Wow. What a great group of inductees to the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame this year. I mean, 
they’re not only outstanding in their fields but they’re all so personable you feel like you want to go up, shake their hands and give ‘em a hug.
Really.
You’ll get to meet them, greet them and honor them at the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame’s annual banquet on April 29 in the Signature Room at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. This year’s inductees are, in alphabetical order:
Long distance runner Ruben Dominguez, official Bob Geske, photographer Brian Kanof, incredibly successful Coronado High School tennis coach Jerry Pippin, long distance runner Paul Pearson, former UTEP football coach Mike Price and all-around athlete Ed Stansbury.
I’VE LISTED their accomplishments in previous columns, and you’ll get to know more about them at the induction banquet or in future stories. But at the risk of sounding a bit prejudiced because he’s with the media, let me write a bit more about Brian Kanof here. I’ve known him intimately for many years.
Kanof has recorded much of the history not only of sports but of all El Paso during the past 49 years. He’s done photography work from the ground and from the air for businesses in the process of building the city.
AND OH, WHAT joy he’s brought to sports. He’s recorded so many great moments it would be impossible to list them all here. Remember the picture of Don Haskins with his hands up in the air and looking like a bear? He took it. Remember the one of world long jump record holder Bob Beamon flying through the air that appeared in Sports Illustrated? He took it. I could go on and on.
He’s shot photos for UTEP, the Sun Bowl, local and national publications, major national outlets and personally covered local and national events in just about every sport.
He’s one of our greatest treasures and I can’t tell you how happy I am to see him get his due.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name two brothers who fought for the heavyweight championship (not against each other) during the first half of the last century? Answer at end of column.
JUST WHEN you think the $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino can’t get any better, it does!
This weekend’s Sunland Derby, which will be held Sunday, drew one of the best thoroughbreds in the nation: Firing Line.
Firing Line, ridden by one of the greatest jockeys ever (Gary Stevens) and trained by Simon Gallaghan, is so good he’s ranked sixth in the nation. That makes him the highest ranked thoroughbred ever to run at Sunland. What’s more, he’s so good he lost by a mere head twice to the No. 1 horse in the country, Dortmund.
Think of it: We will be able to see this super star, Firing Line, right here in our own back yard.
NEEDLESS to say, Firing Line was made the favorite in the Sunland Derby. He’s listed at 8 to 5 but will probably go off at even lower odds.
Not that he won’t have opposition. Owners have entered seven other horses to run against him, probably hoping for a miracle.
Why is Firing Line entered in the Sunland Derby? It’s because the race is so highly regarded it’s been designated as one of the races that can qualify a horse to the Kentucky Derby if it wins.
And how about that, sports fans?
ANSWER to trivia question: Max and Buddy Baer. Max won the world championship by knocking out Primo Carnera. Buddy lost to Joe Louis in his quest for the title.