The untimely passing of Michael Jackson has left those of who grew up in the 1960’s and 1970’s teary eyed and sad. As children and teenagers we knew all the songs ‘by heart’ as we sang (or spoke the words) with our girlfriends who loved the Jacksons to death. The bold amongst us had our glove and as rudeboys we already had our ‘gunmouth’ pants so we were in style influenced by Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five!!!
Greatness loves great company and as such with Michael’s passing the members of the Fortis family immediately dug up the direct link/interaction between Kingston College and the Jacksons which occurred on March 11, 1975. I recall the latter vividly……….
Basketball was not a popular sport in Jamaica in 1975 and very few fans existed. On the eve of March 11, 1975 KC’s Sports master Ivan ‘Wally’ Johnson summoned me with the news that the Jacksons were in Jamaica (as if we didn’t know), they were cognizant of the fact that Kingston College was the very best high school and athletic champions in Jamaica and wished to scrimmage KC in that popular American sport at Clovelly Park.
To our teenage ears this was near unbelievable and word travelled fast! The team captained by Donald Turner with Kenny Campbell, Gerald Jackson, Clinton Cunningham, Garth Lumsden, Don Pagon and myself brought our basketball uniforms to school on March 11 only to be told that fearing the crowd crush the game would be played at the National Stadium. We stayed in the Changing rooms at the Stadium still thinking that this was all a hoax until that huge Tour Bus arrived with the Jacksons.
For the first (and possibly only) time the stands at the basketball court were full to capacity and more with a crowd of 99% girls/ladies screaming at the site of these Musical superstars which included Marlon, Tito and Jackie. Michael and Jermaine did not show up. The game was of course incidental, KC won 39-28 and at one point there was a rush of girls onto the court to rebuke Donald Turner for a hard foul on Jackie Jackson (“the KC bwoy dem rough eeh” was the cry) and I seem to recall they shouted for the stadium police to arrest our captain but good sense prevailedJ!!!
Rest in Peace Michael…………………FORTIS CADERE CEDERE NON POTEST!
Ivor Nugent
Editor's note: Ivor Nugent is the KC player on the left in the photo.
