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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 59 - Monday June 21, 2004 |
The Real Score
 Henry J Johnson Ed.D
Without doubt the June 19, 2004 soccer game Dominica vs Mexico, was the most thrilling sporting event in Dominica�s history. Never mind the 2 for 1 cricket victories over the hapless teams of the Windward Islands in the sixties, or the near beheading of many Dominican batsmen, by the duo team of Pace bowlers Hall and Griffith during the same time period. Barring what may happen in Mexico on June 27, this game will go down in the annals of DA sports as one of the most memorable sporting engagements on record.
For those of you who were not fortunate to attend this event, take a deep breath and allow me to take you through a mystical journey of culture, sports and patriotism� You were born and raised in Dominica, and witnessed many sporting events such as the time when Cricket records were broken by Dominican batsmen, such as Irvin Shillingford, and Dominica was represented on the West Indies team at various times by Norbert Phillip, Grayson Shillingford and Lockhart Sebastian, and soccer was played locally with minimum success against visiting teams, and all the while soccer fans remained excited, energetic and enthusiastic and still hopeful that one day the island team would get some respect.
That day of respect came on June 19, 2004 in San Antonio, Texas, a U.S. state that is populated by Mexicans. Imagine yourself traveling hundreds of miles to witness the occasion, knowing full well that the results could be lopsided and that a loss was inevitable. Ok, so you brace yourself for the worse and hope for the best, because as we are all aware, anything can happen in a soccer game. On game day you are met by dozens of friends and former schoolmates who like yourself are foolhardy and positive that your team can come out on top.
We shook hands, hugged and kissed, and laughed until our eyelids were wet. What resulted was a fascinating, unplanned reunion of Dominicans of various backgrounds who shared previously untold stories of their youth, educational experiences and current vicissitudes of life in the USA. There was no bickering, no negative conversations and unpleasant political discourse...just pure expressions of delight that finally a team from Dominica had made it on the world stage.
Many pictures were taken with friends and future friends (Mexicans) alike, as the Mexican soccer fans were intrigued by the colorful display of our national colors on t-shirts, flags, caps, wristbands, and scarves. These Mexican fans were taking group photos with us using their cell phones, 35 mm cameras, digital and video cameras, as if we were a rare species that they needed to preserve for all time.
At game time, although outnumbered by this drum beating, horn blaring, wave-making multitude in the stands, we Dominican fans felt that we were matching them in intensity while dancing, singing, shouting and cheering on our young football heroes.
Yes, heroes who had been thrust into sudden limelight, bustling elevators, towering skyscrapers, a hotel and shopping complex that could swallow Roseau. Of course they missed their laid back environment, home cooked meals of yams, dasheen, plantain, cocoy, vianne-parfume, to name a few of our delectable dishes.
Hotel fare is not exactly filling and strengthening and was probably detrimental to the success of the team. When the first goal scored, the noise from the Mexican fans was so deafening that you would think that the Alamodome stadium had exploded. However, the boys from the Nature Isle played extremely hard, hoping to win, although the deck was stacked high against them.
Notwithstanding the outcome, what was lost on the field was our gain in the energy, rekindled friendships, patriotism and love that was generated in the stands. No matter what happens in Sunday�s game or in the future, this Dominica team will forever remain an indelible part of our memory. They provided us with energy, joy and a renewed sense of camaraderie and patriotism so priceless that we will never be able to repay them for these invaluable gifts. So now you know the real score�.
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