By Tony Becca - From The Boundary 
LAURIE WILLIAMS was a cricketer, but today when Jamaicans gather at Sabina Park to say farewell there will be many present who are neither cricketers nor cricket fans.
Numbered among them will be people who played other sports, people from all walks of life who probably have nothing but a passing interest in cricket, and there two good reasons for that.
Based on the sentiments being expressed since the tragic death of Williams two Sundays ago, one reason is that as a national player, Williams, who also wore the West Indies cap, represented his country, and the other is that he was good - so good that he contributed, with bat and ball, to Jamaica's many successes during his time.
There is, however, one other reason why Williams made such an impact on people inside and outside the cricket fraternity.
Williams loved cricket, he respected the game, he played it with passion, he enjoyed it - so much so that wherever he played, at whatever level he played, he made others enjoy it, and even those who had only heard of him admired him for it.
That is what is lacking in Jamaica's cricket today. Fewer and fewer people are playing the game because they love it, because they enjoy it, and that is what, as far as participation and the development of skill are concerned, is hurting the game.
Once upon a time, people played cricket because they enjoyed it, the better ones played club cricket, and the best - the really gifted - represented their country.
Today, it is not so; today, it is all about money.
Today, in Jamaica and as so many have confessed, after realising that they are not good enough to play in the big leagues and to earn money, players either stop playing the game or they simply go through the motions with no interest in developing their skills.
That is affecting the development of the game, the quality of the game, and it is up to those who, like Williams, represented the country, to set the example by enjoying the game of their choice and in so doing make others enjoy it.
Williams loved the game, he enjoyed playing the game, cricket needs more like him, many more, and in saying goodbye to him, his colleagues should pledge to emulate him because by being like him, by setting an example to young Jamaicans, they could enrich the game.
The funeral service for Williams starts at 2:00 p.m. today at Sabina Park.
