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JUST recently, I read an interesting article about the pervasive acts of infidelity among married sporting stars across the globe.

The writer, supported by a prominent psychologist, argues that this phenomenon is inevitable in the present milieu based on a number of factors, including wealth and the rock star status that these individuals are accorded.

While polygamy is usually frowned upon by most countries in the western hemisphere predominantly underpinned by religious beliefs, the modern sporting star will be severely tested to remain circumspect in a fast-paced world where unfaithfulness is increasingly accepted as a symbol of machismo.

The writer suggests that the individuals involved in this practice are not restricted to a specific sport and, in, fact, are drawn from a wide cross-section of disciplines, including basketball, baseball, hockey, cricket, and football.

However, according to the report, recent sanctions brought by spouses against some of the prominent practitioners like Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant have triggered a wising-up among several of these superstars, to the extent that an increasing number are insisting on a prenuptial clause in their marriage contracts to protect them against marauding laws that universally favour women.

The common denominator in these prenuptial contracts is, of course, a clause that will ensure that these superstars are not left bankrupt as a consequence of their indiscretions, with an increasing number insisting they be allowed to keep their earnings made before they got married, in the case of a divorce.

Certainly, Woods may have been the most seriously affected as far as financial losses are concerned, with reports suggesting that the amorous swinger may have had to fork out between $750 million and $833 million to his former wife and the mother of his two children reportedly the biggest payout ever seen in a high-profile divorce case.

Lakers star Bryant is the latest in an alarmingly long list of sportsmen to have been hauled over the coals by enraged spouses who have said no mas after stumbling upon the philandering habits of their superstar husbands.

In fact, according to an LA Times report, Vanessa Bryant stands to pocket at least $75 million, in addition to spousal and child support, from the imminent divorce settlement with Kobe.

Sadly for the basketball star, it is understood that the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, which makes the ex-wife entitled to half their community property.

With Kobes net worth estimated at $150 million, a prominent lawyer explained that Kobe could have saved half of his fortune had he insisted on a prenuptial agreement.

Interestingly, basketball legend Michael Jordan who, by the way, has managed to steer clear of this type of scandal and apart from a long-time gambling indiscretion in the 1990s, maintains a squeaky clean public image is said to have paid over an estimated $168 million to ex-wife Juanita Vanoy Jordan in 2007 when their divorce was finalised.

In addition to the $168 million, Juanita also got the couples seven-acre estate in Chicago, as well as custody of their three children. Interestingly, the couple did sign a prenuptial agreement, which made Juanita entitled to half of Michaels fortune, with the $168 million reportedly only a third of the megastars wealth, however.

Considering that even in retirement Michael Jordan remains among the top-earning sports figures in the world, his divorce payout should be a minor hiccup for debatably the greatest player that basketball has ever known.

Just a week ago, one of Jordans signature Nike Air sneakers, the Air Jordan 11 Concord which escalated in popularity back in 1996 was back on the market. It attracted record sales and drew hysteria in Atlanta as customers broke down the doors to sport goods stores to purchase the sneakers that is widely regarded as the most popular footwear of all time.

From a sporting viewpoint, what is most interesting in situations like these is how these sporting stars perform amid personal crises which, especially with the current upsurge in technology, will never escape the probing eyes of the media.

For Woods, it has been a miserable two years since the screen was unceremoniously removed from an outrageous and ultimately, much-publicised lifestyle that involved multiple extramarital affairs. During this torturous period, Woods, for the first time since becoming a pro, missed the cut on a few occasions and endured 749 days without a tournament victory.

Further, the former poster boy of the sport fell to a low of 58 in early November, from his customary No 1 ranking which he held for a record 281 weeks.

But all that was before December 4 when he rebounded to beat a field of 18 of golfs top players to land the Chevron World Challenge title his first on the PGA Tour in over two years, since September 2009.

Now vaulted to No 21 in the world with this long-awaited victory, Woods is obviously getting over his prolonged nightmare, no doubt healed by that crucial element known as time.

For the genuine lovers of sport and golf in particular and for those who understand the transience and unpredictability of life, this is a human triumph of the highest order.

Woods, an acutely sensitive individual who was stunned by the sudden turn of events two years ago, has obviously learned to forgive himself, first of all. And, like anybody who has had to deal with a personal tragedy, he has picked himself up, since the show must go on and life continues.

As for Bryant and a slew of NBA and other sporting stars, the public eye is never far away. As we enter the new year, their words for the moment is that Discretion is the better part of valour.

Junior Dos Santos has promised a fight for the fans when he defends his UFC heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem.

Former Strikeforce champion Overeem secured his title shot with a first round knockout of Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in Las Vegas, prompting Lesnar to announce his retirement from the sport.

And Dos Santos, who beat Cain Velasquez to get his hands on the heavyweight belt in November, believes his next fight will be an entertaining one, if both fighters play to their strengths.

Its going to be really, really good for the fans, Dos Santos told USA Today. Because hes a striker (and) Im a striker, its going to be a stand-up battle.

Hes pretty good at using his kicks, his knees, his punches. But I believe so much in my boxing.

Dos Santos is currently recovering from knee surgery, and a summer date has been touted for the match-up between the two striking specialists.

copy; ESPN EMEA Ltd

FOR as long as I can remember, respective governments have talked a lot about a sports policy and the development of sports in Jamaica.

It is said there has been numerous consultations about the sports policy; unfortunately, I have never been able to contribute to any such process. I therefore, humbly submit these suggestions, through this medium, as my contributions to the way forward.

Much of what constitutes governmental support and contribution to sporting development occurs at the top, when our sportsmen and women have become professionals or are national representatives.

This is profoundly contradictory to sustainable development in any sphere — sport being no different.

Sustainable development is best achieved by establishing a sure and firm base that will support any upward additions. It, therefore, behoves us to enable our grass-root programmes to reach the levels required for them to consistently churn out the world-class athletes we so earnestly desire and adore.

In Jamaica, only the foolish would deny that our school system, and in particular at the high school level, is the foundation on which most, if not all, our modern sporting successes are built.

In the past, these said schools were able to use governments money to fund sports in our schools. This is no longer permissible.

Despite this, schools have become extremely dynamic in order to stay relevant in sports; effectively administer to the specific needs of sport; and to benefit from the contributions that come when a school manages success in sports.

As sport is a pivotal part of our education system, I would love to see this policy reversed and schools allowed to use portions of their allocations for sport development within the school.

Whilst our schools must be commended for job they have done, and continue to do, one cant help but wonder how much better would be the rewards for Jamaica locally and internationally were we able to more strategically enable schools to produce the raw materials for the likes of Theodore Tappa Whitmore, Glen Mills or Stephen Francis, to name a few.

It is my position that our government must, in partnerships with the various sporting associations, embrace the responsibility of developing and maintaining sports infrastructure islandwide.

For what it is worth, sport infrastructure is used here to include playing fields, courts, tracks, stadia, coaching, medical and health care, gymnasiums and other physical structures. In this space, however, emphasis will be on the physical structures.

The development of playing fields and courts has been attempted through the CHASE Fund, the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) and other agencies with very little or effective success.

I believe that our schools have shown very effective management, in the majority of instances, over a long period of time. Additionally, almost all schools are fully embraced and engaged by their communities.

As such, I posit that the government, along with respective sport associations, embark on a programme of systematically developing infrastructure within the schools which will rebound to and their communities. Schools such as Holmhood, Jamaica College, Manchester High, STETHS, Kingston College, and others have shown the appetite for the development and maintenance of sport infrastructure and should be trusted to do so in a more structured way.

For example, the Jamaica Cricket Association, and the government of course, should seek to build four sets of practice wickets and nets in selected schools over a period of time so that in say 10 years, each parish would have at least one such facility (STETHS currently has such a facility second to none, including Sabina Park).

A second example could see the expansion and development of school auditoriums into multi-purpose gymnasiums. Another example is for government to engage the private sector and respective international sporting bodies to establish at least six stadia akin to the one at Catherine Hall, St James.

These stadia should be strategically located to allow maximal usage by schools and communities in all parishes. They should also be situated so as to allow professional (or those seeking to become professional) sporting clubs (athletics and football, in particular) to make optimal use of them. Additionally, such stadia should be a part of our global sport marketing strategy. I see no reason why Jamaica, like Trinidad has done, should not be hosting FIFA events and, of course, major IAAF events as well.

I will not pretend to have all the answers or the facts, but surely, I believe that the main reason for the failed SDF projects is an underestimation of the cost of ownership.

Those of us who own anything know that it costs a lot more to maintain it than it does to acquire it. This line of thinking suggests to me that when the SDF went around building all those beautiful fields and courts very little, if any, consideration was given to maintenance.

Yes the argument will be that they were given to the communities. This has been proven over and over to be quite egregious. With no clearly stated owner, with the embedded authority to keep and care, all and sundry become the owner.

The result, turf wars that end with the Goshen Sports Complex in St Elizabeth (just an example of several of similar disposition) becoming an overgrown pasture for stray cows and goats.

It may seem far-fetched to many, but sports has been, and will continue to be, at least two things much needed by Jamaica at this juncture in our development as a nation.

Sport, today, are major catalysts for direct and indirect employment and educational opportunities. Sport is also, as is now evident at football matches between Tivoli Gardens and say, Waterhouse or Boys Town, where former rival communities now embrace each other, a cure for many of the ills of our society, particularly violence.

As we look forward to the London 2012 Olympics, the Brazil 2014 Football World Cup and other such world spectacles, this is as good a time as any to take a serious look at these arguments.

Imagine how many more Odail Todds could be found if schools like Green Island High were able to access quality infrastructure on a regular basis. Imagine what it would be like if Jamaica could be exporting annually in the region of 10 professional footballers and netballers or basketball players.

Surely, the development of infrastructure is not the only need that exists to take us that many steps forward. Yet every professional player in the majority of sport, I am sure, will render testimony to the positive impact of good infrastructure on their development.

Just imagine the national cricket or football team coaches not having to spend the length of time they do now on technique development when players are called to the respective teams?

EDITORS NOTE: Andrew Edwards is a football coach at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and an asistant National Under-20 coach.