by Ray Sanchez 12.15.13
Amazing. Officials of the Hyundai Sun Bowl have come up with another doozie of a matchup.
Excuse the word doozie, but I’m excited. Since its inception in 1935 the folks in charge have come up with some great games This year is no exception.
I mean, Virginia Tech and UCLA will be coming to town with good records from opposite sides of the continent, and, as Sun Bowl media relations director Ana Chavez puts it, “Coach Jim Mora has re-established UCLA as a power in the PAC-12 and Coach Frank Beamer always has Virginia Tech in a position to compete for championships in the ACC. “
Not only that, this is East vs. West, a 9-3 record (UCLA) vs. an 8-4 record (Virginia Tech).
THIS WILL BE Sun Bowl game No. 80. I’ve watched most of them. In fact, a team from Virginia was in the first one I saw. My brother Ralph, who was several years older than me, took me to see West Virginia vs. Texas Tech as a 10-year-old in 1938. West Virginia won 7-6.
I was too young to remember anything about the game but I remember a lot about the weather. It rained throughout the game and I sat there shivering. I remember saying I never wanted to see another football game.
How wrong I was. I became a sports writer and have watched and written about scores of Sun Bowls. And loved them all.
Yes, I plan to be there Tuesday, Dec. 31at noon and loving every minute of it.
I just hope it doesn’t rain.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name the first black quarterback in the National Football League and when it happened? Answer at end.
IT WAS a happy opening of the live horse racing season at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino last weekend. Fans, horse owners, trainers and jockeys mingled and talked and smiled with gusto After all, they were back at the jewel of New Mexico racetracks. Sunland Park is not just the most attractive racetrack in New Mexico but also has the biggest thoroughbred purses.
But there was a sad note. Casey Lambert was not on hand.
THE LAMBERT family has been prominent at the upper valley track since its opening in 1959. Cliff Lambert, Casey’s father, has won several trainer championships. His son has carried on the tradition of success as a jockey and has become one of the most successful and popular riders in the history of the track.
Last October Casey, 48, was working out a horse at Zia Park in Hobbs when the horse broke a leg. Casey tried to stay on but the horse leaned heavily and broke another leg and Casey hit the ground.
Casey wound up with a broken neck. For the third time.
Because of his age, his parents and wife Brandi believed it would end Casey’s riding career. Three broken necks is more than enough reason.
But Casey is recovering and showing signs that he wants to ride again.
It’s said that pound for pound, jockeys are the toughest athletes in sports. Those who follow horse racing closely know it is so.
WILLIE VASQUEZ, who was injured in a horrific automobile accident that took the life of his wife, Alma Belinda, and their son in law, Hector Perales, came as a shock to the El Paso sports community.
Big, strong and fast, Willie was a star in football, baseball and track at Austin High School and a star in football at UTEP, then known as Texas Western College. He played fullback, linebacker, corner back and did the punting for the Miners. It helped them win one of only two conference championships the Miners have ever won. That was in 1956 in the Border Conference. His wife, a former Miss LULAC and Queen of the Fiesta De Las Flores, also attended Texas Western and was involved in many community affairs. Just this week, one of Willie’s legs had to be amputated. We mourn the passing of Alma Belinda and Hector Perales and pray for Willie’s recovery as well as others involved in the accident.
ANSWER to trivia question: Willie Thrower of the Chicago Bears in 1953.