SPORT and religion have never been the most compatible of partners, particularly in Bermuda.

Throughout the '80s and '90s there was an ongoing feud between certain churches and the road running/triathlon/cycling fraternity over who should have priority on the roads on a Sunday morning - those in competition or those on their way to service.

Eventually, compromises were made but not before at least one major international event disappeared from the local calendar.

Today, it's probably fair to say an uneasy truce prevails.

Yet the boycott that rocked tennis this week again highlighted an issue which Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association chief David Lambert accepted had no easy solutions.

Easy? No. But clearly there was a correct path to follow, and fortunately it appears a delicate matter has been resolved amicably, in the short term at least.

However, many observers must still be bemused over the decision by some of the Island's top players to initially pull out of the Colonial Open tournament because organisers chose to refuse the singles entry of youngster Jevon Roberts.

A Seventh Day Adventist, Roberts can't play on Saturdays because of a conflict with his religious beliefs, and knowing that the Open finals were scheduled for a Saturday, it was ludicrous that he should even consider entering the Colonial in the first place.

That certain players then decided to walk out because organisers refused to change their original schedule and also rejected Roberts' offer to default at match point of the semi-finals, should he reach that stage, was even more bizarre. No one player is bigger than the sport and in this case it was clearly wrong for the boycotting players to attempt to force the hand of those running the event.

And the strange offer of defaulting at the end of the semi-final just added fuel to the fire.

What serious competition would allow itself to be devalued by such a breach of ethics, and what message would that have sent out to other aspiring youngsters?

If Roberts chooses to be an Adventist, that of course is his right and privilege. But it's a choice he makes fully aware that as a sportsmen also, there will have to be sacrifices - a point illustrated no better than in the classic movie Chariots of Fire.

In Roberts' case, the sacrifices might ultimately be much greater than a place in the final of a local tournament - and for that reason it was odd that sponsors Colonial should attempt to diffuse this week's row by offering to finance the young player's future development.

It may sound blunt, even cruel, but in reality there's little point in investing in a player whose beliefs prevent him from playing on what is generally the busiest sports day of the week.

Should Roberts reach international standard, as some suggest he could, what point would there be in selecting him for the Island's Davis Cup team if he refused to play on a Saturday? Similarly, why would he enter a major overseas tournament knowing full well he could never win, with the semi-finals or even final almost guaranteed to be played on the weekend?

Roberts' case is a difficult one and as a player with so much talent, it's hard not to feel sympathy for the dilemma in which he finds himself.

But ultimately, the choices are his, and his only.

And neither the Colonial Open nor any other event should be blackmailed into changing their programme in order to accommodate one player.

* * * *

HOW refreshing to read the comments this week of exceptionally talented triathlete Tyler Butterfield, now studying and training Down Under.

Having finished a recent triathlon 17 minutes behind the winner and in 25th place out of just 30 competitors, Tyler called the experience "a taste of reality."

In Bermuda, Butterfield can wipe the floor with all but a handful of runners, cyclists and swimmers.

In Australia, he's quickly discovered there's no end of athletes in his own age group who can wipe the floor with him.

Fortunately, most of those who know Tyler realise, like his parents Jim and Debbie, he's no quitter.

He'll train harder, somehow find a way to bridge the gap, and ultimately succeed.

Which is more than can be said for one or two of our past athletes who rarely competed abroad but liked everyone to believe they were world beaters.

Had they experienced a similar "taste of reality'' they would likely have crawled into a hole never to be heard of again.

- ADRIAN ROBSON