Dynasty, or Death
2007 marks a watershed for West Indies cricket. It is the year which will define the beginning of a new dynasty, or the complete collapse of West indies Cricket. Overstatement? Let us consider the facts.It is a fact that Brian Lara, superhero batsman, icon of an era (like it or not) and general target practice for West Indian fans worldwide, is heading towards retirement.
It is also a fact that after this World Cup, the region will have stadiums in almost all the territories, most exclusive to cricket.
It is also a fact that West Indian cricket supporters could barely scratch the attendance of the 'old' facilities, much less these new ones, given the waning enthusiasm for a product which has no buzz factor.
A big, constant lie is that West Indians are fans of West Indian Cricket. They may be huge fans of the West Indies cricket team, but domestic and regional cricket has the kind of attendances that trend towards exactly what is happening at the World Cup.
The last real buzz for West Indies cricket regionally was the Stanford 20/20 cricket tournament in Antigua. The reason was simple. Money. Lots of it thrown at the teams with the public looking on via television and at the ground, eager to see sport which supposedly had a reason to be seen.
For the so called aficionados of the game, horrified by what they saw as a game pandering to the ego of an American billionaire, the importance was lost to them. There is no fundamental difference between Stanford and any large sponsors of major sport in the US. The sport and its playing icons are indeed playing to the tune of those who pay their way. It is for that very same reason that Kerry Packer is remembered by nearly all West Indies fans and players and the WICB officials of that time remain nameless, faceless, and irrelevant.
But why talk of dynasties starting or cricket going bust? It all comes back to the stadia. After this World Cup, these empty, mostly non multi-purpose stadia will be constant reminders of the false popularity of cricket in the region if they are allowed to stay empty.
Therefore the impetus must be to initiate the West Indies Professional League or to initiate the start of a 20/20 professional league played cross regionally and utilizing the facilities which have the words white elephants waiting to haunt them.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has not heralded any commercial successes in its tenure bar appointing Ken Gordon to the post. That success is purely an occupancy one, ala to the GDP of a small country increasing whilst a billionaire is visiting. Unfortunately, Mr Gordon has to share his wisdom and not his money and at present, West Indies cricket needs investment, direct, aggressive, and targeted at pulling playing talent and spectators into keeping their focus on cricket.
We have the stadiums, and we have potential investors (shortsighted people may not see them). We also have a public desperate for a successful regional team, and young people across the region eager to make a living in this region playing professional sport.
Let us embrace the opportunity to start our own dynasty from the ashes. The alternative is to engage in false pride and to continue to engage in a ritual which will not only fail, but to reinforce that failure to the public and the potential players. Take heed Caribbean, we are watching our own potential rise or fall.
* Kenny Green is director of FSi Creative and PixnPhones in Dominica. He is a brand-management specialist and West Indies cricket observer.