Archive for the ‘Ray Sanchez’ Category

23 Sep

The Story Behind the 1966 Miner Maverick

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in Dos Lagos, El Paso Sports, Ray Sanchez, Uncategorized, UTEP. Tagged: , .

Ray Sanchez 02.28.16©palacio-1966

People keep asking why David Palacio doesn’t attend any of the events celebrating Texas Western College’s 1966 NCAA basketball championship. After all, Palacio was an integral part of the team and helped win what coach Don Haskins once called “the greatest game in which he had been involved.” El Pasoans who were at that particular game or watched it on television called it simply the greatest comeback they had ever seen.

Exaggeration? Maybe. But the Miners’ 67-64 overtime victory over University of New Mexico in 1966 certainly ranks as the greatest comeback in the school’s history considering the importance of it.

 

HERE’S HOW the game was described in the book, “Basketball’s Biggest Upset:”

“… The Miners started out colder than a refrigerator in a meat packing plant … They missed jump shots, layups and free throws, partly because of New Mexico’s Mel Daniels, who seemed to be intimidating them … The Miners wound up the first half with a miserable 29 percent field goal shooting percentage and trailing by 16 points.

“… Things didn’t start out much better in the second half. The Miners continued cold and the Lobos led by as much as 20 points twice, the last time with 14 minutes, three seconds remaining in the game.”

 

PALACIO WAS only a sophomore at the time, but Haskins decided to put him in the game at that point. The book describes what happened:

“…Palacio and Hill put on one of the most amazing defensive shows of the season. Palacio quickly stole a ball and went in for a layup. Then Hill stole a ball and went in for a layup. Then Palacio stole a ball, and another. Then Hill stole a couple more.

“The Lobos went into shock and the Miners rallied to win the game.”

Palacio, 6 feet 2, scored only two points in the game but helped to completely change the momentum of the game.

He became a starter the following season (1967) and was a big factor in the Miners’ 22-8 season. He didn’t play his senior year but finished his schooling.

 

FINE, BUT why did Palacio stop attending celebrations of the championship team? When I interviewed him, he made no bones about not liking Haskins’ intimidating style of coaching. But heck, none of the other players liked Haskins’ style either – at least not until he had made them champions.

No, there had to be another reason, so when Moe Iba, Haskins’ assistant coach during the championship season, came to the 50th celebration of the ’66 Miners’ victory this month, I pointedly asked him if there was another reason.

He said yes, and that it had to do with Tony Harper.

 

ACCORDING TO Iba, Palacio and Harper had become close friends while participating in sports at Austin High School. Harper could have been on the championship Texas Western College basketball team in 1966 but opted to play baseball. He did join the team in 1967 and lettered two years.

Moe Iba says Palacio thought Harper should be invited to the festivities following the Miners’ 1966 championship and asked it be so.

It didn’t happen. Palacio allegedly decided that if Harper wouldn’t be invited, he wouldn’t attend either.

It was, according to Iba, a matter of friendship and Palacio to this day has held to his vow.

 

TONY HARPER went on to become one of the most successful high school basketball coaches not only in El Paso, but all of Texas, while Palacio, after graduating from UTEP in 1968 with a business degree, moved to Los Angeles. He worked in the music industry for 36 years before retiring in 2008 as executive vice president for Univision Music Group.

Both Palacio and Harper have had little to say about the incident.

Palacio has missed out on a lot of fun by being a maverick, but no one can question his commitment to friendship.

2 Jan

El Paso Media Helps Pick 2015 Best in Sports

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in El Paso Sports, Ray Sanchez. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

by Ray Sanchez 12.27.15

Following are El Paso’s Best in Sports for 2015. Making the athletes and coaches selections more substantial is the fact they were selected by a seven-man panel of El Paso media. The panel included Kevin Lovell of KVIA-TV, Beau Bagley of KTSM-TV, Steve Kaplowitz of KROD radio, Bob Nitzburg of Entravision, former sportscaster Tom Ciaburri, UTEP statistician/analyst Charles Hill and your friendly sports columnist (me).

The winners:

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR – Anthony Rotich of UTEP. He was a unanimous

UTEP Track and Field Mugs for 2013-2014. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre

UTEP Track and Field Mugs for 2013-2014. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre

choice of the panel. The cross country star was so outstanding during the year that he was also the unanimous choice of Conference USA cross country coaches as Conference US Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Rotich led the Miners to victories at five meets during the season. On Oct. 2 at the Notre Dame Invitational, he took gold and helped UTEP knock off five men’s teams on their way to capturing the team title. His storybook career ended with a whopping 63 races won (track and field and cross country combined), 19 individual conference titles, 11 All-America honors and four national titles.

COLLEGE ATHLETE of the Year – Anthony Rotich.

COLLEGE COACH of the Year – Not surprisingly, it’s Rotich’s coach, Paul Ereng, who was also a unanimous choice. Every athlete needs a good coach to help him, shape him and develop him. A former Olympic gold medalist, Ereng’s men’s team reached a ranking as high as seventh in the country prior to the NCAA Championships. In the fall of 2015, Ereng led the men’s cross country team to its first team conference title since 2009.

HIGH SCHOOL Athlete of the Year — Paulo Benavides of Franklin High School, who set a national high school indoor record of 17 feet, ll inches. He won the state 6A UIL meet each of the past two years and represented the U.S. in the World Youth Championships in Ukraine.  He is attending Kansas on scholarship and almost surely has a future as a U.S. Olympic pole vaulter. The son of a pole vaulter father, Paul, young Benavides was described by Mile Split Magazine as “one of the greatest high school pole vaulters of all time.”

HIGH SCHOOL Coach of the Year – Tony Carter, Hanks High School wrestling coach. He has built Hanks into a state power. Four of his girls reached the state finals and two, Daniela Flores at 128 pounds and Adrienne Holguin at 148 pounds, won state titles.

The following are selections of El Paso Inc.:

RADIO SPORTSCASTER of the Year –Tim Hagerty of the El Paso Chihuahuas, whose radio reports of the games were not only delightful but his deep knowledge of the goings-on with the entire Pacific Coast League conference kept us informed.

TV SPORTSCASTER of the Year – Beau Bagley of KTSM-TV who seems to be everywhere covering every sport. His nightly reports are exceptional in every way.

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER of the Year – Mark Lambie of the El Paso Times. Year after year he comes up with exceptional images in sports that leave readers agog. This year was no different.

SPORTSWRITERS of the Year – The entire crew of the sports department of the El Paso Times. They keep us informed on UTEP, high schools and other sports and editor Bob Moore gives them so much space to do it that it’s a delight to pick up the morning paper each day.

SPORTS INFORMATION Director of the Year – Jeff Darby of UTEP. He not only turns out information, he goes beyond the call of duty and gives us special stories, like the Q&A piece on Gerina Spiller. Not only that, his reports of games are so good and informative they could appear in local news outlets.

OTHERS RECEIVING votes and thus getting honorable mention status were: Basketball coach Jim Forbes of Andress High School, Chapin High wrestler Andy O’Brien, Cathedral High swimming coach Jack White and San Elizario Cross Country and track star Michael Johnson.

2 Jan

Books of ’66 Miners Signed by Haskins Found

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in El Paso Sports, Ray Sanchez. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

by Ray Sanchez 12.13.15

Sometimes you get lucky. '66book.jpg

I went to clean out my storage room the other day and lo and behold, there, under a pile of other books, were four brand new hard cover copies of the book, “Basketball’s Biggest Upset,” signed by late coach Don Haskins..

“My God,” I thought, “What a treasure.”

If you know local sports history, “Basketball’s Biggest Upset” is the most comprehensive history ever written about the Texas Western Miners’ march to the 1966 NCAA basketball championship and led to the movie, “Glory Road,” being made.

It has more details than any other book written on the subject and includes bios of all the players, how the big games were won and a play by play description of the title game against University of Kentucky.

I found other “Basketball’s Biggest Upset” books, both hard cover and paperback, but only those four were signed by “The Bear.” 

BUT WHY am I telling you all this? It’s because the downtown El Paso Public Library has invited me to make an oral presentation of the history of El Paso sports, including the 1966 Miners, and at the same time have a book signing. The event will be held next Sunday, Dec. 20, at the downtown El Paso Public Library. 501 North Oregon Street, at 2 p.m.

donhaskinsWhat with Christmas and the 50th anniversary of the Miners’ amazing 1966 victory coming up next year, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

I mean, UTEP will be celebrating the Miners’ championship next year and the surviving members of the ’66 team will be present and honored at the men’s basketball game against Western Kentucky on Feb. 6 at the Don Haskins Center. Wouldn’t it be great to have a copy of a book for the Miners to sign? 

THE FOUR books signed by Haskins will be up for auction at the oral presentation and book signing at the El Paso Public Library downtown next Sunday but if you’re not lucky enough to get one signed by Haskins you can get an unsigned one. If you want a special and unique gift for someone, it’ll be hard to find a better Christmas stocking filler.

I’ve also had many requests for copies of my latest book, “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso History” and “Haskins: The Bear Facts” and those, too, will be available along with other books I’ve had a hand in writing or producing. 

TRIVIA QUESTION: Of all the players who have played Major League baseball, Hank Aaron ranks first alphabetically. But can you tell me who comes in second? Answer at end of column.  

IT’S GOOD to see local athletes receive their due. Don Maynard, one of UTEP’s greatest football stars, has been chosen the 2015 Legend of this year’s Hyundai Sun Bowl game which will be played Saturday, Dec. 26.

Maynard helped UTEP to victory in the 1957 Sun Bowl then helped the New York Jets to victory over Baltimore in one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history in 1969.

I’ve written countless stories about Maynard some of which are included in some of my books. He made receiving look easy – and fun. My favorite story about him is that he was so fast that he would mutter “beep-beep” as he flew by pass defenders.

 

AND HOW’S this for more excitement to the holiday season? Live horse racing returns to Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Friday, Dec. 18. We’ll see the finest horses, owners and trainers in the Southwest competing for big purses on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays through April 19.

As I’ve noted before, with UTEP, the El Paso Chihuahuas, our high schools, Sun Bowl, beautiful golf courses, great weather and Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, my sports cup runneth over 

ANSWER to trivia question: Tommy Aaron, Hank’s younger brother.

2 Jan

UTEP Football Team Didn’t Know the Word Quit

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in El Paso Sports, Ray Sanchez. Tagged: .

by Ray Sanchez 12.06.15

 

UTEP football coach Sean Kugler says he’s proud of his players.utep logo

UTEP athletic director Bob Stull says he’s proud of them, too.

So should all El Pasoans.

The Miners suffered an almost incredible amount of injuries to starters, 17, this season. At times they had to go down to third stringers to fill positions.

But they all fought, scratched and clawed and came within a field goal of making a bowl game.

Some have asked, why all the injuries? They suggest that maybe the players were worked too hard, even before the season started, and they were more susceptible to injuries during the season. It’s a theory, and even Kugler is considering that as a possibility.

 

ON THE OTHER hand, Stull says, sometimes bad things just happen, like opponents falling on a Miner’s leg and breaking it, or other such mishaps. It’s part of the game.

Stull, who coached the Miners to their winningest season ever, 10-3, in 1988, should know. He had his share of injuries, including losing his starting quarterback before a crucial game.

Yes, bad breaks happen, but you’ve got to love these 2015 football Miners. They didn’t know the word quit.

All of which bodes well for next year. Many of this year’s starters will be back bigger, stronger – and wiser.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: When the National Football League and the American Football League merged, which three teams moved into the American Conference? Answer at end of column.

 

AND HOW about UTEP’s basketball teams? Okay, so the Miners men’s team lost at New Mexico State last Wednesday, but both the men and the women teams got off to terrific starts.

Charles Hill, one of El Paso’s finest analysts, put it in perspective. He writes:

“Last Saturday (Nov. 28) may have been the best single day performance by UTEP athletic teams of all time with the exception of the 1966 NCAA Basketball Championship. Here is a recap: “The UTEP men’s basketball team won the Corpus Christi Coastal Basketball Classic by beating Southern Illinois on Friday and then by defeating Colorado State 99-90 in double overtime after trailing by 17 points at half time. UTEP was ranked 7th in ESPN’s RPI poll on Sunday and 4th in the CBS RPI poll.

“The UTEP women won the 5th annual UTEP Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament by defeating UC Riverside on Friday night and beating Idaho State on Saturday night. Neither game was close and Jenzel Nash was named Tournament MVP. “The UTEP football team closed out its season by defeating North Texas to finish the season at 5-7. The Miners could have won 8 or 9 games without all the injuries.

“I can’t remember any other single day where UTEP has performed so well. “

 

MATT SLOAN, one of my golfing buddies, tells the story of an old man who was a pretty good golfer in his younger days but gave up the game for some 25 years because of health and personal reasons.

The old man took up the game again in his later years but, thin and frail, he could only play nine holes and couldn’t break 40 anymore. In fact, he had a hard time breaking 45. He declared one day that he would die happy if he could break 40 just one more time.

And one magical day, at the age of 88, it happened. Sloan played that day with him and reports that the old duffer was happy as a bird after he shot a 39 by miraculously hitting seven greens in regulation. And, Sloan says, the score could have been even better if the old duffer hadn’t three-putted two greens.

Did the old duffer retire after his 39? No. Now he says he wants to do it again.

Which proves old duffers never die, they just keep swinging away.

 

ANSWER to trivia question: Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.

 

2 Jan

UTEP’s Artis: Another Hill, Nate or Tim?

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in Ray Sanchez, Sunland Park Racetrack. Tagged: , , , .

by Ray Sanchez 11.22.15

After the Texas Western College Miners beat University of Kentucky for the artis.jpgNCAA basketball championship in 1966, Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp was asked what he thought of Miners guard Bobby Joe Hill, who had stolen the ball twice from Kentucky guards on consecutive plays and gone in for easy layups.

Rupp replied, “He’s a good little guard, but everybody has a good little guard.”

Really? Rupp must have been awfully frustrated. Everybody has a good little guard, but not everybody has an exceptional guard. Bobby Joe’s consecutive steals still stand as one of the greatest feats in the history of NCAA championship games.

We El Paso fans know the difference. The Miners have been lucky to have seen other exceptional guards besides Bobby Joe. Like Nate Archibald and Tim Hardaway. Both went on to excel in the National Basketball Association.

 

AND NOW, it looks like this season’s Miners may have another of that caliber, an exceptional guard who can dominate a game with incredible quickness, ability to drive through the tiniest of holes for layups and put the ball through the basket from anywhere on the floor. Oh, yes, and play great defense, too.

I’m talking about Dominic Artis, a 6-foot-3 transfer from University of Oregon. He came highly touted but I expected nothing like what I saw in his debut with the Miners last week. He has greatness written all over him.

Folks, you’re in for quite a show at the Don Haskins Center this season.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: Nate Archibald and Tim Hardaway both had their numbers retired by UTEP. Can you tell me what the numbers were? Answer at end of column.

 

YOU PROBABLY know that Don Haskins resigned as UTEP basketball coach after the Miners won the 1966 NCAA championship. He was offered $60,000, which was three times what he was making at then-Texas Western College, by Detroit University in 1969. He visited the Detroit school and it was a shock. The media kept referring to his 1966 players as “outlaws” and asking what the “outlaws” were doing now. They also wanted to know what it was like living in the desert, if there were any snakes and how about all those Mexicans. He was so disgusted he asked for his job with the Miners back.

His “resignation” lasted exactly one day.

But did you know that he seriously planned to resign at UTEP another time? It’s true, and it was because of Norm Ellenberger.

 

ELLENBERGER, who passed away Nov. 15 at the age of 83, was fired by University of New Mexico in 1979 over a recruiting scandal involving forged academic transcripts.

After his firing, Ellenberger went into business but he always wanted to return to what he loved most, coaching.

He and Haskins had become friends and Haskins was not one to turn his back on a friend.

He hired Ellenberger as his assistant in 1986. The administration didn’t like it, and let Haskins know it. Haskins became extremely unhappy. Or should I say furious? I was sports editor of the El Paso Herald-Post at the time. He told me frankly that he was so disgusted he was seriously thinking of quitting.

Luckily, the administration relented, Haskins stayed and Ellenberger helped Haskins coach the Miners the next four years.

 

AFTER LEAVING the Miners, Ellenberger, a friendly and loquacious man and a heck of a coach despite his troubles, found other coaching positions. He even became an assistant to Bobby Knight at Indiana and an assistant to Tim Floyd with the Chicago Bulls.

And I’m sure he was forever grateful to Don Haskins, who stood up for him in the worst of times.

 

ANSWER to trivia question: Archibald wore No. 14 and Hardaway No. 10.

2 Jan

The Outlaw in Ruidoso Drawing Golfers Again

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in El Paso Sports, Ray Sanchez. Tagged: , .

by Ray Sanchez 11.15.15

The Outlaw is back at Ruidoso, and going great guns.  The Outlaw Golf Course, outlawcoursethat is.  Golf enthusiasts may remember that The Outlaw Golf Course opened in 2008 as part of the Alto Golf Estates development, which also includes Alto Golf Course.

Alas. Alto Golf Course continued to function but hard times hit The Outlaw course and it closed. But it was revived when Alan and Patty Russell purchased the subdivision in 2011 and has been growing steadily. So steadily that the two courses now boast some 2000 members.

LOTS ALONG both courses range from $95,000 up. Annual memberships are $2579 but you can play either of the two courses. Both are open to members or direct guests of members.

The view, high in the mountains, is incredible. And you can imagine how challenging it is with downhill, uphill and sidehill fairways and greens.

But what fun.

I know. Tom Hussmann, Jack Welch, Danny Garcia and I played The Outlaw course there a couple of weeks ago and had a blast.

It’s always fun going to Ruidoso for a weekend, or even a day. The old two-lane 54 highway is now a divided 4-laner so it’s easy to get there. And now golf enthusiasts have another beautiful golf course to play.

TRIVIA QUESTION: What two players did the New York Yankees honor when they retired uniform number 8? Answer at end.

LAST WEEK my crystal ball predicted that UTEP will make the basketball playoffs this season. But Charles Hill, a respected sports analyst, says it won’t be quite so easy to make the NCAAs. He writes:

“I see UTEP winning 23-25 games during the season before the C-USA Tournament but it doesn’t matter. The Miners will have to win the conference tournament because the schedule is so weak.

“The following games are crucial to the Miners’ post season chances: 1) At least one win against Southern Illinois or Colorado State, (2) beat Washington State, 3) split with NMSU, 4) win all their C-USA games at home and 5) maybe pick up road wins in C-USA against UTSA, Southern Miss, Marshall, FIU and Florida Atlantic.

“The Miners can do all this and they still will be on the bubble to play in the post season. Basically they have to win the C-USA Tournament at UAB in March.”

 

IT WAS GOOD to have Lee Trevino attend the 2015 Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Classic at El Paso Country Club last weekend.

He and I go way back to when he was working at Horizon Golf Club and cleaning clubs and shining shoes before he became famous. What a presence he was. Loud and funny – and exceptionally talented with a golf stick – he went on to become one of the PGA’s greatest stars.

I listed many of his exploits, and jokes, in my book, “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso Sports History.” He was a perfect example of the good and the funny of sports.

I HAD MANY happy moments with him but my personal favorite is the following excerpt from my book:

“This writer was golf editor at the El Paso Herald-Post during Lee Trevino’s stay in El Paso and surrounding area. Among his duties at Horizon Country Club (when he first arrived in El Paso) was shining shoes in the caddy shack.

“When I played there and he shined my shoes I would tip him a quarter. After he won the U. S. Open in 1968, there was a big celebration in the Horizon clubhouse and I was sent to interview him. We were sitting at the bar having a drink and, jokingly, I asked him if he would still shine my shoes.

“‘Sure,’ he said (smiling). ‘Take them off. But, uh, the price has gone up.’

“I didn’t ask how much and laughed all the way back to the office.”

ANSWER to trivia question: Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra, both catchers.

2 Jan

UTEP Basketball Has the Talent to Make Playoffs

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in El Paso Sports, Ray Sanchez. Tagged: , , , , , .

By Ray Sanchez 11.08.15

UTEP officially opens its 2015-16 basketball season next Saturday at Loyola ray's crystal ballUniversity in New Orleans, so it was time last week to take my obnoxious crystal ball out of its drawer and ask how the Miners will fare this season.

It’s not a pleasant task because it always brags when it’s right and makes excuses when it’s wrong, but everywhere I go people keep asking for its predictions.

So I gingerly opened the drawer and, as usual, was met with sarcasm. “Where in the #$%$#! world have you been?” it snarled. “Don’t you know the basketball season is almost upon us? What a slacker.”

I retorted, “Slacker? Man, you know how many sports I have to keep up with and write about? But never mind that, just give me your thoughts on the Miners this basketball season.”

Then I added, “Please.”

THE ORB snickered but straightened up, cleared its throat in its customary obnoxious way and replied, “Well, since you said please.

“The Miners seem to have plenty of firepower this season. Did you see the Orange vs. White scrimmage? Man, four players scored more than 20 points. Center Hooper Vint, 6 feet 11, looked much improved. And then there’s 7 feet 1 Matt Willms. Wow, if a team has a great big man under the bucket and guards breaking through defenses to feed him the ball, that’s a big, big advantage. May I point out Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul Jabbar?

“The Miners seem to have other good scorers, too, like newcomer Lee Moore and returnee Omega Harris. And then there’s Dominic Artis, a transfer from University of Oregon. From what I hear, he’s been the most impressive of all in practice.

 

“AS FOR OUTSIDE shooters, can you believe freshman Trey Touchet hit 28 out of 30 to win a three point shootout in scrimmage?

“And as far as guard play, even coach Tim Floyd is impressed. He said he liked the guard play, especially of Artis and Moore. And there’s another good guard that will be joining the action. That’s Josh McSwiggan, who’s out with a knee injury.”

I shook my head in wonder. “Gee,” I said, “you’re really optimistic.”

The crystal ball just smiled.

 

“BUT WAIT,” I said, “don’t forget that other teams in Conference USA will have outstanding players, too. You’re just focusing on the Miners.”

It answered, “True. And anything can happen, like dissension or eligibility problems or injuries or who knows what but the Miners have coach Floyd. He’s been in the big time. And he’s never sounded so optimistic. I think he’ll have a big season and has a good chance of making the NCAA playoffs.”

I must admit I was impressed. I picked up the crystal ball and, for a change, put it back in its drawer gently.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION:  What are the first and second names of the three DiMaggio brothers? Answer at end of column.

 

BOUQUETS to UTEP for scheduling a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1966 NCAA men’s basketball championship. It’ll be celebrated at the men’s basketball game against Western Kentucky on Feb. 6 and will be nationally televised on FOX Sports 1 with a tip-off time of 3 p.m.

As UTEP sports information director Jeff Darby points out, “The significance of Western Kentucky as the opponent for the anniversary game is great, as the Hilltoppers also participated in the 1966 NCAA Tournament and started two African American players, including Clem Haskins, who was selected third in the 1967 NBA Draft.  Clem Haskins and Dwight Smith became the first African-American players to join the WKU basketball program in the fall of 1963, putting the school at the forefront of integrating college basketball in the South.”

More Details coming.

 

ANSWER to trivia question. Joseph Paul, Dominic Paul and Vincent Paul.

2 Jan

Piller Tells How it Felt to Make Solheim Putt

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in El Paso Sports, Ray Sanchez. Tagged: , , , .

Gerinaby Ray Sanchez 11.01.15

Don’t you like people who go that extra step in their jobs? Jeff Darby, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Communications and University Relations at UTEP, has one of the most difficult jobs at the school what with keeping up with all the sports, but he always gives a little extra. Like calling former UTEP golf sensation Gerina Mendoza Spiller for a question and answer article. Gerina not only won a Conference USA championship but has earned more than $1 million on the LPGA Tour and made the putt that won the Solheim Cup for the United States last month. She spoke of that winning putt.

I asked Jeff if I could use his article. He said yes .I cut some of it to fit this space. If you’d like to read it in total, go to utepathletics.com. 

You probably improved as much as any player in the history of UTEP golf from your freshman year to your final college tournament. What was the key? I was pretty new to the game [when I got to UTEP], so I had lots to learn. I just picked coach’s brain because he had so much information.

What is the biggest difference between the college and pro game? By the time you’re a senior in college, you’re like a big fish in a small pond and when you go to the Futures Tour you’re a small fish in a big pond.

What were the biggest things that you realized you needed to improve on to qualify for the tour? I think the big thing was developing consistency and really figuring out what was best for my game.

What has been the highlight of your pro career to this point? Well, it just happened at Solheim, making the (9-foot) putt on the last hole to basically keep our hopes and dreams alive. I’ve always been very patriotic and I love my country.

 

Take us through the experience at the Solheim Cup in Germany, making that putt. I had been playing well all week and I had been putting well. I just had an errant iron shot on 17, kind of a similar putt, and I missed it for bogey. (On 18) I left my iron shot a little right and tipped it up there. Getting the full point on Sunday in singles is huge. And so for me, that was my goal starting the day. Just take care of business, get your point and that’s all you can control. I glanced at the video board and saw 13 and a half. And I was like, `Oh my gosh.’ Clearly I’m a math major and I know that they need half a point, and this is for half a point. This is kind of what you prepare for [in practice]. Before you go home, you say `I’m just going to get one last putt. This is a putt to win the U.S. Open or to win the Solheim Cup.’ As much as you can practice for it or prepare for it, I don’t think it’s ever the same. But you have put yourself in those situations (in practice). I really just tried to go back to my routine and focus on the process and not the results. I read it and looked over it, and the only thing you can do is make a good stroke. `How good can I hit the shot?’ I was asking myself, `How good can you roll this putt on this line?’ And to hit that putt and see it come off the putter exactly how I envisioned it and go straight into the hole, it was awesome.

You are married to Martin Piller, another professional golfer. How have you managed to balance each other’s careers?  We don’t try to avoid golf, but we definitely don’t make it who we are. We are basically our own boss and make our own schedules. So it has actually been pretty cool and he understands when I go through tough times or great times. I think that’s probably why we were so emotional after I made that putt, because we both understand.

What advice would you give to the members of this year’s UTEP team? If you have the dedication and work ethic, you can make it. If you want to get really technical, I would not let them go to the driving range. I would make them chip and putt until they are blue in the face. I can’t stress enough with professional golfers how important it is to be able to chip and putt and get up and down.

17 Aug

Next for Fan Favorite Strelzin: Baseball Hall

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in El Paso Sports, Ray Sanchez. Tagged: , , , , , .

by Ray Sanchez 08.16.15

It took a long time for Paul Strelzin to be inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall paulstrelzinof Fame because he asked not to be considered.

He finally consented and was inducted in 2009.

Now this year, he’s being inducted into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame.

The induction banquet will be held August 29 at the Centennial Banquet Conference Center in Fort Bliss.

STRELZIN, WHO passed away in 2013, was loud, brash and controversial, just like a current presidential candidate, but with a difference. Strelzin loved everyone, including Mexicans. He married one.

There’s no doubt that Strelzin was at least partially responsible for the great success of the El Paso Diablos under Jim Paul and the UTEP Miners basketball team under Don Haskins in the 1980s. He was the public address announcer for both teams and his loud and unorthodox style drove officials crazy but the fans loved it, and loved him.

 

RESUMES of other El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame inductees this year:

Leo Caraveo — Member of the Ysleta High School team that won the district title in 1965, an outstanding player while in the  U.S. Army, played semi-pro baseball in El Paso, first head baseball coach at Sierra Blanca High, served as a board member for El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame.

Taylor Paul – Franklin High catcher 1997-1998, four years at Southwestern University, led SCAC Conference in hitting, selected NCAA All-West Regional, All-Conference, NCAA Academic first team All-American 2001, inducted into Southwestern University’s Wall of Honor.

Jerry Valdez – Socorro High three year varsity standout 1991-1993, All-Conference team catcher at Cochise College, inducted into Fort Hays State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011, drafted 25th round by Philadelphia Phillies 1997, played catcher for five minor league seasons, reached Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2001.

Juan Zaragoza – Three year letterman at Bowie High, pitcher at Ranger Junior College, played in 7 regionals, one championship, five state tournaments in Juarez Baseball League, pitching record 9-1 for winning El Paso Tejanos team as MSLB 60 plus World Series champions, El Paso International Baseball 50 League member.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name the Cincinnati Reds player who pitched two consecutive no-hitters? Answer at end of column.

 

EL PASO HAS lost another sports icon. Bobby Lesley passed away at the age of 74 this month.

Bobby Lesley was different. He was a loner, often cantankerous and shunned theblesley spotlight with a passion. But what a talent. He coached Eastwood High School to the state basketball championship in 1976, thus making Eastwood the only El Paso public high school besides El Paso High to win a state title in that sport.

Lesley was different even as a youth. But Don Haskins, who was coaching at Hedley High in his early years, recognized Lesley’s ability from the start. The only way he could get Lesley to play for him at Hedley was if Haskins became his guardian. He did, and Lesley led Hedley to the semi-finals of the state tournament.

In his autobiography, “Haskins: The Bear Facts,” Haskins remembered Lesley at that time as “a barefooted, freckle-faced kid, hard as a rock – and cocky.” Haskins brought him to Texas Western College, too, and as usual, Lesley showed up barefooted. Ben Collins, the Miners’ athletic director at the time, pulled Haskins aside and said, “Uh, Don, you may not win many games if you bring in a bunch of guys from Hedley.” Haskins signed Lesley anyway and it wasn’t long before Collins was singing Lesley’s praises, too.

 

LESLEY SPENT the late years of his life enjoying his favorite hobby – horse racing. For the last few years he was a regular at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, sitting at his own table, usually alone, smoking and studying the Daily Racing Form.

Some may think his death was a tragic one. He was found dead in his apartment, all alone.

Somehow, I think that’s the way he preferred it.

Those who knew Bobby Lesley best, including his players and coach Haskins, loved him. That, no doubt, was enough for him.

 

ANSWER to trivia question: Johnny Vander Meer.

15 Aug

Recalling Mannie Ponsford And His Family

Posted by EL PASO SPORTS in El Paso Sports, Ray Sanchez. Tagged: , , , , .

By Ray Sanchez 08.09.15

Mannie Ponsford is one of the greatest all-around athletes in the history of El marymelbyPaso. I was intrigued, therefore, when I got a call from his niece, Mary Jo Ponsford Melby, with the news that she had a copy of a column I wrote about him in 1955.

The article pointed out that Mannie, who was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 1960, had performed an amazing 24-hour athletic feat in 1919. On a Saturday afternoon he caught a pass in the final minutes to help El Paso High School beat Albuquerque. That night, he sank the winning basket to give Trinity Methodist a victory and the championship of the Church League.

The next day, he went out and pitched El Paso to a victory in a mound duel.

Thus, in a 24 hour period he accounted for three victories in three different sports.

He went on to pitch for the University of Texas at Austin and led the Longhorns to an undefeated season.

 

I WAS FURTHER intrigued to learn that Mrs. Melby had written a history of the entire Ponsford family. And what a history!

The Ponsford family, starting with H. T. Ponsford who came to El Paso in 1897, went into construction and built many historic homes and buildings in the region.

To name a few, the Ponsford family built Ysleta High School, Bowie High School, Radford, Cadwallader, Coldwell and the first Zach White elementary schools. They also built the Sun Bowl stadium, the Plaza Theater and buildings at Fort Bliss and UTEP

In short, they were pioneers in what El Paso looks like today. It’s such a great history every El Pasoan should read it. If you call Mrs. Melby at 532-7213 or email her at mjmelby@hotmail.com she’ll be happy to email you a copy.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: In 1920, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves went 26 innings, the longest game inning-wise in the history of Major League baseball. What was the final score? Answer at end of column.

 

READERS WRITE:

Ana Chavez — “I wanted to reach out to all of you (media) to let you know that I will be leaving my position as Director of Media Relations at the Sun Bowl Association. My heart is heavy … If you know me, you know I love El Paso and I LOVE the Sun Bowl! I have been offered an excellent opportunity as Senior Account Executive at a public relations firm in Miami, Florida. I want to thank you all for being the best local media in the bowl business.”

I’ll miss her dearly.

 

Bob Fields, former El Paso sportscaster – “Great to see you are doing well. I retired from TV five years ago and stay very active with the NFL Alumni Association. I’m on the board of directors and will be named chairman of the board next year. It’s amazing how some never believed I ever played in the NFL. You were the only one who took the time to find out I did, and now I work for them. You will never know how much you mean to me.“

 

El Paso High School Alumni Association – “The EPHS Centennial takes place October 2016 and we are looking for all alumni.  We will attempt to break the Guinness book of World Record for the largest alumni reunion.  The current record is 3300.”

 

Jose Torres, public information officer, City of Dallas – “Nice story on Ernie Ponce.  He was also a visionary.  He invested in the original KEHB TV with E.H. Baeza, which later became El Paso del Norte Broadcasting, parent company of KINT TV.”

 

OOPS DEPARTMENT: Last week I wrote that late alderman Ernie Ponce should be inducted into the El Paso Golf Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1997. I should have double checked. The El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame? Not inducted yet. He should be.

 

ANSWER to trivia question: A 1-1 tie.

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