TERN Gallery exhibit
Entertainment 10
Comedian Das Quay celebrates Shaunae MillerUibo’s Olympic gold with a new hit song
Books 11
Ever wondered ‘what if…?’ Bahamasbased author introduces new anthology dealing with alternate history scenarios
Q: What are you binge-watching? “The greatest anime of all time - ‘One Piece’. Luffi is going to be the king of the pirates and I like it because it has so much depth and the plot is massive and so solid.”
Literary Lives 12 – 13 A giant in baseball history
Forgotten Facts 14 Island life of yesteryear
Animals 15
Confusing reporting on military service dogs, plus Pet of the Week
Gardening 16
Something to consider before raking and scraping
Cover I Tiffany Smith’s ‘Yellow Bird in Banana Tree’
REMEMBERING DJ DON ONE By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
DONOVAN “DJ Don One” Lightbourne, Sr, was known for having one of the biggest and best sound systems in the Bahamas, as well as a huge catalogue of ‘old school’ hits that rocked crowds at any event with an appetite for 1960s, 70s and 80s music. But there is so much more than this to the legacy of the late entertainer, whose family and friends are remembering and celebrating Donovan, as tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of his death. He lost his battle with COVID-19 on September 4, 2020, at the age of 52.
While they are still grieving, his loved ones are holding onto the good memories that have been a source of comfort for them. As an entertainer, Donovan always had a passion for music and learned from two pioneers in the Bahamian music industry, Dwight Ferguson, also known as “One Dwight”, and Hit City legend Noel Dillet also known as “Scooby Doo”. Being an apprentice to both, he quickly learned and established himself as a force in the local music industry in the 90s.
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Q: Rum, wine, Kalik or a cocktail? “I don’t really like alcohol, so I don’t drink that much. The one thing I would
Having one of the biggest and best sound systems in the country and a wide collection of records and old school music meant during his life and career he was a highly sought-after deejay. “The first time I took notice of my father and his deejaying I was very young, but what I do remember is numerous big name deejays and reggae artists frequently visited him,” his son, Donovan Lightbourne, Jr, told Tribune Weekend. “He would always have his sound system in the yard, tweaking it or just showing off. The respect and brotherhood between him and other deejays is something I noticed even at a young age.” With a collection so diverse, “DJ
drink is the wine at church (before COVID) and sometimes I can drink Trivento or Carlo Rossi.” Q: If you could be quarantined with a celebrity, who would you choose and why? “It would be (British R&B singer) Jorja Smith... for obvious reasons. Q: If you could go on a COVID-free weekend trip, where would you go and why? “It would be somewhere like Egypt or Timbuktu, or Rome or Japan...the world is so big, and the Bahamas is beautiful, but it’s just a dot, so I would like to see something out of the ordinary.”
Don One” prided himself on being an ‘old school’ deejay. He played mainly for a fanbase of ‘old school’ reggae lovers, 60s and 70s soul and groove music. Bahamian music was a must as he travelled to various islands yearly for regattas and homecomings. Eleuthera was a second home to him. The entertainer dedicated 30 plus years to the music and entertainment industry and has mentored many new deejays, including his son. “I’ve learned many things from my father, but also a lot of life lessons, mainly how to deal with people and doing business. He taught me how to hook up sound systems, electric gates, cameras, basically the foundation for everything I am doing today,” said his son. “I am following in his footsteps and expanding on what he started many years ago.”
04 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 3, 2021
interview
Flo Miller Nearly 30 years ago, after working and studying in New York and Paris, she brought a sense of style and etiquette with her back to the Bahamas. Today, during an unprecedented pandemic, she is once again sharing her unique perspective on beauty and creating stylish everyday items to uplift the spirit. But this time around she’s doing it with the help of her photography skills.
FASHION icon, author of ‘Return To Mango Hill’ and photographer Flo Miller took some time during the pandemic to capture the beauty of Bahamian nature and display it on everyday items like phone cases, tote bags and face masks.
“W
hat can you do when caught in a situation you cannot control?” This is the question author and fashion icon Flo Miller asked herself during the tumultuous year of 2020 when the global COVID-19 pandemic forced the entire world to stop. “2020 was unbelievably difficult, and as we are nine months into 2021, it remains frightening for so many people. In the midst of this I realised for survival, through lonely times of isolation due to social distancing, it is so important to find positive
outlets. For me, by surrounding myself with the beauty of nature while learning new things helps me take my mind off all that is going on,” she said. As the founder of the Bahamas’ first finishing school, Upgrade Finishing School, in the 1970s, Flo decided to pursue her fashion journey to Paris, France, becoming one of the first Bahamian fashion consultants in the ‘City of Light’. Then, during her time in New York, she took courses in photography and upon returning home, worked as a photographer with Stanley Toogood and King Ingraham.
“My mother, Hester Miller, née Smith, was a very talented, self-taught dressmaker. As the first girl in the family, I spent a good portion of my time watching her make beautiful clothes. She could see a dress in a magazine and sew it to near perfection. However, I had no interest in sewing or designing clothes. What piqued my interest was to see the finished dress, perfectly fitting on a woman’s body. I was able to tell if something was right or wrong with the fitting of the dress depending on the structure of the person’s body. “Mother wanted me to become a secretary, but I knew I would not be good at that,” she said.
The Tribune | Weekend | 05
Friday, September 3, 2021
Flo moved to New York to pursue studies in fashion at the Ophelia Devore Fashion and Charm School. She took courses on social etiquette, makeup application, photography and was certified as a yoga and fitness instructor. “When I arrived in New York, I watched a lot of people. I paid very careful attention to how women walked, dressed and presented themselves. I learned early that first impressions were lasting, and I really wanted to do something in fashion while helping young girls, like me learn etiquette,” she said. “When it was time for me to move back home, I knew I wanted to open a school for the beautiful and intelligent ladies on island who just needed a little added social grace and poise to make their dreams come true. I am so grateful for the young ladies who entrusted themselves to my training, to this day I am truly grateful.” Nearly 30 years later, and now due to ongoing restrictions because of an evolving global crisis, seeking a positive outlet, Flo picked up her camera again and allowed her creativity to bloom in nature. “Nature has been my saving grace. On my morning walks I look at the beauty of our beautiful sea grape trees filled with rich purple grapes with their big green hearty leaves and to see a yellow elder tree in full bloom remains simply breathtaking. Not to mention, the diversity of colour and beauty of deep red, orange or yellow hibiscus and poinciana trees blazing in the sun. I decided to use my little camera to capture the details that my eyes cannot see, shooting in the bush, whatever I saw of any interest. I had no Idea what I would do with my photos,” she said. But that all changed quickly. “One morning in January (this year), the fashion side of me said, ‘why not put them on objects to see what they look like?’ That’s how ShopFloraGalora came alive in the midst of the pandemic.” Using her beautiful Bahamas-centric nature photos, she transferred these images on to practical items including, face masks, photos covers, mugs and recyclable tote bags. She hopes these items will bring smiles to people’s faces during these trying times. “I use my camera as a third eye, to see fine details that my eyes cannot see. As part of my training as a fashion consultant, I had to learn a bit about photography. I used photography to show my clients what their clothes actually looked like on their bodies. Though I would not consider myself a professional, those photos have served me well when critiquing models and clients. “Now, I use it to capture other beautiful things in nature. I was told by many of my amazing talented photographer friends that ‘the camera does not lie’, and this I believe is true.” Flo said now is an ideal time to explore your talents and interests. “We all have some hidden talents that we are not even aware of and I believe that COVID19 has given us time to explore our God-given gifts. Whatever we are going through, we cannot give up, we must continue to evolve and
learn no matter what, because we are still above ground. Don’t worry about what people will say or think of you or your work, use what you have in your hands to make this world a kinder and more beautiful place. God’s beautiful canvas, which is nature, gives me such joy, it is my desire that these images can also give people hope and continued peace,” she said. To check out Flo’s online store for accessories and home décor items with a Bahamian flare, visit https:// shopfloragalora. myshopify.com
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Friday, September 3, 2021
The Tribune | Weekend | 07
fashion
Having a ‘tee talk’ Local boutique celebrates pop culture with unique T-shirts By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
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ustomised T-shirts with witty quote and slogans continue to be a hit with Bahamians. And since boutiques are working hard to keep their designs on-trend – using new and clever pop culture references all the time – it looks like their popularity isn’t diminishing any time soon. T-shirts with interesting, trendy and sometimes downright hilarious quotes printed on them are the choice for many who simply want a fun statement piece in their wardrobes. Not to mention, it is often a conversation piece. The local Talk of The Tee Boutique keeps its eyes and ears tuned to pop culture and social media, and especially on what’s happening here in the Bahamas, to ensure their designs remain on-trend. “I usually scout most of the sayings via social media, but I also love when my clients send in their ideas; it’s so fun,” said Alesha, owner and businesswoman. “I call it having ‘tee talk’ with them. I find that most of them like the edgy and daring sayings. Some examples of sayings I have promoted so far are ‘Places You Can Stay For Free - Your Lane’, ‘A Vibe Called Blessed’, ‘Rich Aunty Vibes’, ‘My Face Will Say It Before My Mouth Do’, ‘Pray Even On Your Best Days’, ‘I’m Never Free, I Make Time’, ‘Sooner or Later Tings Ga Be Tings’, and so much more’ she said. T-shirts sporting Bahamian vernacular and references to current local events are always a must-have. “This past Independence holiday I had persons inquire about an independence line. I was on the fence about it, but I executed it, and it turned out amazing. In Bahamian flag colours, the sayings for that specific line focused on putting a spin on local trends such as ‘God Is Good I Misewell Tell Ya’, ‘I Spillagating All Summer 2021’, ‘Soon Tereckly Tings Ga Be Tings’, and the popular ‘Be A Pineapple, Stand Tall’ quote. I have since added all the independence sayings to my black and white line, calling it ‘The Bahamian Tee’, available through all seasons,” she said. Staying on top of what’s going on in the world is extremely important when it comes to designing the T-shirts. “You have some quotes that won’t be popular for a long time, that’s just how quick people change their focus on what’s trending. So every week I try to add a
new piece to the collection that reflects what’s hot in the moment,” said Alesha. “The holidays are our favourite time of the year, so we are excited to bring some Fall and Winter fashion trends to the Talk of The Tee Boutique’s line of offerings. We are hoping to take part in a few pop-up intimate events as well.” While the boutique is fairly new, Alesha was in a partnership with another T-shirt brand for about two years before rebranding and officially launching as Talk of The Tee Boutique this June. “We aim to have our customers ‘say it with a tee’ in fashion and in style,” she said. “My experience in vinyl printing expands over three years, and with that knowledge I decided to do more research into making what I wanted to do. There was a T-shirt (streetwear) store I visited earlier this year out of the country that really inspired my focus on T-shirt printing. I had already had the idea to relaunch my business before Summer 2021, but only to do the same thing I have been doing before, you know, print custom tees.” But this store she visited, had niche products and a business model that the young businesswoman immediately took note of. “I noticed how they solely focused and narrowed their business down to a style, a colour and theme. It wasn’t all over the place, it was specific. I was so inspired to the point where I couldn’t leave the store without speaking with the owner and telling her about my venture here in the Bahamas. After my brief conversation with her and a friend of mine, my vision instantly changed and shifted to a theme,” she said. “I love fashion, I love playing around in everchanging trends, I love to laugh and share relatable memes with friends, and my favourite colour is black. I did even more research on how best I could execute my ‘lightbulb idea’ and I narrowed it down to what I wanted to do, spending late nights teaching myself and seeking guidance. This delayed my launch for about two months, but it was well worth the wait.” Today, Talk of The Tee Boutique offers custommade, to-order T-shirt designs, focused on the colours black, white, brown and shades of beige. However, they still offer customised tees at a customer’s request for special events and for branding in all colours. “When a celebrity or an Instagram famous person strikes gold by saying something silly that ends up going viral, the first thing they do is put the saying on a T-shirt. And guess what people do? They buy them. Again, it’s a never-ending trend that will never go out of style,” said Alesha. “In the words of Karl Lagerfeld, ‘You can be the chicest thing in a T-shirt and jeans - it’s up to you.’ People shop with their eyes of course, so I encourage them with my tagline that says, ‘Carry your favourite quotes and saying around with you and say it with a tee’. Whether you want to dress it up with jeans or pants, some heels, and a red lip, or dress it down with some sandals and shorts and a nude lip, it can work for you, honey.” Talk of The Tee Boutique can currently be found on Facebook at Talk of The Tee Boutique and Instagram at talkoftheteeboutiquebah. For more information, contact (242) 804-5589 or email at talkoftheteeboutique@gmail.com.
10 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 3, 2021
entertainment
Comedian Das Quay celebrates Shaunae’s gold with new song
By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net
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e is best known for his comedy ventures, but now Jaquay “Das Quay” Adderley is branching out into the
music scene. The entertainer, who first came to the public’s attention in 2010 with Collage Entertainment and their popular “Stop Likin’ Man” skits, has decided to add a bit of a “bop” - so to speak - to his comedic flow. He has recorded his very first single, “GAP”, inspired by Bahamian Olympic gold medallist, Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
“I was driving down Gladstone Road and the song came to me out of nowhere. I pulled on the side of the road and did a quick Facebook video for fun, and the Bahamians went crazy. Everyone went crazy and basically forced me to go to the studio. After reaching out to some of my friends, such as D-Mac, Sammi Starr and Dyson Knight, I was able to get really good advice and a studio session with Sammi, and voilà, GAP is here and rocking the airwaves,” he told Tribune Weekend. “This is the first time I’ve professionally dove into the music arena. All of the other songs that persons
COVER art by Renbert Mortimor
JAQUAY and Shaunae love such as ‘Current Off Dred’ were social media hits.” After Shaunae’s victory in 400m, he said he became inspired to create something based on this momentous event. “As Bahamians, I love our lingo. The word ‘gap’ could mean a few
things. It could mean the space in your teeth, a really bad haircut from a barber, or when someone is far ahead in the lead from other runners in a race. Therefore, to commemorate such an amazing and monumental race, the name of the song ‘GAP’ was my choice. The Bahamian people are loving the song. It is trending on social media right now and I’m honestly a bit shocked at how big it is. They especially love the authentic rake n’ Scrape flow of the song and the catchy tune. I’m getting messages, texts, and social media tags with people showing support,” said Jaquay. He said there is no music video in the works for the song, as he does not want all of the attention to be focused on him. Jaquay said since Shaunae has worked hard for years to bring home these big wins for the Bahamas, the song is only in celebration of her, and of course Steven Gardiner as well. “There will not be any event for the release. I just want the Bahamian people to love it, the radio stations to play it, the kids to dance to it, and we continue to support and celebrate our Olympians and athletes. I honestly do not know what the future holds. When God gives me inspiration or my creative daiquiri starts swirling in my brain, I get it and create. So we’ll see what hits me next,” said Jaquay. For all those interested, Jaquay said the easiest way to find the song is on YouTube by searching for ‘Dasquay - GAP’. He is also sending the song and links to it to those who are having difficulty finding it.
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Friday, September 3, 2021
books
A universe of ‘What if?’ Bahamasbased author introduces new alternate history anthology By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
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ahamian-based author and publisher Leo McBride is set to join several authors from around the world in exploring “history with a twist” in the new anthology “Tales of Alternate Earths 3.” The book is the third alternative history collection and the tenth book published by Inklings Press - the publishing house founded by Leo and several of his friends five years ago. “Back then we were just a group of friends who wanted a way to get our stories out there and so we created Inklings Press. We managed to have some success and now five years later we are at book ten and we have reached the point where some of the biggest names in the field are working with us,” he told Tribune Weekend. “When we first started, we didn’t know where this would go, so it just goes to show, you don’t know what you are capable of.” For their tenth book, Inklings has returned to a genre that is one of their signatures. “Alternate Earths has been our most successful book - it has won awards and was our bestseller and we wanted to return to the theme,” said the author. Alternative history is a genre that continues to grow thanks to a variety of books, TV shows and movies on the subject. “Just recently, Disney +launched ‘What if…?’ which answers the question what if things had turned out differently in the Marveluniverse. There is something intriguing about the idea of changing world history. It draws people in to imagine that the
smallest difference or change could have a huge impact on the way things could be,” he said. Leo says the new anthology is packed full of “history with a twist”. “There’s a little bit of everything in this one. There’s a story where Guy Fawkes succeeded in blowing up the English Parliament, Alfred Hitchcock directed the Titanic movie, Jack the Ripper turns out to be different and the Roman Empire never fell,” he said. “We have some big names and award winners on board for this one, including Minoti Vaisnav, who is one of the writers for the TV show ‘The Equalizer’, and Alan Smale, who is one of the best-known writers in the genre.” In his own contribution, ‘Heaven Above, Hell Below’, Leo explores the aftermath of one of NASA’s biggest disasters - the Challenger explosion. “It’s one of those moments that was felt around the world, where you
“
There is something intriguing about the idea of changing world history. It draws people in to imagine that the smallest difference or change could have a huge impact on the way things could be.”
always remember where you were when you heard the news,” he said. “After the explosions, NASA explored a lot of options and I look at one of the more hopeful ones,
which was an idea to build a space elevator - to literally ride on an elevator to a space station.” Leo is sure current world events will lead to a myriad of alternate history stories in the future. “The current pandemic has been a big turning point in the world, and there are many top scientists around the world already wondering what if we had handled it all better. So I am sure that there will be a lot of authors exploring this topic in the future,” he said. Leo himself chose an alternative ending to the Spanish Flu pandemic as his contribution to the first Alternate Earths anthology. “That pandemic swept through the world and wiped out millions of people. You would think we would have learned our lessons from that. But here we are again battling another pandemic.” Tales of Alternative Earths 3 is now available on Amazon at mybook.to/AlternateEarths3.
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Friday, September 3, 2021
literary lives - Willie Mays
A giant of baseball history
With the Giants trailing the Houston Astros by two runs with two out in the ninth, Mays swung and missed the first two of Claude Raymond’s first two pitches, took three balls to load the count, and fouled off three pitches before hitting his home run off the ninth pitch. The Giants won 6 – 5 in ten innings. Mays won his second Most Valuable Player Award behind a career-high of 52 home runs in what may have been Mays’ best year. He batted .317 leading the National League in onbase percentage (.400) and slugging percentage .645. He scored 118 runs – the 12th year in succession that he had scored 100 runs in a season.
Part II
Sir Christopher Ondaatje continues to write about the centre fielder nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid”, who spent almost all of his 22- season Major League Baseball career playing for New York/San Francisco Giants (1951-1952, 1954-1972) before finishing his career with the New York Mets (1972-1973). He is still regarded as being one of the greatest baseball players of all time. “I’m not trying to brag or anything, but I had the knowledge before I became a professional baseball player to do all these things – and know what each guy would hit.” - Willie Mays In 1958, Willie Mays led the Giants with 130 runs, 36 doubles, 49 home runs, 141 stolen bases, and 78 walks. On September 30, Mays hit a game-winning home run forcing the team into a tie for first place with the L A Dodgers. With the Giants trailing 4 – 2 in the top of the ninth inning, Mays had an RBI single, eventually scoring as the Giants took a 6 – 4 lead. Mays caught a fly ball in centre field at the top of the ninth, advancing the Giants to the World Series against the New York Yankees – which they sadly lost in game seven. It was Mays last World Series appearance as a member of the Giants. However, he revelled in the fact that he had finally won the support of the San Francisco fans. It took them five years to accept him. Mays signed a contract with the Giants worth $105,000 (equivalent to over $900,000 today). On July 2, he hit a 16th-inning home run against the Milwaukee Braves, giving the Giants a 1 – 0 victory. In the 1963 All-Star Game he caught a long fly ball by Joe Pepitone of the American League, winning the game for the National League 5 – 3. He was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable
MAYS waves to the crowd at the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on August 5, 1979. (AP Photo by Rusty Kennedy) Player. He batted .314 with 38 home runs, and 103 runs batted in, but stole only eight bases. Alvin Dark, the manager, named Willie Mays captain of the Giants. He was the first AfricanAmerican captain of a major league ball club. Ten days later he played a 33-inning double-header against the New York Mets; and on September 4 he made one of the most acrobatic catches of his career when Ruben Amaro, Sr hit a ball to the scoreboard at Connie Mack Stadium. May, who had been playing close to home base, ran full speed towards the ball, catching it in mid-air, and had to kick his legs forward to stop his head from hitting the ballpark’s fence. But he held on to the ball. He batted under .300 for the season but led the National League with 47 home runs. Mays tore a shoulder muscle in a 1965 game against the Atlanta Braves, but kept the injury a secret from opposing players –making a few practice throws before games to discourage players from running on him. He stopped a brawl between the Giants and the Dodgers and tackled a team-mate to stop him attacking an umpire. He was kicked in the head but still hit a game-winning three-run home run against Sandy Koufax, one of the best all-time pitchers. Dizzy with the head injury, he didn’t finish the game. In August 1965, Mays won his fourth and final National League Player of the Month Award. On September 13, he hit his 500th career home run off Don Nottebart of the Houston Astros. The next night, also against Houston, Mays hit what he considered to be his most dramatic home run.
Mays tied Mel Ott’s record of 511 home runs on April 24, 1966, against the Houston Astros. After that he went nine days without a home run. He finally set the record on May 4. Despite an injured thigh muscle on September 7, Mays reached base in the eleventh inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He then attempted to score from first base on a Frank Johnson single. It was a close play and the umpire Tony Venzon ruled him out, then changed his call when he saw that Roseboro of the Dodgers had dropped the ball after Mays had collided with him, The Giants won 3 – 2. Mays finished the season batting .288 with 29 scored, 37 home runs, and 103 runs batted in. Only Babe Ruth had hit more home runs than Mays (714 to 542). Mays had 13 home runs and 44 runs batted in with the Giants in 1967, but then went into a slump. Gary Nolan of the Cincinnati Reds struck him out four times in a game – the first time it had ever happened to him. He got some kind of a fever in July and checked himself into a hospital for five days. He was never the same again that season. He hit .263 with 83 runs scored, and 22 home runs. The next year, 1968, on May 6, Houston Astros owner presented him with a 569-pound birthday cake – the pounds representing all the home runs he had hit in his career. He shared it with the players and sent the rest to the Texas Children’s Hospital. Mays played 148 games, accumulating 84 runs scored, 144 hits, 23 home runs and 70 runs batted in. In 1969, the new Giants manager moved Mays to the lead off position in the batting line-up because Mays was hitting fewer home runs. Mays didn’t like the decision. He hit his 600th home run on September 22. In 117 games, he batted .283 with 13 home runs and 58 runs batted in. Sporting News named Mays as “Player of the Decade”. In one 139 games played in 1970 Mays picked up his 3,000th hit. He batted .291 in the season, with 94 runs scored, 28 home runs, and 83 runs batted in. But his best days were over. Mays was 40 years old in 1971 and, although he played mostly at centre field, he was moved to first base for 48 games. He only hit 18 home runs – partly because he was walked 112 times. He batted .271 and stole 23 bases. The Giants won the National League West title but lost to the
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Friday, September 3, 2021
MAYS receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on November 24, 2015. (AP Photo by Evan Vucci)
Pittsburgh Pirates in the Championship Series in four games. 1972 was a bad year for Willie Mays. He started badly, batting only .184 for the first 19 games. Before the season started, he asked the Giants’ owner, Stoneham, for a 10-year contract, hoping to serve in an off-the-field capacity when his playing days were over. However, the Giants were having their own financial troubles, and Mays had to settle for a two-year contract worth $330,000. He argued with Charlie Fox, the manager, and left the stadium before the start of a double-header on April 30 without telling Fox. Six days later, on May 5, Mays was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher Charlie Williams and an amount said to be $100,000. The Mets agreed to pay Mays $165,000 a year for two years, and to pay him $50,000 a year for 10 years after he retired. It was the end of an era. *** Owner Joan Payson of the New York Mets had long wanted to bring Willie Mays back to his major league roots in New York. In his Mets debut against the Giants, he put New York ahead to stay with a fifth inning home run, to receive ecstatic applause from the fans at Shea Stadium. He appeared for 88 games for the Mets in 1972, batting .250 in 244 bats with eight home runs. In 1973, he turned up a day late for spring training, then left in the middle without notifying manager Yogi Berra. He was fined $1,000. The situation did not improve. He spent time on the disabled list and left the ballpark before a game when he found out that Berra had not put his name on the starting line-up. His all-powerful arm was greatly diminished by the time 1973 rolled around, and he only made the All-Star team because of an intervention by National League President Chub Feeney. Nevertheless, the Mets won the National League East. On August 17, 1973, Mays hit his final (660th) home run against Don Gullett of the Cincinnati Reds. He had been considering retirement anyway and told the Mets officially in September that 1973 was going to be his last season. He made the announcement to the general public on September 20. Five days later the Mets honoured him on Willie Mays Day, proclaimed by New York City Mayor John Lindsay. He thanked the New York fans and said goodbye to baseball. In the last 66 games with the New York Mets, Mays batted a career-low of .211 with only six home runs. Against the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Championship Series, Mays helped restore order to game three after Mets fans began throwing trash at Pete Rose following a brawl that Rose started. Game five was the only one Mays played. He had a pinch-hit RBI single as the Mets won 7 – 2, clinching a trip to the 1973 World Series against the Oakland Athletics. Mays started at centre field
at the start of the Series. He stumbled four times in the first two games, including a fielding error in game two that allowed the Athletics to tie the game and force an extra inning. Mays’ final hit came later in the same game, an RBI single against Rollie Fingers that snapped a 7 – 7 tie in the 12th inning of a 10 – 7 victory. His final at bat came in Game Three, when he pinchhit for Tug McGraw and grounded into a force play. The Mets lost the series in seven games. *** On January 23, 1979, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He garnered 409 of the 432 ballots cast. In his induction speech he said: “What can I say? This country is made up of a great many things. You can grow up to be what you want. I chose baseball, and I loved every minute of it. I give you one word – love. It means dedication. You have to sacrifice many things to play baseball. I sacrificed a bad marriage and I sacrificed a good marriage. But I’m here today because baseball is my number one love.” Willie Mays was probably the greatest baseball player who ever lived. He styled his batting like his childhood hero Joe DiMaggio – standing with his legs apart, evenly balanced, holding his bat high – his right thumb sticking up in the air waiting for pitches. He swung with more power than any other player – adjusting from pulling the ball to hitting to right or centre field. He was the best outfielder of all time, and his arm was so strong that he could make effective throws from the most unlikely locations and body positions from the greatest distances. He was daring and had a knack for stealing bases. He could have been an All-Star in any position. Anyone who played with or against him agreed that he was the best. Even today most modern baseball fans would pick Willie Mays as being the best all-around player in the second half of the 20th century.
Curiously, Mays collapsed sporadically throughout his career. This was inevitably because he played “all out” – all the time. He would suddenly collapse from sheer exhaustion. But he always came back stronger than ever, achieving extraordinary feats. After May retired, he remained at the Mets as hitting coach until the end of 1979. He took a job at Bally’s Park Place casino in Atlantic City in October 1979 as a greeter, but he returned to baseball in 1985 and was named Special Assistant to the President and General Manager of the Giants in 1986. He signed a lifetime contract with the team in 1993, helped get support for building Pac Bell Park (now Oracle Park), which opened in 2000 and founded the “Say Hey Foundation” which promotes youth baseball. There is a nine-foot-tall statue of Mays in front of the main entrance. A friend of several United States Presidents, Willie Mays was invited to the White House during Gerald Ford’s administration to have dinner with Queen Elizabeth II in 1976. He was the Tee Ball Commissioner in 2006 during George W Bush’s presidency and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by President Barack Obama. As his old manager, Leo Durocher of the Giants, said: “If somebody came up and hit .450, stole 100 bases and performed a miracle in the field every day, I’d still look you in the eye and say Willie Mays was better.” •Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend (2010) by James S. Hirsch; and 24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid (2020) by Willie Mays (with John Shea).
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Friday, September 3, 2021
history
Island life of yesteryear
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am beginning to enjoy my new bookcases and the total lack of order in which my books are lined up, because I keep seeing books that I haven’t opened in a long time. The latest one is ‘Island Girl – Exuma Bahamas Remembered’ (from 2014 by my late cousin Phyllis Minns Scott). Here’s some of what she wrote about growing up in George Town, Exuma: “The first seventeen years of my life were spent in George Town...I lived in peace and safety...having everything a child needed to be healthy and happy... We had none of the things that city children took for granted, like electricity, running water; just getting a bath was a job. “Water had to be drawn up from the rainwater tank or, in the dry season, from the well. It had to be carried upstairs in buckets and, in the winter, some of it had to be heated on the stove, then taken upstairs and added to the bathtub.
“My sister (Eileen) and I took music lessons on our big upright pump organ... for lighting we used kerosene lamps...A woman came to do our wash. Washday was an all-day task. Water had to be brought up to fill three tubs, set up on a long, low bench... when well-water was used, something called washing soda was added, to act as a softener...the clothes FORGOTTEN were sorted and the whites were washed first, by scrubbing on a wooden scrub-board, using a washing soap called Octagon...once washed, they were wrung out by hand and put in the next tub, to be rinsed...then into the third tub, to be rinsed again...baby clothes were
washed in Ivory Flakes... All of the table linen and most of our clothes had to be starched...the starch had to be prepared before the wash started...It came in dry lumps which had to be dissolved in cold water, then stirred into boiling water and cooked until clear. no lumps! Ironing was put off until the FACTS next day...a good fire was built and allowed to burn down, until it was just coals. Flat irons were then placed close to the coals, to heat up. When they got a soft, whitish look, you knew that they were hot. As each flat iron cooled, it would be put back onto the coals and another hot
PAUL C ARANHA
iron was taken. No modern conveniences, such as washing machines, dryers and electric irons. Being on an Out Island made you use your head and learn how to cope with things.” • For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com
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Friday, September 3, 2021
animals
SERVICEWOMEN and military working dogs were honoured with a new sculpture that was unveiled at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia last year.
Confusion with reporting in America Animal matters | KIM ARANHA
A
mid all the fuss and mayhem of the American pull-out from Afghanistan there are many victims. Many of these victims have a voice or those who provide a voice for them. The world worries and frets about what my will happen to the girls who have been educated, the men and women who have served as guides and interpreters, the child who is caught up in the metaphoric and actual crossfire - their cries of anguish reverberate in our heads. It is such a catastrophic pity that so many people are falling prey to the consequences that are caused by this massive exodus. Reassuring, no doubt for many is the fact that very many men, women and children have been airlifted to countries already where they will not be persecuted, some mental relief can come from that. There have been countless reports that dogs have been left behind, the Pentagon, however, has been very quick to deny that not any military dogs were left behind after the overwhelming uproar around the world in the wake of these reports. The Pentagon assures us that the dog crates lined up on the tarmac belonged to a rescue group whose owner, Charlotte Maxwell - Jones, was trying to secure space on planes for their evacuation. The additional assurance that all
military and service dogs affiliated to the US Military, have indeed returned to proper and safe kennels and home in the United States. Photos have been supplied! This is not the first time that the military has been accused of being uncaring and heartless. Perhaps the powerful men who sit at the top and give orders as they push pencils in the air-conditioning, whilst young men and women and brave canines risk their lives daily at the command of those who remain in safety, will understand how passionate some of us can feel about the treatment of animals. Those in charge should never be allowed to forget about the ones who actually risk taking the bullet or being tortured. Animals play an enormous role in war, conflict and peace keeping, their presence is often forgotten. It is heartening to hear that all these negative reports were totally inaccurate. I was so very delighted to learn that President Joe Biden owned a shelter animal. The photographs of the new president of the United States of America with his dog from a rescue centre filled animal rescuers all over the world with warm and fuzzy feelings. Finally, somebody in the White House who gets it! Good news indeed… then when these accusatory reports came flooding in, I could barely hold the tears back. It was more than I could to not despair for the fear and confusion that those poor brave and so very necessary canines would
PET OF THE WEEK
By The Bahamas Humane Society
Mario turned out to be very difficult to photograph as he kept trying to snuggle up to the photographer! This one-yearold started out as a yard cat at the Bahamas Humane Society but has decided he’d much rather be an indoor cat after all. He’s not at all bothered by other cats or even dogs, but his favourite are humans, especial-
ly when they’re trying to walk by. Those legs are just so great to twine up against. Mario’s very sociable and outgoing and would love to find a home of his own soon. If you’d like, come in to meet him or call 323-5138 for more information. Mario looks forward to tripping you up... erm, meeting you!
have felt over such a reckless and ruthless abandonment, if it were true, thank goodness, we are being reassure that those were totally inaccurate. So now we face a huge contradiction: American Humane president and CEO Robin Ganzert actually issued a statement saying that he was “ devastated by reports that the American government is pulling out of Kabul and leaving behind brave US military contract working dogs to be tortured and killed at the hand of our enemies.” On the other hand, the Pentagon insists that no military or service dog was left behind. These statements are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum. So who is telling the truth, which story it true? How can two such different stories be reported? What is the general public ever expected to believe? If there are no dogs left behind, then who is going to help those 150 dogs left behind from the Kabul Small Animal Rescue group? If nothing else, the uproar over these conflicting stories must showcase to the world, and the leaders, that millions of people out there really do care and want to see
• The BHS Thrift Shop is open. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11am to 3pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm. We sell gently used items to raise funds for the shelter. If you’d like to donate, we’d be grateful to accept your donation. If the shop is closed, please leave them in the main shelter. Thank you!
all animals treated with respect. All service animals need to be appreciated for the risky jobs that are forced upon them, they have no choice. Options are a luxury that animals do not get to enjoy very often. Another interesting question that arises in the midst of the social media confusion is, how did this all start? If indeed the animals shown in the photographs were not owned by the US government, then who on earth started the story and why didn’t the American Humane Society do more research before issuing their statement? Was this perhaps a political ploy...please, God, no. The well-being of service dogs does not need to join the ranks of political babble. I hope with all my heart that I can believe the latest reports that all serving American canines have got out on airlifts and are resting comfortably somewhere safe. We really need to be grateful for the service animals provide during any military conflict. It is disgraceful that they could ever become objects of political conflict.
(Photo/Linda Gill-Aranha)
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