Monday 27 January 2014

VASHON WINS.........AGAIN



Vashon McCarthy (Ascot High School) won his pet event (Shot Put U20) at the Queens Grace Jackson Meet January 25, 2013 at the National Stadium. While Derrick Pitt of KC gave him something to think about with a Put of 15.44m, it was not enough to overhaul Vashon's Put of 15.84m. Everyone else was a metre or more behind.

Well I guess this proves that although principal Murray hasn't seen Vashon at the school training, he (Vashon) is actually training.

I wait with bated breath for the outcome of the Ascot school board meeting on the subject of Vashon going to Champs. Personally, I just think the meeting is a way of allowing principal Murray to backpedal on his initial statement, but frankly, as long as it allows Vashon to throw at Champs, so be it.

©2014 Antonio Bell. All Rights Reserved.
Twitter: @antoniobellmc




Thursday 23 January 2014

VASHON SAGA CONT'D

I heard part of what Principal Murray said on the sports news in regards to his decision to bar Vashon McCarthy from participating at the 2014 Boys Champs............frankly I am still lost.

What I heard from Principal Murray is that Vashon has not trained at the school since September 2013. IN MY VIEW there is some gross miscommunication taking place here. Vashon is a National Age Group Champion, so his ability is not in question. Furthermore, this case is not unique, there have been stellar athletes during the years not training at their school but under guidance from coaches outside of the school; as stated by Hubert 'Mr Info' Lawrence in his article,

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140123/sports/sports7.html

Why is this even an issue?

I understand what Principal Murray is saying to some degree, but if there is an issue, here is what I would do.....just my two cents,

  • Call Vashon to my office and state my position regarding his training outside of the school programme, and ensure he understands my position ( I don't get the impression Principal Murray communicated with Vashon).
  • Call Vashon's mother and do the same thing (can be done via phone)
  • Call the Ascot coach 'McLaughlin' and aprise him 
  • Call Vashon's 'extra lesson coach' Vassell and do the same thing (can be done via phone)
  • If necessary call all of them to a meeting at my office and make sure everyone is on the same page
Why is this even an issue?

This did not need to reach here. The only one that will be impacted the greatest in all of this either way is Vashon McCarthy.


©2014 Antonio Bell. All Rights Reserved.
Twitter: @antoniobellmc
Email: info@antoniobell.com



Monday 20 January 2014

LOVEL PALMER QUITS INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

I constantly clamored for the inclusion of Lovel Palmer in the Reggae Boyz setup, and now to read that he has retired is very disappointing. This player IN MY VIEW has a lot to offer the National Team.

http://antoniobell.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-reggae-boyz-v-honduras-june-11-2013.html

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131124/sports/sports2.html

Thanks for everything Lovel, I hope someone can convince you to reconsider.

©2014 Antonio Bell. All Rights Reserved.
Twitter: @antoniobellmc
Email: info@antoniobell.com

VASHON MCCARTHY - ASCOT

Happy New Year friends.

Regarding Jamaican 16 year old discus and shot put phenom Vashon McCarthy from Ascot High School, let me start off by saying we really should hear from the Ascot principal in all of this. Barring an athlete due to assistance from another coach (outside of the school), in my estimation is bordering on lunacy.

I distinctly remember a Camperdown female discuss thrower (her name eludes me now) coming over to Kingston College to be helped by Leo Brown during his tenure at KC; I don't think her school barred her from the Girls Championships. There obviously has to be more to this story as I can't logically see the need to bar a student based on that fact only.

I am all for discipline prevailing in High Schools in all circumstances, but barring McCarthy based on help from another coach just does not make any sense to me at this point.

Vashon is an exceptional athlete, and as far as I am concerned, these types of athletes (even though in High School) should be treated as such. We need to go the extra mile to facilitate them so they can reach optimum performance and potential (without breaking the rules, but bend them slightly). I really don't want Vashon to be thrust into the 'where are they now category' in the future.

This thrower Vashon is a national treasure and I reiterate, should be treated as such, Principal Murray we need to know what is going on with Vashon. The 'no comment' response nah really fly right now. Furthermore, Vashon mother is 'cross, angry and miserable'.

There were once calls for Bolt not to go pro so young.....I am sure glad he didn't go pro so young .........lol.

©2014 Antonio Bell. All Rights Reserved.
Twitter: @antoniobellmc
Email: info@antoniobell.com