This past week, Thursday, June 24, 2010, marked yet another world class extraordinary moment in our nation's sports history.
A former outstanding student-athlete of my beloved St. Georges High School, Magnum Rolle, became only the second Bahamian to be drafted to the National Basketball Association(NBA) and the first Grand Bahamian ever.
The Indiana Pacers swapped picks with Oklahoma City to get Louisiana Tech's Magnum Rolle in the 2nd Round of the NBA Draft.
As the Member Of Parliament for Lucaya, home of St. Georges High School, it is with beaming pride that I take this opportunity on behalf of my family; my wife Barbara and son Carlson, both big sports fans, constituents of Lucaya, Team Lucaya, residents of Grand Bahama, and by extension, the people of the wider Bahamas, to extend CONGRATULATIONS to Magnum.
The Magnum Rolle story is one laced with COURAGE, HUMILITY, DETERMINATION, and PERSEVERENCE:
The courage to try his hand at agame years after all of his high school team mates had been playing. The humility to accept very little playing time during his first 2 years at Universitydespite being highly ranked and heavily recruited. The determination demonstrated to leave a BIG NAME SCHOOL (LSU) after two years, transfer to Louisiana Tech, sit out for an entire year, and persevere to become a fantastic college basketball player and eventually join the professional ranks.
By all accounts, Magnum has maintained wholesome values throughout hisyouthful career, and I am of the view it is a testament to his upbringing. I wish to congratulate his mother for her sacrifices and her unwavering belief in her son's potentials, former principals and present at St. Georges respectively; Cooper, Romer, and Rolle, Director Of St. Georges' Physical Education Department, Kenton Rolle, Coaches Darryl Sears, Patrick Victor, the entire Jaguar family, and all who have played a role in Magnum's success.
As we brace for the 37th Anniversary of our Independence in the coming days, Magnum Rolle's tremendous achievement lends even more to our national celebration.
Of the millions who play competitive basketball worldwide, the thousands at the collegiate level with NBA dreams, and the limited amount of professional teams, 320 players formally applied to be drafted this year,only 60 were picked....and among that 60, a talented 25 year old Grand Bahama son. Truly, an extraordinary accomplisment.
While I am extremely proud of Magnum's impressive basketball stats, and his history making draft, I am even more delighted that he has earned a University Degree in Sociology. He has been an exemplary student-athlete and his journey, I believe, serves as an inspiration and reminder to all our young people that it matters not where you come from, but rather, where you dare dream to go.
Again, CONGRATULATIONS to Magnum Rolle and his family, and like all proud Bahamians, I look forward to him continuing to work hard and having a successful professional basketball career.
