questioned not about politics but the continuing absence of new national cricket coach Roland Butcher tells us much about where Bermudians' priorities lie.

It also tells us there's a genuine concern that, with the ICC Trophy now just four months away, Bermuda's chances of qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time might be slowly diminishing.

PLP MP James, whose more prominent hat is that of Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president, probably won't agree, but there are many who feel the Island team's winter preparation isn't what it should be.

Advertisements for a national coach, who while formulating a long-term development plan for Bermuda cricket, was also expected to spearhead the Island's ICC challenge, went out almost a year ago.

A decision to appoint Butcher, the Barbados-born England Test player, was made some time last summer and warmly welcomed by most cricket players and fans.

But so far he's made only a fleeting appearance with the squad during last October's Red Stripe competition in the Caribbean.

Since then various dates have been offered for his permanent settlement.

December, January, February have all come and gone ... and still no Butcher.

The latest, we're told, is that he will take up the post later this month, leaving little time to prepare for what has been proclaimed as Bermuda's best-ever opportunity to qualify for the World Cup.

In the interim, Winston Reid continues to take charge, and no doubt is doing a fine job.

But wasn't the whole point of hiring a high profile ex-Test player such as Butcher aimed at giving our team an extra edge going into what will be a gruelling and highly competitive three-week tournament.

While some might argue that because cricket is out of season, there's not a whole lot Butcher could be doing to improve the squad at this time of year, most followers of the game would be far happier if he was at least getting to know the players and assessing their strengths and weaknesses in the little training time that is made available.

As his arrival date continues to be put back, fairly or unfairly, a question mark will continue to hang over his commitment.

It's all very well to talk about long-term development, but in both cricket and soccer Bermudians have heard plenty such rhetoric over the past couple of decades. What they want now is some sort of tangible success.

June and July's ICC Trophy in Toronto will never offer a better opportunity.

Hopefully that opportunity won't be allowed to slip away.

*** CANDY LEE Foggo's recent controversial selection as Female Sports Athlete of the Year continues to stir debate.

And it was no surprise that two letters to the editor this week in support of the selection panel's choice came from a current and a former bodybuilder.

Who else could possibly endorse such a ridiculous decision? No disrespect to Ms Foggo, but as we've said before bodybuilding has never been and never will be a sport, either here or anywhere else, and the vote in her favour has only served to make a complete mockery of the Government Sports Awards.

The declaration by one writer that bodybuilding will be presented as an Olympic sport in 2004 is as misguided as it is mischievous. Bodybuilding has as much chance of taking its place at the Athens Games as does Hulk Hogan and the rest of his professional wrestling phonies.

Foggo's victory in the Caribbean bodybuilding championships came by default as the three competitors who finished above her all tested positive for drugs.

Doesn't that say it all? If the panel were looking for a worthy champion, how come they completely overlooked road runner Anna Eatherley who remains unbeaten in any local road race she's entered over the past two years? *** IN AN impassioned plea for more funds to be allocated to local field hockey, lawyer Mark Pettingill asserted during a Senate debate last week that the sport was the Island's third most popular.

In the court room, such ludicrous embellishment might go unnoticed. In the real world, it doesn't.

ADRIAN ROBSON