UTEP: A new football coach. Sean Kugler did such a great job this season despite having a host of injuries to starters that finishing with five victories seemed something like a miracle. The Miners fought tooth and nail to the very last game, which is a testament to the coach. I see good times ahead, Santa.
KEITHA ADAMS, coach of the Miners’ women’s basketball team: New talent. Adams’ team has been a wonderful surprise this season, Santa. The young ladies got off to such a strong start that they even beat a good New Mexico State team in its own backyard. It looks like she has plenty of new talent.
TIM FLOYD: Good guards for his UTEP men’s basketball team. He has a couple of dandy ones in Dominic Artis and Lee Moore, Santa, and they’re a delight to watch. (Uh, but psst, Santa, can you help the Miners a little more on the rebounding aspect?)
SUN BOWL: A new game selection chairman. John Folmer has been bringing us outstanding games for decades, Santa. This year’s matchup between Washington State and Miami, which will be televised nationally Dec. 26, is no exception.
SUN BOWL: A new media relations director. I hate to ask for two non-gifts for anybody, Santa, but Eddie Morelos has taken over that position at the Sun Bowl and he’s been doing an excellent job of keeping us media-ites informed. He was formerly with New Mexico State University.
THE CHIHUAHUAS: Success. El Paso’s Triple-A team has been received with incredible delight by El Pasoans, Santa. They’ve had so many sellout crowds I couldn’t begin to count the number. The games at Southwest University Park are more than a baseball game. Heck, Santa, going there has also become a place to go, to mingle and to enjoy all kinds of goodies on our beautiful summer days and nights. What joy. What happiness.
HIGH SCHOOLS: More competitive athletes and football teams. There was a time, Santa, when El Paso’s public high school football teams couldn’t compete in football with other West Texas cities, but that seems to be changing. El Paso prep teams have won state championships in basketball and baseball and other sports, like wrestling, tennis, soccer, etc., but never in football. Hopefully, that will change soon.
GOLFERS: Better weather. The El Paso area is a golfer’s paradise when it comes to weather, Santa. No hurricanes, no earthquakes, no forest fires, no floods, no nothing but two or three dusty days a year. Heck, we can play golf just about every day of the year.
NOLAN RICHARDSON: Induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. It finally happened this year, Santa. Our greatest El Paso-born combination athlete/coach had been inducted into 12 other halls of fame, including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, but the Texas hall kept ignoring him year after year.
Finally, with the help of KVIA Channel 7 general manager Kevin Lovell, who kept pestering the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and a few articles, he got his due.
ME: Appreciation of sports. I already have it, Santa. I love our city, our people and can’t stop giving thanks for the delight sports bring us.
EL PASOANS: Wishing them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I’ll do that myself, Santa. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!