"Gravy", came back in all his glory, to entertain the masses

by AMANDA LYNCH-FOSTER in Antigua

THE SIGN ABOVE the tiny wooden taxi stand catches the eye as one passes through downtown St John's, teasing with a single, roughly-painted question: Will Gravy Be Back?

On Wednesday, that question was answered at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground as the world's most beloved and original cricket character, the inimitable "Gravy", came back in all his glory, to entertain the masses.

"Gravy" was fairly easy to spot in the party stand – and not just because he was clad in a natty three-piece mint-green suit and clutching a large globe (World) with an old-fashioned tin tot (Cup) fastened on top of it. He was marked out by the long line of fans who had waylaid him as he was making his way from the bar, and the SUNDAY SUN had to wait its turn before getting to speak to the man himself. Several times during the course of the interview, we had to pause as fans from all over eagerly requested photos with "Gravy" or as he fielded requests from various media organisations for interviews.

When the team did get its time with him, the obvious first question was: is he out of retirement? After all, who could forget his
dramatic and show-stopping retirement in 2000, clad in a flowing wedding dress with a loyal subject bearing a sign proclaiming his retirement from the world of cricket entertainment?

Seven long years have passed since then, with nary a handstand, nor a precariously-perched gyration to be seen from the supreme cricket character who kept attending matches but as a regular, seated patron. Despite pleas from fans the world over, it seemed like he had truly retired for good. So what happened?

"I am retired – but not hurt!" declared "Gravy" mischievously.

He disclosed that his reappearance in full costume was but a cameo performance especially for the Cricket World Cup 2007.

"I'm just out here but I'm not out of retirement. This is the world stage, this is different from the stage we used to be on at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG). This is something we have to put out there in a special way," he declared intently.

He added that he was "going back to basics" for cricket's gala event, as evidenced by the tin cup, of the kind he would have used in his childhood days.

"All I have to do is present where we came from and then from here on, we will move onwards."

And if anyone should know about where West Indies cricket came from, it's "Gravy" who entertained cricket fans at the ARG from 1988 until 2000. After returning to his native land after living in the United States (US) for 12 years, he found that "cricket was
the same as I had left it" and decided he had to make a difference. Yet, he had no idea how to make this difference until the end of one fateful Test match in 1988, when the presentation ceremony was held up by a sudden tropical downpour.

"I just said to myself, Gravy, it's your time," he recalled.

He broke loose and made his way to the presentation podium which had been vacated by players and officials and proceeded to put on
a performance the likes of which had never been seen on a cricket field.

"I went on the podium and started dancing because the music from Chickie's was still playing. I went upsided-down and the whole crowd went crazy," he said with relish.

Yet another Antiguan cricketing legend was born, and over the years, his fame went world-wide. In his meticulous and exacting way, he decided to devote precisely as much time to entertaining fans at cricket as he had spent away from the Caribbean and the sport while in the United States – 12 years.

On Tuesday, he went incognito, much to the disappointment of those who were hoping to see the return of the acrobatic, flamboyant side of the otherwise calm and soft-spoken taxi driver.

"On Tuesday I was not in costume and the fellows – they were very disappointed. They asked me if I was really retired and I said yes. But the reason for that is that I was waiting for West Indies to bat because I'm a West Indian fan and I could not entertain the competition. So I waited until today to come out in full attire. And this is not the best of me," said "Gravy", grinning behind his signature
flowing white beard.

However in his view, the new ground cannot compare to the old ARG for ambience and the ability to put on a show – especially with the stringent rules and regulations enforced for the tournament.

"No, not at all. It's hard for me to get my footing in this place. The ICC rules and regulations I think that . . . makes it not the way people come to the West Indies to see things happen and I hope after the next year that we can see things a little differently. I hope somebody can take my place and continue from where I left off," said "Gravy".

He will be attending all the matches in Antigua and cricket fans in Barbados may also get the chance to see him as he is hoping to attend the semi-finals and finals.

"If tickets are available for me to be at the semi-finals in St Lucia and the finals in Barbados, I will be there," he declared.

*amandalynch@nationnews.com