Lovell: Declining morals behind brawl culture

Anton Lovell: declining moral values and a blatant lack of respect had been the main contributing factors in brawl culture.

By Randy Bennett | Wed, April 18, 2012 - 12:00 AM

Anton LOVELL has given much of his life to local basketball.

Now, he’s giving his opinion.

Lovell, whose impressive accomplishments include being a former national player, MVP, coach and manager, as well as also having held the post of vice-president of the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association (BABA), believes that the behaviour of sportsmen is a direct reflection of Barbados’ society.

His comments come on the heels of Saturday night’s highly publicized brawl between Premier league teams, First Work Warriors and Nicholls Baking Company Cougars, the second such unruly incident to mar local basketball in 11 months.

Last June, Station Hill Cavaliers’ Ricardo Yearwood jump-kicked Cougars’ guard Keith Mayers during their Premier league encounter at the Wildey Gym. Yearwood was subsequently handed a life ban.

In an exclusive interview with MIDWEEK SPORT yesterday, Lovell insisted that declining moral values and a blatant lack of respect had been the main contributing factors in a sport which had, until now, always been held in high esteem.

Read the full story in today's MIDWEEK NATION.