by Ray Sanchez 01.12.14
El Paso’s two favorite teams, the UTEP Miners and the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t fare well, but overall this is one of the most enjoyable football seasons I’ve ever experienced. So many great games, so many improbable upsets, so many incredible finishes.
And what a spectacular finish to the college season last Monday. Florida State’s 34-31 victory over Auburn University in the Rose Bowl had all the elements mentioned above: A great game, what looked like an improbable upset in the making and an incredible finish. And to top it off, a winning touchdown pass in the last few seconds by no less than the Heisman Trophy winner, James Winston.
The National Football League has been as exciting as the college campaign. It, too, has had great games, improbable upsets and incredible finishes.
Can Super Bowl XLV111 on Feb. 2 in New Jersey be as exciting as the college championship game? I wouldn’t bet against it.
TRIVIA QUESTION: What were the first names of the two Joe DiMaggio brothers who also played Major League baseball? Answer at end.
KICKING UTEP basketball players McKenzie Moore, Jalen Ragland and Justin Crosgile not just off the team but all the way out of school for allegedly betting on sports seems a bit harsh. But what else could UTEP officials do? Little bad habits can turn into big bad habits.
The three players are just kids, and we all have done foolish things when young. I feel some sympathy for them and wish them better luck in the future.
CLIFF LAMBERT has many things to be proud of in horse racing. He rode Galobar to victory in the very first All-American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack in 1959. He won riding titles at Los Alamitos and Bay Meadows in California. After retiring from riding he turned to training, and became an immediate success. As a matter of fact, he was the first trainer of Bold Ego and helped develop the local thoroughbred into a Triple Crown contender that finished second in the Preakness.
And now, at the age of 77, he has something else to be proud of: He has been inducted into the Ruidoso Downs Racing Hall of Fame.
HIS INDUCTION was announced on Dec. 24, which turned out to be a nice Christmas gift. One could say it caps an outstanding career in the horse racing business. Or rather, one could say that if Cliff Lambert were ready to retire. But not so. He is still training and turning out winners in New Mexico, including, of course, Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
His son, Casey, has been following in his father’s footsteps as a jockey and, at the age of 49, Casey might be thinking of following in his father’s footsteps as a trainer, too. Casey suffered a serious injury in October and has been on the sidelines since then. He had been winning races at an outstanding percentage.
JOE RUIZ, a fellow golfer, came up and shook my hand. He seemed excited. “I found a great deal for golf,” he said. “Painted Dunes Golf Course is offering all the golf you can play any time including weekends for $1500 a year. That even includes a golf cart.”
“You’re kidding,” I said.
“No, no, it’s true,” he replied.
I thought I’d better check it out and called the Painted Dunes clubhouse. Sure enough, it’s true. But you’d better hurry if you’re interested. I was told the offer will only hold until the first 40 people sign up.
ANSWER to trivia question: Dom and Vince.