THEY’RE celebrated around the world as cricketing legends.
But they’re now about to be celebrated on DVDs too.
Five of Barbados’ cricketing legends – Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Garfield Sobers, Seymour Nurse, Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith – have been honoured with the official launch of a series of DVDs chronicling their lives.
In the coming weeks, Joel Garner, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes will also be honoured on similar DVDs, bringing the total number of honorees to eight.
During Thursday’s launch at Cricket Legends of Barbados in Fontabelle, where the audience included Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy, and Minister of Sport Stephen Lashley, general manager at Cricket Legends of Barbados, Michael Lucas, said the DVDs promoted excellence.
Collaborative effort
He revealed that in a collaborative effort with the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation, the DVDs would be marketed globally.
Lucas said there were further plans, such as establishing an Internet website, where people from around the world could purchase items, as well as transforming the CLOBI Cup from an event into a festival.
One of the producers of the DVDs, Tony Cozier, despite being thousands of miles away in England, where he is covering the West Indies versus England series, was still able to talk to those on hand through the use of technology.
He expressed his delight in having played a role in the project’s development, while pointing out that the DVDs were not only about cricket.
“These legends contributed a great deal both on and off the field as far as West Indies cricket is concerned, and I urge you to enjoy the tales which the legends have to tell.”
In his address, Prime Minister Stuart pointed out that he was well versed in cricket, having represented Boys’ Foundation School and the University of the West Indies in cricket at the Intermediate level.
He stressed the need for not only Barbadians but also other West Indians to acknowledge the work of the legends of this island.
“Their contribution to cricket not only in Barbados but to the West Indies cannot be overstated. They have made us very proud,” he said, as he dazzled those in attendance with an impressive recollection of his fondest cricketing memories.
Sir Garfield, speaking at the launch, said there had never been a better feeling than stepping onto the field while wearing the maroon cap.
He said that each time he walked onto the field, he did his best to ensure that the West Indies were in a position to win, and that he was humbled and honoured that a DVD about his life and cricketing career was produced.
