Hartley Neita
DURING MY young years, football was not international. There was also no television.
The sports which were broadcast by radio around the world were cricket and boxing. I remember my father and his friends gathering at the home of one of our villagers who had a radio and listening to the West Indies/Australia cricket matches in Australia and the West Indies/England cricket matches in England. At nights, all night. They also gathered to listen to the broadcasts of the boxing bouts for the world heavyweight championships, especially when the legendary Joe Louis was fighting.
What was interesting then, was that the quality of the broadcasts was very poor. There was a hissing and sometimes roaring sound which often drowned the commentary. Yet, for days after, my father's friends were able to describe in detail the strokes played by George Headley and Ken Weekes, as if they were among the spectators.
RADIO COMMENTARY PURE
Today, the quality of radio commentary is pure. And, of course, because there is television we can now see every ball being bowled and every left hook and right cross by boxers. Immediately.
I was reminded of these changes which technology has brought when my children entertained me last Sunday on Father's Day at Cuddy'z in New Kingston to watch the Brazil/Australia World Cup football match.
Actually, my Father's Day celebration began the night before. This was at Cecil Cooper's 60th birthday party at his home on Skyline Drive in St. Andrew. His friends present were painters, potters, singers and others in the cultural world.
UNEXPECTED FLOOR SHOW
At midnight there was an unexpected floor show featuring an exciting Jamaican singer living in South Africa and who flew the two-day flight to be with him on this special day. Then there was young Keisha Patterson, the always-entertaining A.J. Brown, and one of my favourite singers, Pam Hall. To top it all, Cecil was joined by John McFarlane and David Reid as 'The Three Tenors' which had the 100 guests shouting for more.
Came dawn on Father's Day when my eldest daughter called to say she was dragging me out of sleep for a Father's Day breakfast at the St. Andrew Parish Church Hall in Half-Way Tree. This was followed by her older brother inviting me and his siblings to watch the football match at Cuddy'z.
Many of my male friends try to give the impression that they can do without their birthday parties and Father's Day celebrations. Not true. They try to be blasé, but you can see the pride puffing their faces when families and friends greet them on these anniversaries.
I am, therefore, looking forward to my next birthday and the next Father's Day with their cakes and puddings and ice creams. I will not need presents on these anniversaries.
Just their presence.
