Dear Sir,

The thing about good news is that bad news can often be right around the corner. Today, I am overjoyed in the knowledge that quite the opposite is the case after Bermuda booked their place in the semi-finals of the Inter-Continental Cup with a thoroughly professional win over the Cayman Islands and Clarence Hill was belatedly inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Any elation felt over Bermuda qualifying for the cricket World Cup and St. George?s winning Cup Match was effectively dampened by first the untimely passing of Terry Burgess and then the unseemly events to emanate from the annual classic at Wellington Oval.

However, the most recent news is why true sports fans persist. And what better way to be reassured of the redeeming qualities of my homeland than to hear of Clarence?s induction and the success of the national cricket team in Toronto.

It may be said that Clarence?s induction was a year late, but better late than never. It was heartening, too, to see Troy Darrell suitably honoured. Troy was ranked in the top ten of the world?s middleweights until his retirement and was a tremendous servant to his trade. The only regret, I can only imagine, is that his mother, a truly remarkable lady who has sadly departed, was not around on the night when his deeds were recognised in perpetuity.

Given the furore over Bermuda qualifying for the cricket World Cup, I would not be surprised if Clay Smith?s side were nominated and subsequently inducted in 2006. It was a quite sensational achievement that has been backed up by what has just gone on in Toronto.

Personally, I am very happy for Clay but also for Dean Minors, who has completed his rehabilitation in international cricket through tremendous adversity over the past few years. To see him play such an integral role in Ireland and Canada was pleasing indeed.

Clay, I know, has his doubters, but his recent performances with the bat and in leading the side admirably against the odds in Canada should have allayed whatever concerns persist that he is not the right man for the job.

Bermuda?s success, as Clay stated, is not about one or two players but the team, and the progression of Irving Romaine and Ryan Steede has been a very pleasant surprise, as has been the continued excellence of Dwayne Leverock and the commitment to the cause of Saleem Mukkudem. We have still to resolve the problematic opening batting situation but I am sure that Clay, Gus Logie and Arnold Manders, the chairman of selectors, will tend to what looks to be a most pressing need.

Finally, a word about the player whose individual brilliance started the ball rolling against the United States in Ireland ? Janeiro Tucker. The first signs that Janeiro could be something special at international level were seen in Malaysia during the 1997 ICC Trophy. This, I remind you, was a tournament that did as much as anything to set Bermuda cricket back 11 years, but Janeiro was the lone shining light.

After a quite scintillating century against Papua New Guinea to rescue victory from sure defeat, I dubbed him ?The Future?. These assertions were repeated whenever we were team-mates at club and international level, up until my last involvement with the national team in 1999.

Janeiro?s response, however, was unerringly the same: ?I?m not the future, Dex. I?m going when you go.?

Thankfully, that has proved not to be the case.

Yours in sport (played the right way),