weren't deserved winners of last week's Government Athlete of the Year awards.

Anyone who returns with a medal from a major sports festival such as the Pan-Am Games -- MJ picked up gold, Bermuda's first-ever at these Games, and Smith silver -- is more than worthy of that kind of recognition.

And there should be no qualms either about those on whom special Achievement Awards were bestowed.

But flicking through the evening's list of recipients, it was obvious there were some notable absentees -- the most glaring being soccer star Shaun Goater and cyclist Elliot Hubbard.

Despite being arguably the highest profile of Bermuda's overseas athletes, neither Goater nor Hubbard were recognised last year, nor the year before.

Nor will be they next year -- unless, of course, those in Government who run this annual exhibition, change the selection criteria.

Never mind the fact that Hubbard, through his gutsy solo exploits at the last three major Games, and Goater, through his phenomenal goalscoring record over the last half a dozen seasons, have served as impeccable Bermudian ambassadors. The fact is they get paid for their sporting endeavours and that, says Government, rules them ineligible for any recognition.

Exactly why a professional cannot be selected Athlete of the Year remains something of a mystery. Is there some warped belief that financial remuneration somehow takes away from the sporting accomplishment? Or is it that Government believe those pro athletes are already suitably rewarded and therefore less appreciative of any trophies that might come their way? Whatever the reason, it would seem the selection panel have already broken their own rules.

Triple jumper Brian Wellman was named Athlete of the Year on five successive occasions, and what is he if not a professional? As far as we know, he's a full-time athlete, supported by sponsors, occasional appearance money and our own Elite Athletes' Fund.

Even when ranked among the world's top five, as Wellman has been on many occasions, it was hardly a lucrative career, yet nevertheless professional.

The IAAF (International Amateur Athletics Federation), the world's governing body, still like to think of all of their competitors as amateur, claiming they are paid only expenses.

But in this day and age, that of course is arrant nonsense. Superstars such as Michael Johnson, Maurice Greene, Haile Gebresalassie, Sergei Bubka, and former stars like Carl Lewis have all made millions of dollars from the sport.

Those who strike gold in the blue riband events at this year's Sydney Olympics will be financially secure for life.

So on that basis, isn't it a little naive of our Government Awards organisers to continue to ignore the likes of Goater and Hubbard? If the awards are to embrace Bermuda sports in their entirety, couldn't there at least be a separate category for professionals? *** SOCCER player Janeiro Tucker's claim in yesterday's Royal Gazette that rather than play for coach Clyde Best he'd prefer not to play for the national team at all, might be symptomatic of all that is wrong with sports on this island.

As we've said previously, in most places it's an enormous privilege to represent one's country. In Bermuda, some national team athletes would have us believe that it is they who are doing us the favour.

Tucker should be flattered he was even given national squad consideration and willing and able to put personal conflicts aside for the good of the sport and his country.

His attitude of "unless there's a coach I like, I won't play'' smacks of arrogance and self-importance -- character flaws which the game can do without.

Tucker says he doesn't care if he plays for Bermuda again. With that attitude Best and his fellow coaches probably feel the same way.

-- ADRIAN ROBSON