Hamilton
Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
HE IS KNOWN as the ultimate leisure sports afficionado with a reputation as a man of his word. He's a political insider who recently added newspaper writing to his already bulging portfolio.
He is Howard Hamilton, man about town and social and political powerhouse.
Noted for his love of the Sport of Kings, cricket and tennis, his is generally regarded as an all-encompassing embrace of the competitive and leisure-sporting activities that has seen him emerge as one of the leading pundits and arbiter, even, of the sporting arena.
Now, in recent years, the internationalisation of a number of sporting-leisure activities has led to a world without borders when it comes to these annual calendar activities.
And so it is that, over the years, Jamaica has not only become part and parcel of the world culture of this phenomenon, it has become one of the leading satellite locations when it comes to off-shore and or vicarious enjoyment of major sporting activities.
As such, a party culture has emerged around such international calendar events as: cricket's World Cup and other major Tests occasions; tennis Grand Slams; championship boxing; World Cup football, and other major European Club and League title matches, and, in more recent years, the American Super Bowl.
However, unlike in the continental United States where this sport emerged, here the event is not treated as a festival for lager-louts and or rampaging hoodlums, dependent on the outcome of the game.
Here, the game is regarded as a social event where family and friends get ogether a la picnic mode, as they not only share felicitations and libations, but camaraderie in a more refined celebratory mode!
Over the years, businessman Howard Hamilton has emerged as not only one of the stalwarts and proponents of the Super Bowl Sundays, his has become the ultimate in Super Bowl parties, as each year a large number of his close friends and associates, along with their friends and associates, gather at his sprawling Durie Drive property where it is all about the game and family enjoyment and not necessarily in that order!
Now, dearhearts, Super Bowl parties there were a-plenty, last Sunday and how.
And we are talking buzzing here and in every upscale neighbourhood from Stony Hill, through to Manor Park, over to Norbrook, and through Cherry Gardens, across to Jacks Hill, and over to Beverly Hills and then smack into New Kingston, as the well-heeled and aficionados all huddle for this event!
Last Sunday without a doubt, one of the parties to be was definitely the annual Super Bowl party, hosted by businessman Howard Hamilton. It was a charmer and then some.
Now, here is a tradition emerging from popular American culture that has already taken on so much local flavouring that indeed, Super Bowl and the celebration thereof is fast becoming as Jamaican as rice 'n peas is to the majority, on Sunday.
Now, with kick off slated for just after 6:00 p.m. last Sunday, guests to Howard Hamilton's Super Bowl do were invited to his fabulous property for 4:00 p.m.
Those who attended were in for a treat as indeed this was not merely a Super Bowl party, but also a celebration of the good life, and how.
Doves, the host had clearly spared no thought in seeing to the comfort and enjoyment of his guests.
Upon entering the pool and deck area, guests were greeted to a giant screen that dominated the eastern end of the pool, as the party hosted at the poolside saw the deck and pool area set-up in a formal seating area, as a number of tables and chairs were placed at strategic intervals to not only facilitate viewing the giant screen but also to accommodate fine dining as well.
And, dears, it was like that an afternoon of leisure as friends ribbed each other over friendly games of dominoes; a few children splish-splashed their way across the inviting pool; a giant marquee mounted to the north side of the pool and deck area housed a fare so sumptuous and diverse, it was to-die-for.
Pumpkins, it was like that, and then some! Libations flowing like a fountain, an oyster bar that was a hit with male and female guests alike, and a fare that made guests go mmm.
And really charming company that created a buzz all throughout! We are talking hot like that and beyond!
Among those out and enjoying the absolutely charming Sunday afternoon, the social and culinary spread, included: Prime Minister P.J. Patterson; Minister of Development Dr. Paul Robertson; Senator Bruce and Lorna Golding; State Minister of Tourism, Dr. Wykeham McNeill and Sheila Benjamin-Fernandez; Ambassador Anthony Hylton; security conglomateur Kenny Benjamin; Peter Rousseau; Capt. Michael and Thalia Lyn; horse-racing powerhouse Phillip Feanny; businessman Steve Ashley; newspaper doyenne R. Christene King; Dr. Andre Foote; Horace Clarke; banker Lorraine Muir; Lance Johnson; the lovely Allison Peart; Harold Brady; Paula LaMotta; Zia Mian; Alva Anderson; the lovely Dr. Sapphire Longmore; Guernsey Beckford; Dr. Najib Haddad; Howard Mitchell; Donna Harpaul and her beautiful daughter Brianna Taylor; Lloyd Barnett Jnr., Viv Lue Tenn; Tony Kirlew; Tracy Hamilton (no relation to the host); Jimmy Chin; Shawna Stewart; Ray Moore; Angella Talbot; Peter Gregory; Dawn King; the lovely Keisha Moore; and David Palmer, visiting vice-president of business development, Oceanic Digital Jamaica; and scores of others!
And what of the game, you ask? Well, not to put too a fine a point to it all!
But it was Janet Jackson, who scored the winning field goal!
