El Paso has so many outstanding athletes and coaches it’s hard to keep up with all of them and give each the recognition he or she deserves. But let me tell you about Benny Benavides, who made a name for himself not only locally but internationally. .
You may have noticed that Benavides was recently inducted in the martial arts category of the El Paso Boxing/Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He’s won countless contests and awards, including a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in jiu jitsu. But his performance as a coach is just as impressive.
While teaching the art to the U.S. Army in Greece he turned the U.S. team into such a powerhouse that it whipped the national team there. Greece was so impressed, it hired him to coach its national team. He turned that team into a champion, too, and won matches against other European teams.
During his career he has taught Greco Roman and freestyle wrestling in Greece, Turkey, Italy and Germany and has provided jiu jitsu clinics and training for Fort Bliss soldiers plus law enforcement agencies in El Paso, Texas and New Mexico.
Is that a great resume or what? I’m just saying.
Benny now heads the Xtreem Jiu Jitsu School in El Paso.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched 12 innings of perfect ball only to see the leadoff batter reach base on an error in the 13th inning in 1959. Who committed the error and how did the game end? If you know this, you’re really a baseball fan. Answer at end.
RED HAWK Golf Club, Las Cruces’ beautiful new links gem, keeps bustling with activity. This coming week it will be hosting the New Mexico-West Texas Amateur Golf Championships.
The tournament will no doubt bring a large number of outstanding golfers and visitors to the area, which will be great for the community.
The meet, to be held July 13 through 15, is rich in tradition. Past winners have earned more than $30 million on the professional tour. Some of the past champions include Rich Beem, Tommy Armour III, Bart Bryant and D. J. Brigman
Is Red Hawk Golf Club happy?
”We think it’s a tremendous accomplishment for Red Hawk to host such a large scale golf event in Southern New Mexico,” says Brittany Johnson of the marketing department.
PHIL JORDAN, former Drug Enforcement Administration agent, called recently to complain about the Roger Clemens trial at which Clemens was found innocent.
No, Jordan wasn’t complaining about the verdict. He was complaining that the trial should never have been held in the first place.
“Think of all the money that was wasted,” he said. “All that money could have been used to build sports facilities instead.”
Jordan has always had a soft spot in his heart for sports. I covered his athletic career when he was at Jefferson High School many years ago. He was outstanding, especially in basketball. I got a thrill out of watching him grow into one of the most successful drug enforcement agents in the country.
ANSWER TO trivia question: Pittsburgh third baseman Don Hoak committed the error allowing Milwaukee’s Felix Mantilla to reach first base. After a sacrifice, Hank Aaron was walked intentionally. Joe Adcock then hit a homerun but passed Aaron on the basepaths and was credited with only a single. However, since there had been a man on second that man was credited with a run scored. Poor Haddix was charged with a 1-0 loss.