Hill's heavenly reward

May 31, 2004

Dear Sir,

I write this letter with a great deal of sadness. I hear on television that Clarence Hill was not inducted into the Bermuda Hall of Fame as our only Olympic bronze medallist.

I am so glad that God remembers our sins no more but it is clear that men never forget.

Clarence you are in God's Hall of Fame through his son Jesus Christ. Keep pressing on Clarence as your reward awaits you in Heaven.

A SISTER IN CHRIST

Warwick

Hill belongs in Hall

May 31, 2004

Dear Sir,

What message is being sent to Bermuda's young athletes if boxer Clarence Hill can go all the way to Olympic victory (the only medal in Bermuda's history) but still not be acknowledged in the Sports Hall of Fame?

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the inductees, as they were acknowledged for their endeavours and achievements. I am not suggesting that any do not deserve the honour of being inducted into the Hall of Fame ... to be honest, I am more than a bit perplexed as to why Clarence Hill was not inducted. If anyone on the selection committee is willing to help me understand, I welcome your comments. Again, congratulations to ALL other inductees!

AKILAH BECKLES

Bermuda High School for Girls

Committee failed us

Dear Sir,

Please allow me the opportunity to express my heartfelt disappointment and anger concerning the omission of Mr. Clarence Hill as one of the first inductees to the Sports Hall of Fame.

I am a young, black person, who not only attended the ceremony on Saturday night, but I was one of the many Bermudians who participated in the submission of candidates to the selection committee. Mr. Hill was not one of my initial submissions, but when the entire list of candidates was mailed back to me, I knew that no matter what he may have done in his personal life, Mr. Hill would have to be one of the first inductees into the Hall of Fame. The highest accomplishment in any sport has to be the attainment of a medal in the Olympic Games. To qualify, represent and win a medal for your country in the Olympics is indeed the pinnacle of success in sport. There is only one person in Bermuda who has done this and that is Clarence Hill.

There were many people inducted who, if you took a close look at their personal lives, have not lived stellar ones. That is not why they were nominated. They were nominated to “reward, honour and preserve for posterity, achievements of Bermudians who have obtained prominence and distinction in sport ...” (Dale Butler).

As I look at Hall of Famers in the United States, many have not lived model lives. However, they were not omitted for their personal mistakes outside of their sport. The only one I could find was baseball's Pete Rose, and that was because he had brought disgrace to his sport.

Clarence Hill did not do this. Mr. Hill was good enough to be selected in the top 25 (I am interested in finding out the number of Bermudians that chose him). He is indeed qualified, more than anyone else, to be one of the first inductees. Even though he will probably be inducted in the next session, it is indeed a major snub not only to him, but also Bermuda and especially young, black men. Mr. Hill is an excellent example to the youth that if they direct their energy and talents, and if they are disciplined enough, they can attain ultimate success. He is also an example to young people on how not to live. As a young person, the feeling that I was left with was that no matter what good you may have done in your life, that if you make mistakes, your good acts are nothing!

I would like to congratulate all the inductees and those nominated as they are all worthy recipients of recognition in the Sports Hall of Fame. I would also like to commend the committee for the whole process, especially the inclusion of all of Bermuda. The whole event on Saturday night was superbly organised and a wonderful occasion.

But no matter what kind of spin you put on it, political, moral or just plain discriminatory, the committee failed Bermuda by omitting Mr. Clarence Hill as one of the first inductees into the Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame. Let's hope that with all the good the committee has done that the Bermuda public does not judge them as harshly for their mistake, as I feel that they have judged Clarence Hill for his.

BAFFLED BERMUDIAN

Sandys Parish

Who hasn't had troubles?

June 1, 2004

Dear Sir,

It's about the sport ... I am totally amazed that Clarence Hill was snubbed as an automatic inclusion to Bermuda's inaugural Hall of Fame.

Despite the voting requirements, process, etc., no Bermudian athlete, individual and team has reached the pinnacle of their sporting career as Clarence Hill. He brought immediate name recognition, pride and status to Bermuda as a country in 1976 and despite the then Government's inability to ensure that their sporting heroes are recognised and rewarded, he has prevailed.

Yes, he has had his troubles, who hasn't? He may not be as ‘popular' as other inductees, but Mr. Hill should have been included. His results in his sport of choice speak for themselves and he should have been automatically recognised for such.

His failure to sustain and maintain a ‘normal' life after sports is not totally his fault. Bermuda failed Clarence Hill then and unfortunately, the present sporting environment continues to fail its young. Whether it's the May 24th race, Carifta Games, or the Olympics, Bermuda has to reward their athletes for their individual effort. A travel voucher or free trip to another event just isn't sufficient.

SAM B.

Warwick

P.s. Why spend millions of dollars each year on tourism and travel benefits, when an iron-on patch on Mr. Goater's or Mr. Richards' football jersey will yield greater benefits to Bermuda?