Everyone loves a winner. We are no different in Bermuda as past masters in the art of backing a sure thing.

Such can be gleaned from an infamous quote by a supposed football supporter that was heard not so long ago: “I left West Ham and went to Chelsea.”

In East London, such an act of betrayal would be met with a verbal volley to match anything that Lionel Messi could muster on the field.

Or for tales of the absurd from closer to home, hands up how many fair-weather types have switched Cup Match allegiance from Somerset to St George’s, or vice versa, over the course of their lives?

A question, obviously, for those from the parish of Hamilton to Southampton. Obviously.

So, yes, this is Bermuda; we do things a bit differently. And we do so for one primary reason: to be attached to winning.

In that regard, the major games have not been too kind to our tiny island, with successes few and far between. But, as another Bermuda contingent prepares to invade Toronto for the Pan American Games, our record of 14 medals from 84 years of travelling the world is not to be sniffed at.

Especially not the gold medals that high jumper Clarance Saunders and three-day event equestrian MJ Tumbridge won at the 1990 Commonwealth Games and 1999 Pan Am Games respectively. And certainly not the bronze medal that boxer Clarence Hill captured at the Olympic Games in 1976.

The very biggest events attract the very biggest stars in the world and when Bermuda can genuinely get in among the “big boys” and come out in credit, that is something worthy of celebrating.

Judy Simons, the president of the Bermuda Olympic Association, is convinced that the 18-member Pan Am Games squad is the strongest possible and the hope persists that one of them can join the hall of fame as a medal-winner or, better still, as a champion.

Flora Duffy, she who enjoyed a 2014 alone that we all wish we could put on display in a lifetime sporting CV, was meant to be our star turn in the triathlon.

However, injury has forced her to lower expectations. But do not be surprised should she reach deep down inside for something special, given the ultimate professional she is.

Of the rest, we have a fighting, outside chance. Athletes Tre Houston (100 metres, 200 metres) and Tyrone Smith (long jump) are in good form, and cyclist Dominique Mayho is just off a stirring success in taking gold in the criterium at the NatWest Island Games in Jersey.

Ah, the Island Games. Not the unparalleled success of 2013, when we hosted the thing and finished second in the medals table behind Isle of Man with 27 gold medals out of a tremendous 76 podium visits, but that much was to be expected owing to economic considerations and a downsized squad.

Our 17 medals were one fewer than what was achieved in the 2011 event in the Isle of Wight, with Chris Estwanik landing a commendable half-marathon and 10,000 metres double to cap a fantastic few months of personal achievement, kick-started by a sixth Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby win after three years off with injury.

Meanwhile, Taahira Butterfield claimed the original sprint double, beating team-mate Natasha Trott to line in both the 100 metres and 200 metres.

While the Island Games may not come attached with the glitter of the “big three”, successes there are to be cherished just as fervently and our athletes, medal-winners or not, are to be applauded just as appreciatively as would anyone who has just shocked the world by clearing 7ft 9in in Auckland.

After Bailey’s Bay incident, raid is a feelgood story

Hooray to the Bermuda Police Service. If only there could be more 4am wake-up calls.

Some would get to work on time. Some would get to the gym on time. And others might get what is coming to them — handcuffs and a not insignificant period spent at Her Majesty’s Pleasure.

At least that is to be hoped after our police force swooped on the West End on Monday morning and came away mob-handed.

Justice must run its course, though, and the accused remain simply that until such time that cases come to trial and guilty verdicts are delivered.

But in the meantime, we can celebrate one crucial and irreversible fact: three firearms and an untold amount of ammunition and illicit drugs were taken out of the public domain. Which means said weapons and ammunition cannot can be present when the next gunman (five women were among the 13 arrested; just a thought) decides to descend upon a working men’s club and alter Nature’s course. And the seized drugs cannot reach their final destination — sometimes with equally fatal consequences, depending on the variety.

In the wake of what happened last week at Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club, an event that has left a man still in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, this is a feel-good story. Reaffirmation that the Island can police itself in the face of those who would do us, and our international reputation, harm.

It is possible that the police may have only scratched the surface in the continuing war against drugs, but the recent evidence, which augments the seizure of $200,000 in cash and a loaded weapon as a result of a sting operation in May, is that the men in blue are not sitting around scratching their you know whats.

Traveller Eve does not deal in what-ifs

Dennis Eve, world traveller.

Easily the most-read story in our online edition yesterday — at least after the website had made a much-belated recovery from system failure (apologies for that).

There are many things that we will do in life, and some we will wish that we had done.

Apparently, Mr Eve does not deal in wishes. We gather that when you support Barcelona, wishes are for mere mortals.

He gets things done so that, by the tender age of 30, he had taken in several of the seven wonders of the world.

Once-in-a-lifetime journeys accomplished almost all in one go, and all done according to a determined plan. That takes some doing.

The pyramids in Egypt? Tick. Buddhist temples in Bangkok? Tick. The Great Barrier Reef? Tick. The Machu Picchu ruins in Peru? Tick. Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro? Tick. The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur? Tick. The Colosseum in Rome? Tick. Antarctica? Tick. Lionel Messi live? Tick.

Mr Eve’s is a tale that can only resonate with the young and old, especially those who may lack direction or struggle for a sense of purpose.

“Fail to plan, plan to fail” is the maxim. We know which side his plan was buttered on.

But, Bermudians being Bermudians and all, you wonder why it took him three years to tell his story.

Eighth wonder of the world?