23- SPORTS Thursday, January 24, 2019 THE FREEPORT NEWS 23 SPORTS http://thefreeportnews.com IS JAMES REALLY THE G.O.A.T.? REMAINDER OF LAKERS’ SCHEDULE to be test of Lebron’s greatness Fifteen games ago, Lebron means the team has come down James sustained a groin injury. to earth without him, but there He has missed 14 games, go- is no doubt that the parts are in ing into tonight, when the Los place, particularly if Rajon Ron- Angeles Lakers are to face do can stay healthy, for the re- the Minnesota Timberwolves. turn of James to lift the Lakers LEBRON JAMES Without James, the Lakers are again. team, push through post season land Trail Blazers on Tuesday the fact that he had not wit- 5-9 and have slipped into 9th He will not likely suit up for play to at least the NBA Cham- night. With James healthy, sur- nessed James in any contact sit- place with a 25-23 record in competition tonight and might pionship round, James would rounded by the aforementioned uation during practice, leading the play-off race of the Western not join his teammates on court find that many are prepared to players, the Lakers are right up to Monday past. Conference of the National Bas- for several more games, but the apply the G.O.A.T. tag to him. there with them, with the poten- Obviously, the groin inju- ketball Association. expectation is that once back, Is that prospect realistic? tial to be much better. ry was severe. It has sidelined Before James joined the Lak- James will carry the Lakers yet The view here is in the affir- A lot is sitting on James’ re- James for a long period, some- ers for this season, the team was again to a prominent position in mative. I noted the confidence turn. It’s about his personal leg- thing he has not been accus- far removed from play-off con- Sports the heat of the battle for play-off level building in young play- acy as much as the turnaround tomed to during the 15 years he tention, and going through one positions. ers such as forwards Brandon of the Lakers. has been in the NBA. of the down eras of the storied I submit, that a major test to Ingraham and Kyle Kuzuma; Meanwhile, we wait for the He will be back though! franchise. With James on board, Jams’ greatness is fast approach- guards Lonzo Ball and Josh “King” to get on the floor com- Accordingly, the Lakers will the future immediately looked Scope ing. He has declared himself the Hart; and center Ivica Zubac. peting again. On Monday of this be much better. bright for the Lakers. Indeed, in greatest of all a time. The com- Veteran pieces, Michael Beas- week, Coach Luke Walton was How much better, depends on Laker land many had visions of by Fred Sturrup ment, although acknowledged ley, Lance Stephenson and Ja- reportedly questioned about the King, the self-proclaimed a play-off power team and per- generally to be debate worthy, vale McGee could prove to be James’ timeline for a return. G.O.A.T. haps a 17th championship to tie the Lakers right in the middle of was not accepted as conclusive significant contributors. Walton expressed doubt about • To respond to this column, the Boston Celtics. the play-off picture and looking just on the word of James. I watched the game between minutes for James in the game kindly contact Fred Sturrup at A rocky start evolved into con- better, when James went down If though, he can fashion the the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. [email protected] on sistent improvement that had with the injury. The 5-9 record Lakers into a strong play-off (123-114 winner) and the Port- Emphasized by Walton was WhatsApp at 727-6363. FROM FRESH CREEK TO THE “SECOND CITY” den as he entered the workforce SHAYNE STUBBS for a few years. He then moved FN Sports Reporter to New Providence where he [email protected] attended College of The Baha- Meet one of the first mas (now known as University Nineteen hundred and nine- of The Bahamas) where he ob- ty-nine (1999) marked the tained an electrical engineering beginning of what became a members of House of degree. 20-year ministry for House of Witnessing the impact, the Hoops and Dreams’ (HOHD) move had on Myer, first-hand, founder, Bonnie Basden. Hoops and Dreams encouraged Basden to continue As the civic foundation gets in the venture that has helped set to celebrate two decades, nearly 100 young men to this memorable moments through- idea that they didn’t have family date. out that campaign begin to sur- here or anywhere to live.” “I think having him was one of face. What’s a better place to Concerned about the welfare the main reasons that made me begin than the very beginning? of the boys but invested in keep- go ‘Wow, if the young boys from It all started with the desire of ing the boys on the island, Bas- the other islands are like this...’ a young man living on the is- den and principal, Myrton King, It’s the reason I opened my home land of Andros that expressed looked into places for them to to so many more because there’s desire in a move to the nation’s house the young men. so many more out there like him; “Second City,” Freeport, Grand “That’s when I said I’ll let wanting to excel and be success- Bahama. them stay with me,” Basden ad- ful. Meet Daniel Myer, the Fresh mitted. “Over the years he’s kept in Creek, Andros native that be- Myer, currently an engineer at touch with me. It’s truly been an came the founding member Baha Mar in New Providence, honor to have him in my life and of the ongoing ministry that would pass the entrance exam- he’s just a role model,” she con- continues to house and/or as- ination and be awarded a schol- cluded. sist young men from all walks arship. He also played basket- As aforementioned, this year of life, athletically and educa- ball for the Stingers during his marks the 20-year anniversary tionally. Myer and Basden first tenure with the institution. of the ministry started by Basden came in contact with each other The move helped Myer to be and the HOHD is set to celebrate through a mutual party. involved with a number of ex- the occasion in grand-style this A gentleman by the name of periences, which he felt helped coming February 15-17. Mikey Elliot, who frequent- him become the hard-working The weekend of activities in- ed the Coral Gardens basket- individual he rounded into. cludes a Meet and Greet Social ball court, was the connective “I was the first boy in the camp combined with basketball games source that relayed to Basden (HOHD). It helped me to grow, between current and former that a few young men, includ- experience and to learn how members of the HOHD that Fri- ing a then 16-year-old Myer, to become a respectful and re- day at the St. George’s Gymna- were looking to move off the is- sponsible young man on and sium. land. Heavily involved in boys’ off the basketball court,” Myer That Saturday at 7:30 p.m. the basketball, Basden gave Elliot addressed, “Living with Bonnie HOW IT ALL STARTED - House of Hoops and Dreams founder Bonnie Basen, pictured left, stands HOHD will host its annual Val- her contact information so the was a life changer for me. She is with the first member of House of Hoops and Dreams Daniel Myer, pictured right. entine’s Dinner and Show fea- young man could give her a call. a caring, kind, loving and intel- (PHOTO: SHAYNE STUBBS) turing the live musical stylings “This young man on the Cor- ligent woman. achievements at the school, had an amazing work ethic.” homework properly and needed of the Soul Sistas and HOHD al Gardens court talked to me “Her family and friends were Basden was moved by Myer’s While most students were out help. From day one he wanted to Band at A Social Affair Conven- about some boys in Andros that so nice to me and treated me approach to his academics. and about the campus during excel.” tion Center. The HOHD Band wanted to come over here and like of their own. When the “He had to study extra hard to snack and lunch breaks Basden The HOHD founder further re- features lead vocalist Terri Ann they knew I was involved with family went on vacation I went make his grades. He graduated noted that Myer would take the called a time when Myer opted Johnson, Patrice Moore, Berlicia boys’ basketball at the time,” along with them. Even at family with a 2.6 grade point average time to find his teachers and go to skip a sixteenth birthday par- Saunders and Juliette Hall. Basden recalled, “So I gave El- get togethers I was right there. (GPA), but he worked hard for over anything he struggled to ty for one her nephews to study The weekend will conclude liot my number and that’s how “I strongly believe her minis- that 2.6. And what also touched understand. for an upcoming geography test. with a church service at Jubilee they contacted me and he (My- try of housing young men like me along the way was his moth- “He was a boy who would That brand of dedication led to Cathedral that Sunday morn- ers) came.