News Reports

Evan X's Sports, Sin and Subversion

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 (Channel 7 News)

It’s named “Sports, Sin and Subversion” and it is the remembrance of a sporting life. For this revolutionary writer, turned newspaperman, it’s his first original collection of writing in probably three decades.

And while X Hyde confesses that he never played sports at the highest level, he lived it, from being a fan of the teams at the seminal Edwards Park, which is now Roger’s Stadium, to managing football teams in the 70’s, to owning the basketball Raiders in the 90’s. But more than just discussing his own involvement, the book is written to try and create some kind of record of great sportsmen in Belize from Ludwig Lightburn and Fitzroy Guiseppi in boxing to Garrincha Adderley and Harry Straddle Cadle in football.

And while it is not a historical retelling, it is for the record, setting down in writing the oral tradition of sports stories, the conversations that are usually held across bleachers and upon bar stools, where legends are born and community heroes are jealously claimed.

The book was launched today and X Hyde said he did it to pay tribute those who had inspired him.

Evan X Hyde, Author:

“It was a break I think from all this politics and you know, just a transition I think in my life to try do some writing, some serious writing. In a way I pay respect to all the people who add so much spice and flavor to my life because money isn’t everything in life. I enjoy my life and I live an exciting life and I meet a lot of people who I like and who like me too. So that is what it is all about, doing unto others and competing with others. A lot of people who are on the street right now who don’t have money, they are really great stars to me.”

Adele Ramos:

What was the hardest part in it for you?

Evan X Hyde:

“Just to…you know the columns and the editorials they kind of just have a limited thing, but this is a journey which you didn’t know when it would end. So I think after all the years of just the columns and things which were confined, I have to open up my heart and my soul and my real being instead of being one of those bogus politicians. So it is a move away from that and back to the real. Now this is real risky because when I was real I was bruk bad.”

 

Sports, sin and subversion is launched

Thursday, July 24, 2008 (Amandala)

Yesterday, the KREMANDALA compound was the venue for the launching of Amandala publisher, Evan X Hyde’s latest work. Hot off the press is Sports, sin and subversion, published by Ramos Publishing. The 230-page book chronicles sports in Belize and reads like a ‘who is who’ among Belize’s sports stars, beginning with what the author, in his epilogue, calls the “innocence of the fifties and sixties.”

Among the honored guests joining the KREMANDALA family for the milestone occasion was the Hon. Mark and Mrs. Espat; Hon. Cordel Hyde; Belize City Mayor, Zenaida Moya; Dr. Leroy Taegar; the former Ombudsman - Paul Rodriguez; representatives of the ruling United Democratic Party, staff members of the National Library Service, and many other well-wishers.

The program began with a libation and a moment of silence for Smokey Joe, who passed away on Sunday. The libation, according to YaYa Marin-Coleman, is done to invoke the presence of our African ancestors.

Following the libation, Adele Ramos, the book’s publisher, introduced the book and spoke briefly about Evan X Hyde and his writing career. Ramos said that in Sports, sin and subversion, it will be clear to the reader that Mr. Hyde’s initiatives in Belizean sports were not at all driven by egotistical motives.

When he took the microphone, Evan X Hyde reminded those present that the nature of a writer is usually lonely and introspective.

“The thing is that between 1963 and 1965, and 1965 to 1968, I was out of the country, so there is a little hole in that period. But a man that could fill that gap is a man that I have been quarreling with for many years - Michael Finnegan, but now the quarrel is over. The reason I write the book is because of the disrespect that has been shown to our athletes,” said the author.

Hyde explained that he had this great love for football that he could have watched football all day. His father, Charles Bartlett Hyde, one of two persons to whom the book is dedicated, raised him to love sports. The book is also dedicated to Hyde’s uncle, Buck Belisle.

“I had some happy times, I had some irresponsible times when nothing was happening with me,” X Hyde recalled.

The next item on the program was a reading from the book done by Mr. Charles B. Hyde. Nellie Trench made a presentation from the standpoint of a sports enthusiast. Belize great basketball player, Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn, also made a presentation, recollecting some of the great games of basketball that had been played in Belize.

Mose Hyde’s presentation dealt with sports ventures that came from “Behind the Zinc Fence”

Hon. Cordel Hyde conducted a toast. EJ Hill, KREM Radio’s sportscaster, was the master of ceremonies and ended the afternoon’s program with a thank you.

 

Evan Hyde’s new book: A reflection of ourselves

Friday, 25 July 2008 (Reporter Newspaper)

By Adolph Lucas Jr. - Staff Reporter
Sports are more than just games. They’re about life, emotion, passion, and some of the greatest highs and lows one can experience. Imagine a book written on Sports in Belize. It has come to fruition, and on Wednesday, July 23, Evan X Hyde launched his book: Sports, Sin and Subversion.

This unique book has been written by one of Belize’s respected observers and leading black activists, Amandala Publisher, Evan X Hyde.

The book’s publisher, Assistant Editor of Amandala, Adele Ramos, commented: “He has invested a lot of time, energy, and money in sports.”

The book is about those who play and those who enjoy games, explained C.B. Hyde, Evan’s sports-loving dad. He recalled that Henry Charles ”Eagle” Usher is in the Hall of Fame, but the greatest basketball player in his time was Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn.

Sports enthusiast Nellie Trench cheered and said: “Everyone should get a copy of the book - straight like that.”

Also at the launch was basketball legend Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn, arguably Belize greatest basketball player.

Pulu asked, “Where have all my heroes gone?” The book brought back a lot of memories, he said. “There are school systems, and church systems, but there is no system for the ‘temple’ – which is the body,” Pulu commented.

In his Book Review Lawrence Vernon writes that Sports, Sin and Subversion is not a history book. It is, however, a book which is even more than a sports fan’s guide to the last century – it is in essence a reflection of ourselves as we grew as a nation through racial and political upheaval, and the never-ending quest for money.