BUSINESSMAN Rolf Commissiong has questioned the continued sponsorship of Cup Match - Bermuda's premier sporting event - by tobacco firm Camel.

"With all due respect to (agents) Pitt and Company for the fine contributions that they have made over the years, it is somewhat disturbing that a practice that has virtually disappeared in the United States - the association of products such as tobacco being tied with leading sporting events - we in Bermuda are still finding that practice well and alive," he said yesterday.

"Tobacco is a legal commodity and no one is arguing about that. It is one that has been variously proven to have a damaging effect on one's health. Sport, on the other hand, is meant to celebrate life essentially, and to promote health, and only those who are healthy can participate in sports at the highest level."

He said in the past it had been a common strategy employed by US tobacco companies to associate themselves with sports and that essentially it was to project a wholesome image and also to encourage non-smokers to take up the habit.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the 2002 Camel Most Valuable Player Award fiasco, Mr. Commissiong, chairman of Black Star Communications, called for sweeping changes to be made to the decision-making process.

After both Cup Match clubs failed to agree on a single candidate for the award, sponsors Camel were called on to make the final decision, awarding St. George's colt Travis Smith the prestigious award over Somerset's Dennis Pilgrim nearly two weeks after the historic 100th anniversary match ended with a four-wicket Somerset victory at Somerset Cricket Club.

"This is not been the first time that this has happened. It probably hasn't been stretched out this long before or had as much interest with this delay or controversy surrounding the Man of the Match versus the Most Valuable Player," said Mr. Commissiong.

"But it has happened over the last four years where there's been a delay and it all boils down because of the two clubs' direct involvement in making the choice."

He also reckoned that whenever there was a Cup Match where two or more players were worthy contenders on the opposing sides, this sort of situation would always surface.

"This time it really hit us big time where it's really exposed the flaws of the current system.

"Three or four years ago I proposed, informally, to then-president of St. George's Louis (Red) DeSilva that perhaps the clubs should turn over the management of the Man of the Match award to an independent body, like for example Black Star Communications in the same way that we manage the Safe Hands award."

He added that the two clubs could perhaps make the presentation some time during the following week while the glow of Cup match was still present.

"I think that's the way to move forward here."

But while some of the sceptics still question Smith's selection and remain steadfast in the belief that Pilgrim should have received the award instead because he was on the winning team, Mr. Commissiong added: "Originally it was always my impression that it was a Man of the Match award rather than a Most Valuable Player award.

"I think that the Most Valuable Player came into play as result of increasing Americanisation of the whole sporting culture here if you will.

"I think that there is a slight distinction here. It is a Most Valuable Player award, but I also think that there is a stronger argument for the Most Valuable Player coming from the winning team. "If it's a Man of the Match award which is the norm in cricket both to the south of us and around the world, then I think that it boils down to individual achievements.

"I think that next year the clubs will have to establish a committee to chooe a wise-old-man, i.e. the adjudicator, and then let them make the announcement at the end of the match as we do with the Safe Hands award.

"Based upon that, I think that Travis Smith has the edge, but if you are talking about most valuable player, then I think that you have to take into consideration the candidate who also contributed to the team winning."

He also suggested that perhaps Bermuda should follow suit and adopt the West Indian model used in Test match cricket.

"I don't know whether or not they have an independent committee down there (West Indies), but I do know, however, that an adjucator is appointed who is highly respected that the clubs generally agree upon to abide by any decision arrived at by that adjucator.

"It may be a subtle distinction, but in this case it's a very important one."

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