WHY is it on so many occasions a national sports team travels to an event overseas and ends up tarnishes the name of Bermuda.

We've seen it in football, although not in recent years, we've seen it frequently with the national cricket squad and this month the women's softball team have added their name to the list of those who have disgraced themselves and their country.

Walking out of the opening ceremony at the English Speaking Caribbean Amateur Softball Tournament in the Bahamas last month as a "solid protest" against BASA officials and a scrap between certain players in the team hotel was inexcusable.

What were they thinking? Did they have any idea of the repercussions or the harm they were inflicting on the Island's reputation.

It took a decision by Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney to dispatch his permanent secretary Ellen Kate Horton down to the Caribbean to sort out the mess and apologise to the organisers for the embarrassment caused.

Yet two weeks later we're no wiser as to who was actually responsible for this reprehensible behaviour.

It was the same with the international cricketers who muddied the Island's reputation during their frequent trips overseas. The culprits were never identified.

Why is it that those with the authority to do so, never want to name and shame the players who have stepped out of line? It happens in other countries when similar incidents occur.

But never in this ever-so secret society in which we live.

And that's totally wrong. By protecting those who instigate the trouble, the entire team are tarred with the same brush.

Those who might have distanced themselves from the actions of others, or might even have done everything in their power to protect Bermuda's name, are still deemed to be guilty.

There are many on every team who wear the Island's colours with enormous pride. Should they be lumped in with those who couldn't give a hoot about whether they're discrediting their country?

It should be clear who was accountable for the disgraceful behaviour in the Bahamas, but so far only coach Braxton Stowe has been singled out and he insists he wasn't to blame.

But those who are should be named even before any disciplinary charges are considered.

They can protest their innocence at any hearing that might be called.

Those on the team know who's to blame, Ellen Kate Horton is aware of who was involved and probably has a good idea what exactly led to the opening ceremony walk-out.

Why can't the rest of Bermuda be told the names of those who caused the ruckus.

Oddly, in Bermuda at least, it always seem to be team members travelling abroad who think that they can do what they want, behave as they wish, safe in the knowledge that they probably won't get found out and if they do, then as individuals they won't be held accountable, only the team as a whole.

You rarely see it with individual competitors. The likes of Brian Wellman, Nicky Saunders, Elliot Hubbard, Flora Duffy, Tyler Butterfield, Peter Bromby, Michael Sims and so many more, have enjoyed success overseas, flying the Bermuda flag with pride and conducting themselves with dignity and the appropriate decorum.

At events such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Pan-Am Games and just recently the Island Games, Bermuda have always emerged as wonderful ambassadors. They've been picked out by TV commentators for their instantly recognisable uniforms, blue blazers and red shorts which have been highlighted at many opening ceremonies.

And it's difficult to remember a time, if any, when those Games competitors haven't endeared themselves to both their rivals and organisers.

But in team sports, it seems to be a different kettle of fish.

Softball in the past has received an annual grant from Government. Some might argue they shouldn't get one again. But of course that would punish all of those involved in the game when, as is often the case, it's only a small minority who have shamed the sport.

Let's name them, make them accountable for the embarrassment which, as it stands now, the entire team have to shoulder.

Sports Minister Blakeney acted swiftly to calm the waters and offered an appropriate apology to our neighbours to the south.

Now he can take the matter a step further.

– ADRIAN ROBSON