Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

The Windies Cricket Team Strike and Why Women are Needed on the WICB!

The Windies players hail their fans
Originally uploaded by caribbeancricket

"Oh no, not again!", might have been the retort of some West Indian cricket fans, when they heard the news of the West Indian Cricket team strike, for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.

But unfortunately, it's deja vu again!

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) are at an impasse over unpaid monies to the West Indian players who toured England in April-June 2009.

(The WICB is the governing body for West Indies cricket, while WIPA is the union representing West Indian players).

The WICB has said that it has offered to pay the players, five (5) times their regular salaries...

But WIPA is claiming that:

1) It's more than just salaries that's at issue, it's the proper insurance coverage for players when they're injured.

2) It has no contract with the WICB for this upcoming series against Bangladesh.

Well, whatever the reasons, it seems that tomorrow's match against Bangladesh might be in jeopardy, unless the WICB and WIPA can iron out their differences.

(Bangladesh is in the Caribbean for  its upcoming series against the West Indies. The tour schedule for Bangladesh vs West Indies can be found, here).

The interesting thing to note is that if the West Indian players forfeit the match, then the West Indies Cricket Board will have to compensate Bangladesh to the tune of US $2 million, as per International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket rules.

(The ICC is the governing Board for cricket, internationally).

Well, we hope that the WICB and WIPA can reach an amicable agreement, so that the WICB won't be fined that amount.

But one wonders why both parties can't seem to have a standard contract in place, that's suitable to both of them.

...Is it so hard for the WICB to be fair to WIPA and vice versa?

It's a real disgrace that for almost every other major tour, these two organizations seem to be at logger-heads over standard contracts.

But I blame the WICB...they have delayed implementing a Pay-by-Performance contract and their procrastination has been like a noose around their neck.

Players should never be paid five (5) times their standard salaries, unless their performance individually and as a team is excellent!

And the West Indies' results on their recent tour in England, was a downright disgrace!

[We lost the test series 0-2,the One Day Internationals 0-2 and just managed to make the semi-finals of the ICC twenty20 (20/20) tournament].

...with all sorts of excuses made about the weather impeding performance.

I think that it's now time for a new WICB to be established, with fresh ideas, guts and business savvy, who can negotiate in the best interest of West Indies cricket: the fans, the players, the sponsors and the West Indian governments, who by mandate, have to pump money into the management of West Indies Cricket.

Until then, we will forever be having this tug-of-war between the WICB and WIPA.

My humble suggestion - the WICB needs to include at least three (3) women, who are prudent, business and financially savvy, with guts, and who can get things done, on that Board!...

(Presently, there are no women on the WICB...just take a look at the names of all the Directors on the Board - all men!)

WICB...you need the balance of women on that Board, to help you to think straight!...

Your high testosterone levels (hence, huge egos), are interfering with effective decision-making!

Nuff said! (Jamaican, meaning, enough has been said :)).

(I would like to thank  caribbeancricket for the use of their Flickr inset picture above, of the Windies Cricket team hailing their fans).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Article, "West Indies players threaten boycott", by Cricinfo staff -Cricinfo.com, July 8,2009

2) Power 106FM 5:00 p.m. news, July 7,2009

3) Nationwide Radio's Evening Programme - "Cover Story", July 7,2009

4) Television Jamaica News at 7:00 p.m., July 7,2009

Asafa Powell Will Pose Challenge to Bolt and Gay in Berlin

Asafa Powell Bonita Jamaica Fastest
Originally uploaded by Bonita Jamaica

Ok friends, you may be saying that I'm crazy, but I believe that 2009 will be the year for Asafa Powell.

[Asafa Powell  is the former World recorder holder in the 100 metres(m), having set the record of 9.74 seconds in 2007. This record was subsequently broken by Usain Bolt (9.69 seconds) in the 2008 Beijing Olympics].

I saw him at the Jamaica Amateur Athletic (JAAA) Championships - on Saturday, which was the Jamaica National Trials for Berlin World Championships and the CAC Games in Cuba and he gave Usain Bolt a good run for his money!

Bolt had to get into 3rd gear to pass Asafa at the 70 metre line mark in the 100m.

Usain Bolt won the race in 9.86 seconds (secs), Powell came in second at 9.97 secs and Michael Frater came in third at 10.02 secs.

Thus all three (3) have qualified to represent Jamaica in the 100m in the Berlin, Germany, in August.

Most of Jamaica's senior athletes are currently on the European IAAF Golden League Tour and there is an expected showdown between Bolt and Tyson Gay at these games.

(Tyson Gay is the world's third fastest man in the 100m, having run 9.77 secs in June 2008).

However, I feel Asafa will be the dark horse, if not at the Golden Leagues, at the Berlin World Championships, for the 100m.

He seems to mean business this time around, having rebounded from months of injury.

(Apparently he's upset over the flack he's been getting in the Jamaican media and from Jamaicans, re his inability to perform at major events like the World Championships and the Olympics and is determined to prove that he's still the greatest at the 100m).

He told the media that he's going on the Golden League Tour to recover his gold medal and I believe him.

I think Jamaicans should too...what about you...do you think it's Asafa's time to shine?

(I would like to thank Bonita Jamaica for the use of her Flickr inset photo of Asafa Powell at the end of his world record run in June 2006 of 9.77 secs).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Television Jamaica June 27-29,2009

2) Asafa Powell biography- Wikipedia.org

3) Michael Frater biography- Wikipedia.org

4) Tyson Gay biography - Wikpedia.org

Congratulations, FC Barcelona: The 2009 UEFA Champions League Champions!

FBL-EUR-C1-FINAL-ESP-ENG-BARCELONA-MANUTD-CUP
Originally uploaded by pedrofpgodinho

A Big GWAP Congratulations goes out to the Spanish Football Club, FC Barcelona, who are the UEFA Champions League winners for 2009!

(They beat Manchester United 2-0.)

In a stunning performance where 86% of their passes connected with members of their own team,  Barcelona effectively clipped the wings of the Manchester United defense tonight.

With Samuel Eto'o's goal in the 10th minute of play and Lionel Messi's goal in the 70th minute...

Manchester United (Man U) just had no answer...

Their forwards tried, they really did, but alas, could not score...

Barcelona completely emasculated them, so much so that they were reduced to playing a defensive game.

It was great to see Carles Puyol, Barcelona's captain for tonight, lift the UEFA Champions League Cup...he did a marvellous job at offering on-field leadership to his troops...this guy (a defensive midfielder) was all over the field...he defended well and effectively passed the ball to his forwards..and nearly scored once.

A big congrats also goes out to Pep Guardiola (Barcelona's manager/coach)... this young man's a live wire and very effective at his job.

Can you imagine him wining his first Champions League Championship after just retiring from playing international football in 2002...beating the stalwart manager/coach, Manchester United''s Sir Alex Ferguson,to it for this year?...what an accomplishment!

Finally, congratulations also go out to UEFA, who fielded an experienced referee in the form of the 40-year old Swiss - Massimo Busacca, for this match..

We want to say to Man U...well played throughout the season, but the better team won, tonight...

We wish you all the best for next year!

Congratulations, again, Barcelona!!!!

(I would like to thank pedrofpgodinho for the use of his Flickrinset photo, above, of Carles Puyol holding up the UEFA Champions League Cup and other members of FC Barcelona, celebrating with him).

Gillian

Sources Include

CVM Television, May 27,2009

Congratulations, Usain Bolt!

Fastest man on Earth, Usain Bolt
Originally uploaded by Bart's Dad

Friends, Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog extends our heartiest congratulations and Big Up!! to Usain Bolt...

He ran 14.35 seconds in the 150 meter (150m) Manchester Street Race, in England today!

(Usain is the world-record holder at the 100m, 200m and in the 4x100 meter relays.)

It is the fastest time run by any person on earth, at that distance! (He has now bettered the 14.8  seconds run by Italian, Pietro Mennea. in 1983.)

========

Usain, continue running like the champion you are and we hope to continue to see great things from you at this year's Jamaica Qualifications for Berlin and in Berlin, itself, at the World Championships!

(I would like to thank Bart's Dad for the use of his Flickr inset picture above showing Usain Bolt, with his medal, today!)

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Television Jamaica, May 17,2009

2) Article,"Bolt skims over water in Manchester", Reuters News - via TVNZ.co.nz, May 17,2009

Lessons to be Learned From the UEFA Barca-Chelsea Match

Ok friends, I know that most Chelsea fans are still seeing red (anger that is), over Chelsea's failed bid to make it to the UEFA Champions League Finals on Wednesday...

(The UEFA Champions League is one of the premier football competitions for European football clubs...it is held annually.)

Everyone is blaming Norwegian referee, Tom Henning Ovrebo, for his bad refereeing decisions during the match between Barcelona (Barca) and Chelsea on Wednesday....in a finals that will be talked about for a long time.

For those who missed it...Chelsea drew 1-1 with Barcelona, in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal match on Wednesday. (The match was played at Stamford Bridge in England.)

Since Barca scored a goal away from home, and their first leg semifinal match with Chelsea was drawn 0-0, Barca got two (2) points, which propelled them into the final match with Manchester United, on May 17.

But what many will be taking about are:

1) Norwegian referee, Tom Henning Ovrebo's failed decision to award four penalties to Chelsea, based on two blatant hand balls in front of goal and two fouls on Chelsea players, in front of goal.

2) The angry reaction of Chelsea's players...especially Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba, after the decisions had been made. (The inset video above shows Didier Drogba's angry reactions after the match, so much so, that he was yellow-carded after the match.)

Chelsea fans are so angry that there are reports that UEFA had to smuggle referee Ovrebo out of England, for fear that he would have been killed. He has since been under police protection in his home in Norway.

Well I guess Chelsea fans can say that the referee did not play fair...

I say that Chelsea, being the seasoned football club that they are, should never have underestimated Barcelona (Barca)...

For in the second minute of overtime, Andres Iniesta of Barcelona, scored a surprise goal which secured Barca's place in the finals, even though Barcelona were down to ten (10) men.

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So what lessons can be learned from the Barca - Chelsea match?

1) In sports, as in life...there will be moments of unfairness. Let's face it friends...life is unfair..and you must prepare to meet life's unfairness, head-on.

Chelsea, after scoring that goal in the 9th minute of play, should have secured their place in the final, by scoring at least two more goals.

Fooling around with Barca - a hungry, lion-hearted football club, was a very wrong strategic decision by Chelsea's coach, Guus Hiddink.

2) Always expect that a very crucial match..one essential to your winning - ultimately or directly, will be refereed/umpired by some knuckle-head.

This happens in so many different sports, it's not funny...the tournament officials choose referees/umpires for essential or final matches, who may be inexperienced or who may be having an "off-day"...teams must learn that they must  play their best and have some in reserve, to offset bad umpiring/refereeing decisions.

3) No matter how bad the refereeing/umpiring is, don't get overly-angry with the referee/umpire...you will suffer some dire consequences if you do. There is always the opportunity for your club to make an official complaint to the match officials.

If the officials don't take your complaints seriously, you can always boycott the games and rally other prominent clubs to boycott the games, until the officials do take your complaints seriously.

(Didier Drogba has been apologizing profusely for his behavior on Wednesday. It has even affected his image as a role-model for young kids in Britain.

He is to face UEFA officials next week when he will be fined and penalized for his behaviour after the match.)

4) Never underestimate your opponent...no matter how dead or disabled you think he/they may be, finish him/them off, with a decisive win..

...Many opponents "act wounded", so that you will let  your guard down (you'll underestimate his/their ability to fight you and hence you'll play around with him/them). When you do, he'll/they'll pounce on you and you won't be able to recover...

Chelsea underestimated Barca's will, hunger and ability to win, because Barca was down by one goal and only had ten (10) men on the field...only to have Barca rally in overtime and score.

5) Last, but certainly not least - It ain't over 'til it's over...in football, as in any other sport, or in life for that matter...never give up, always try, be tenacious, you just may be able to eke out a win, as Barca did in the 2nd minute of overtime!

Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog wishes Barca our heartiest congratulations and to Chelsea we say, we grieve with you, but please don't grieve for too long. Please put your energies into how you will win the UEFA Champions League, next year, God willing!

(I would like to thank WEWONTBACKDOWN for the use of their inset YouTube video, above.)

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Chelsea-Barcelona UEFA Champions League Match, via CVM Television, May 6,2009

2) Article, "Norway Police Monitor Home of Chelsea-Barca Ref", via Javno Sports, May 8,2009.

3) Article, "UEFA receives ref's report from Champions League semi", via FoxSoccer.com, May 8,2009.

Usain Bolt Will Miss Jamaica International Invitational Meet

Usain Bolt
Originally uploaded by tomharpin

Please see the background to this post, here.

We promised to update you as to whether or not Usain Bolt will be running on Saturday, at the Jamaica International Invitational Meet.

No friends, unfortunately, he will not be running.

According to Television Jamaica News, Bolt underwent a minor operative procedure to remove the thorns from the sole of his feet, at the St. Josephs Hospital in Kingston, last night.

The procedure was also necessary to ensure that all pieces of the thorns were out and to properly clean his wounds.

He will be back in training in a week's time and his next meet will be his 150 metre race against top international sprinters, in Manchester, England, on May 17,2009.

(I would like to thank tomharpin  for the use of his Flickr inset picture of Usain Bolt, above).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Television Jamaica News at 7:00 p.m., April 30,2009

2) Wikipedia Article, "Usain Bolt to run 150 metre race in Manchester",WikiNews.com, March 19,2009