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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

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Tommy Robinson, a pioneer supreme By FRED STURRUP NG Associate Editor frederick@nasguard.com Thomas Augustus Robinson is in his 71st year. To me, it seems not that far in the past when he emerged out of a tight group of sprinters inclusive of Tex Lunn, Robert Isaacs, his brother Irrington Isaacs and Leonard 'Skeeter' Dames as the outright fastest man in the country. The year was 1955 and I was a mere lad of six, one of the many youngsters from "Out East" who idolized their residential heroes. Tommy was our shining star. In the ensuing years as his career blossomed regionally, on the collegiate circuit in the United States and internationally, Tommy became a unique marketing item for The Bahamas. It was much more than his superior swiftness on the track. Tommy was elegance personified. His grace, the smoothness of his movements, whether at all-out speed or while talking a stroll, were aspects of deep admiration. I've been told by veteran European media colleagues that Tommy was considered somewhat magical. It had something to do with his magnetic demeanor. People gravitated toward Tommy. His humility always, overshadowed his stardom. Personally, I remember his kind assistance to me, a raw media rookie at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. So today, in reflection it is easy to make the argument that despite the fact that an Olympic medal somehow eluded him through four competitions (1956, 1960, 1964, 1968), he has been our best track and field ambassador, ever. The real lament about Tommy was the timing of his era. In recent decades, he would have also had the luxury of competing in International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Championships indoor and outdoor, taking his talent to the rich European Circuit, participating in the Golden League and exploring the world of huge sports endorsements. Yes, it would have been much different for the "Out East Sports King", whose personality would have added wonderfully to his marketing value. Nevertheless, "he" and "we" settle for what it was. It was about him dominating the best of Jamaica and Trinidad and competing on even terms with the Cuban Great Enrique Figuerola. It was about him battling head-to-head with the best of the United States at the time and having his share of success with them all, except 'Bullet' Bob Hayes. It was about him being the first Bahamian to hold a world record (300 meters back in 1964/65 - Danny Smith in the 50 meters high hurdles was the other). It was about him winning three silver medals in the Commonwealth Games 100 dash and one gold medal in the 200. It was about Tommy establishing a record that lasts to this day, silver medals in the Commonwealth 100 event for three consecutive games (1958, 1962 and 1966). I think of him being the lone Bahamian on the stadium march of athletes in both 1958 (in Cardiff, Wales) and 1962 (Perth, Australia). Then, one pauses to ponder the magnitude of a 20-year-old Bahamian athlete with the weight of an entire country on his shoulders in 1958, shocking the world by winning the 200 yard dash and finishing second in the century. The vast majority of the stadium folks and others watching via the then limited television coverage, knew nothing about The Bahamas, before beholding the young awesome athlete by the name of Thomas Augustus Robinson. Incredibly, there's a story Tommy told me of an incident one day shortly after he returned home from Wales. "I was walking along Bay Street, feeling good to be back home and quite satisfied because of what had just happened in Cardiff. A fellow came up to me and said 'Man, how come you didn't win the 100 too?' Needless to say, I was astounded," related Tommy. In a way, that ridiculous question, innocently asked of Tommy many years ago, typifies the lack of real understanding for how truly great he has been for The Bahamas in particular and the Caribbean region generally. That's why it's such a pleasure for me to include this chapter in my "Sports Down Memory Lane Series." Saturday, May 30, 2009