THERE really was no need for a Friday Forum this week.

Our readers had already spoken.

In an overwhelming response to the Sports Minister's mishandling of the Annual Sports Award which saw swimmer Roy Allen Burch, the first choice of the nominating committee, replaced by world racquets champion James Stout, dozens of letters written by all segments of society have poured into The Royal Gazette expressing disappointment, even outrage.

So far, minister Glenn Blakeney has neither offered an apology nor a credible explanation.

He hasn't had the courtesy to resign and Premier Ewart Brown has refused to fire him.

Caught in the crossfire of this series of events are two fine athletes, both of whom have represented the country with enormous pride.

But, sadly, this year the public will reflect on an event which, in the Male Athlete of the Year category, produced no winners, just losers – and let's put the minister in that last category.

Poor James Stout, caught in the crossfire, was elevated to a position which the nominating committee felt he didn't quite deserve. Burch was denied an award by political interference. And Tyrone Smith, second in the ballot, learned he was eventually rated second-best to Stout.

What a mess!

Burch, along with fellow swimmer and Female Athlete of the Year Kiera Aitken, reached the pinnacle of their sport, flying Bermuda's flag at last Summer's Beijing Olympics.

They might not have advanced out of their respective preliminary rounds but performances prior to the Games were such that they could line up against the world's best in one of the world's most competitive sports. Is that not worthy of recognition?

Perhaps what they achieved out of the pool was even more significant. In what is a predominantly white sport, they made a huge statement.

Sorry to play the race card . . . but in this case it's well worth mentioning.

They used to say 'white boys can't jump', so basketball's out of the question. Larry Bird proved them wrong.

And they said 'black boys' couldn't swim.

Guess what, they were wrong again!

And Roy Allen and Kiera have made them eat their words.

It's not exaggerating to say that our two Olympic swimmers might have done more than any to integrate the sport.

Perhaps Blakeney, in Burch's case, didn't think that was enough. And he's entitled to his opinion. But in this case, his opinion completely tainted this year's awards ceremony.

Given the close nature of the committee's secret ballot, which indicated members had thoroughly researched their subject, he should never have interfered. Former Sports Minister Randy Horton was quoted in this paper as saying it wasn't something he would have done.

Burch says he'll continue to pursue his goals and last Saturday's setback won't deter him. But we all know how he feels right now.

If he was annoyed at the way Government treated him in the past, what must he think about them now?

It was his criticism of that Government when interviewed by this newspaper that apparently ignited this latest controversy.

Blakeney flat out denies it. He even said the issue was never discussed at Cabinet level, and it was his decision alone to overturn the committee's final selection, as if his wisdom was vaguely comparable with that of a committee which had met on several occasions and studied performances throughout the year to determine a winner.

But funnily enough, his fellow Cabinet member, Terry Lister, who happens to be Burch's uncle, offered a different account. It was, he said, a "collective Cabinet' decision to deny Burch. He wrote that in an e-mail to this newspaper.

Who do we believe? Who's lying? And for what reason?

It's difficult not to sympathise with Stout. He would have been mildly surprised that he was placed in the top three, let alone chosen the eventual winner (which, of course, he wasn't).

Nothing should be taken away from his achievements. He could do nothing more than to win the world championships in his chosen sport.

But, as it has been pointed out this week, that sport – racquets – is played by very few of people. There are around 20 courts in England, almost all in private schools. And of course, in Bermuda, there are none.

To win the championship, Stout had to have previously won a major tournament, in his case the British Open, to make his challenge for the world title – a title he assumed by winning a single two-legged match against amateur Harry Foster.

That in itself is a great accomplishment. But what has to be considered is that racquets is basically an invitational sport. It isn't open to everyone. And it's doubtful that any other Bermudian plays it.

So both Stout and Burch have become victims of the Sports Minister's indiscretion.

Here are a few other points that the public should be made aware of which perhaps puts this whole shambles into perspective:

• If Blakeney was so keen to change the top award, perhaps he could explain why neither he nor anybody from Government was at the airport to welcome their new world champion when he arrived back. And did he send off a letter of congratulation or even offer his congratulations in the House of Assembly when the opportunity presented itself?

• On radio this week, Blakeney applauded the work of his nominating committee despite the fact that he over-ruled them. But he didn't have the courtesy of informing them of his decision. They only learned their efforts had been discarded by the minister via the media. It wasn't until some read last Saturday's Gazette that they found out there had been a change of plan. Hopefully, that committee will now resign en bloc and let Blakeney stew in his own juice.

• The public would never have been informed that not only was Burch displaced as number one choice but second in the ballot, long jumper Tyrone Smith, was also ignored, had it not been revealed by this newspaper.

• And finally, if Blakeney still holds down this same position a year from now, he will demand that the committee offer him three names and make the final decision himself. How arrogant is that? What's the point of having a committee? And who on earth would want to stand on that committee knowing that Blakeney, whose knowledge of sports has come under scrutiny, was determined to take all of the credit?

He boasted on radio this week he was 'not a follower but a leader', a man of integrity guided by his conscience.

It seems our readers think otherwise.

It's still not too late to resign Mr. Minister, or for that matter Mr. Premier, to fire him.

If the Annual Sports Awards are to regain any kind of credibilty, then those might be the only two options.

And if the public still want their say they could always withdraw their advertising from Blakeney's HOTT radio station.

– ADRIAN ROBSON