LAST week we were discussing the plight of the national cricket initiative. We drew similarities to football. Perhaps the football team read my article, because I must congratulate National Coach Keith Tucker and the Gombey Warriors on an impressive victory last Friday evening. This is very, very good and something upon which they can build. My topic this week is Guts, Determination and No Excuses. The football team took this to heart last week. More on this after the Top 20.

Back to the top is Alicia Keys' new hit, entitled, Like you'll never see me again.

Tumbling to #2 is the new one from J Holiday, called Suffocate.

Now some smooth Rhythym and Blues. Falsetto by The Dream, improves to #3.

A former essential new joint, up to #4, is I remember by Keishia Cole. Improving to #5 is Sensual Seduction by Snoop Dogg.

Slipping to #6 is Just fine from Mary J Blige, the Queen of Soul. You must check at the housey dance mix. Down to #7 is one of DJLT's faves; Flashing Lights by diva boy Kanye West featuring Dwele. Improving to #8 is the new joint from veteran house diva, Ultra Nate, featuring Chris Willis, entitled Give it all you got. Check this one out, it slams. Way down to #9 is Low by Flo Rida featuring T Pain. Tumbling to #10 is Apologize by Timbaland featuring One Republic.

Now a house track that kicks. Tumbling to #11 is a former essential new jam, the monster house hit from Roger Sanchez, entitled Again (12 inch mix). Slipping to #12 is Shoulda let you go by Keyshia Cole featuring and introducing Amina, a catchy hip hop hit.

Up to #13 is the new one from Janet (Jackson) entitled Feedback. This up tempo track kicks. I heard it more overseas than I've heard it locally, but it still bangs. Last week's essential new joint - Don't stop the music by Rihanna, improves to #14. This hot track features samples from Michael Jackson's 1980's hit Wanna be starting something.

Up to #15 is Crying Out for Me by Mario, this week's essential selection. Its good to have Mario back, he is new school but kind of old school. Improving to #16 With You by hot boy Chris Brown. Jumping a few spaces to #17 is Piece of me by Brittney Spears. This cutie has got to get her personal life in order, so that she can maximize her potential.

Up to #18 is Dey Know by Shawty Lo. Staying with R&B, falling to #19 is Can't help but wait, the relatively new hit from Trey Songs. Tumbling to #20 is DJ Kalid with I'm so hood.

Now back to this week's word - Guts, Determination and No Excuses. During my recent interview with the Bermuda Cricket Board representatives, they reminded listeners that Bermuda is a small place with only 65,000 inhabitants, of whom only a few hundred play cricket. That is an interesting statistic if you have no guts, determination and if you are looking for excuses, because it allows you to justify a failure to deliver the goods when you had the chance.

A good buddy of mine, let's call him CB, reminded me earlier this week that the little island of Nevis has only 10,000 inhabitants yet they produce world class cricketers and athletes in other sports. I'm not sure but I think that Keith Atherton is from Nevis. If not, he is from neighbouring St. Kitts, which is small like Bermuda. I remember watching him play for the West Indies. He didn't do as well as he would have liked, but he made it to the world stage and did, I would say, OK.

The point I'm making here is that if Nevis, with only 10,000 residents can produce a decent cricket team and players of Keith Arthurton's pedigree; Bermuda can too. However, we must stop using our size as an excuse.

Once we stop justifying losses and poor performances and putting them down to Bermuda small size and other lame excuses, we will begin the process of doing better. If the players hear this, they too will accept these lame excuses. However, if they only hear that more is expected of them, eventually they will deliver more. Its human nature; people rise or fall to the level that is expected or accepted of them. So, for starters we must demand much more from all of our national athletes, in all sports. We have produced world class sailors, tennis players golfers, football players, cricket players, and competitors in many fields of endeavour.

Let's now transfer this into everything that we do and especially in any competition on the international stage, whether it is academic or athletic. We should start telling our players that they are the descendents of brilliant, genius, gifted, talented, wonderful, amazing, high achievers and that nothing else will be accepted from them. They must hear that they have a duty to fight to death when they put on a national team uniform, no matter who they are playing against. If they happen to lose a match, which may happen, they must go down fighting and play with a sense of personal and national pride.

There is no substitute for guts and determination. Some people have it; others do not. I will share a few quotes which I feel are relevant here.

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race"

~ Calvin Coolidge; 30th President of the USA

To write the Chinese character for success, you must combine the character for danger with the character for opportunity.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out..."

~ Robert Collier , Author

"Never, never, never give up"

~ Rt. Hon. Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister, United Kingdom

When our national teams hear and digest these quotes and the psyche of the writers, then they will understand how they can compete and win against international foes. Perhaps they need reminding that although the BCB opined that Golliath usually beats David; history will show that on one day, David did beat Golliath. There is no reason why our football and cricket teams cannot be the David that beats Golliath.

Our players must remember that anybody they play against are only human; they have to pull on their socks and shoes one at a time just like us. They have to eat, drink and use the bathroom just like our players. They are equal; no better or no worse than our players. They may have had more experience or different experience, but we have skills and abilities too.

It can be done, it has been done. The Reggae Boys from Jamaica made it to the World Cup football finals. The Soca Warriors from Trinidad made it last time. The Gombey Warriors from Bermuda must know that they can do it too. If they believe it; they can achieve it. However, it will require Guts, Determination and NO Excuses. Peace¿¿¿..DJLT