El Paso Sports Columns by Ray Sanchez

by Ray Sanchez 04.13.14
The Man Upstairs knows how to make things right.
For several years, some El Pasoans, including KVIA-TV general manager Kevin Lovell, sportscaster Tom Ciaburri and your friendly sports columnist, have been nominating Nolan Richardson for induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Year after year he has been turned down.
The Man Upstairs must have noticed and said, okay, if he’s not accepted there we’ll give Nolan an even bigger honor: Induction into the national Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
And so it came to happen. The announcement was made this past week.

I’M PRACTICALLY jumping up and down with joy. Nolan and I go back a long way. I gave him his first writeup in 1950. I was in my first year as a sports writer at the El Paso Herald-Post and Little League Baseball was in its first year of existence. Nolan, only 9 years old, hit a long homerun over the fence at Houston Little League field and I put it in my story. I still have the clipping.
Then I followed and recorded his athletic career at Bowie High School where he was so good he was picked All-District in all three major sports (football, basketball and baseball). Then I continued following his sparkling basketball career at Texas Western College.
After graduation, he became such a good golfer that he could have tried for the PGA Tour. People were lining up to back him financially.

INSTEAD, he decided to become a coach. And what a coach.
He led the Bowie Bears to a 190-80 record then coached Western Texas to a junior college championship, Tulsa to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) title and University of Arkansas to a NCAA crown. He is the only coach in the country to record such a trifecta.
Needless to say, he has a major spot in my latest book, “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso Sports History,” and his photo blesses the front cover along with other of El Paso’s greatest stars.
He hasn’t forgotten me. I was among the first people he invited two weeks ago to the Naismith Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Aug. 8 in Springfield, Massachusetts. I knew then he had been inducted but couldn’t say anything because it was in confidence but I did hint about it in my column.
Quick, mama, call the airlines and reserve my flight. I plan to be there to join in the cheers.

TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name the longest professional boxing match ever held? Answer at end.

KROD RADIO sports talk show host Steve Kaplowitz keeps bringing in outstanding athletes for the annual El Paso Sports and Get Fit Expo. This year it was former New York Yankees pitching great Goose Gossage and current No. 2 Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams.
Williams, young and so shy it makes him likeable, had some interesting things to say about the Cowboys.
He was almost apologetic about replacing Miles Austin as quarterback Tony Romo’s No.2 target. Austin was let go by the Cowboys because he was injury-prone and Williams said he wasn’t trying to replace him but was just doing his best to earn a spot on the team.

AS FOR ROMO, he said Romo is a great quarterback but when Romo makes a bad play he’s criticized more than other quarterbacks because he has such a high profile. Williams added that once the Cowboys make the playoffs Romo will get his due.
He thanked owner Jerry Jones for giving him a chance with America’s Team.
And he said the Cowboys will be better next season because they’re getting to be a closer-knit team. He said the players are doing a lot more things together and that will be a big help.
Dallas Cowboys fans sure hope he’s right.

ANSWER to trivia question: Andy Bowen and Jack Burke went 110 rounds in 1893.

by Ray Sanchez
I’ve met many collectors of baseball paraphernalia through my many years of sports writing, but El Paso’s Fernie Grado, the newly elected president of the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame and owner of Gradco Packaging, takes the cake.
I mean he has items that go back to the 1800s and will make your eyes pop out.
Seriously, he could start a museum!

I WAS LUCKY recently to get a glimpse of his collection. Can you believe he has such treasures as:
• Gloves and bats and catchers’ masks and chest protectors going back to the early 1800s?
• Balls going back as far as 1840, including one signed by Babe Ruth and the other signed by Lou Gehrig?
• Jerseys and shoes before spikes were used and shoes with spikes that players actually wore from the time spikes started to be used?
• A closet full of first edition books written by some of the greatest baseball authors, including a first edition biography of Lou Gehrig?
• And need I say photos of just about every star ever to wear a uniform, most of them autographed?

GRADO, WHOSE packaging company has been extremely successful, started his collection 40 years ago. His business enabled him to travel far and wide which enabled him to go looking for baseball paraphernalia and auctions here, there and everywhere around the country.
Some items he picked up for peanuts, others he paid for dearly. But always, always he was picking up new items.
I wish everyone could see his collection. It’s like having a dream starting back in time and winding up in the present.
Wouldn’t it be great if the El Paso Chihuahuas baseball team could have a space for the collection at their new stadium? It would be one whale of an attraction.

TRIVIA QUESTION: What were the first names of the two famous auto racing Unser brothers? Answer at end.

THERE’S A CUTE little story that has folks buzzing at Dos Lagos Golf Course in the upper valley, and it doesn’t have anything to do with golf.
One day a few weeks ago an average-sized owl started hanging around one of the pine trees along the entrance to the course. Soon, a bigger owl, obviously a male, started hanging around, too. There must have been a wedding because just recently three baby owls began to peep out of a nest.
Pepe Gallegos, who operates the Dos Lagos course along with Mike Olson, says he showed a visitor some of the improvements that have been made in the clubhouse and the course itself but what impressed the visitor most was – the owls.

THE STUNNING success of the UTEP women’s basketball team should be a big boost to the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame induction banquet which will be held April 30 in the Signature Room at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Miners coach Keitha Adams was voted into the Hall this year and one can only guess what a great ovation she will get when she is introduced along with the others.
You should be there. For tickets to the induction banquet: Bruce Reichman at (915) 373-9126 or Cindy Spitz at (915) 204-3366.

ANSWER to trivia question: Al and Bobby.

© by Ray Sanchez 03.23.14
   
 What a great variety of stars the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame came up with for induction this year. It’s as if some master chef had cooked up an eight course culinary feast of delicacies.
Selected last Monday by Hall members were basketball coach Keitha Adams, football official Gene Semko, golfer J. P. Hayes, marathon runner Larisa Ito Pitchkoland, sports promoter Bob Azar, UTEP fan club president Larry Rodriguez, female high school and college basketball star Gloria Estrada and, posthumously, male high school and college basketball star Gabe Nava.
 
I’VE TOLD YOU about their exploits in previous columns and you’ll be reading more about these outstanding people.
You really should be at the induction banquet to meet and honor them. It’ll be held April 30 at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. A hospitality session will start at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person and you can reserve them by calling either Bruce Reichman at (915) 373-9126 or Cindy Spitz at (915) 204-3366.
 
TRIVIA QUESTION: A former Harlem Globetrotter went on to pitch in the Major Leagues and appear in three World Series. Who was it? Answer at end.
 
FINALLY, Barnes and Noble Book Stores have my latest book, “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso Sports History,” for sale.
The book had been on sale at other outlets since November but it hadn’t been on sale at Barnes and Noble because of a glitch.
I won’t go into the intricacies of the glitch but you can now get my book at your Barnes and Noble Book Stores in El Paso or order it through Barnes and Noble on the Internet via bn.com.
 
I’VE BEEN pleasantly surprised at how well the book has been received. I’ve told you before of other nice comments I’ve received. Following are some of the latest:
Nancy Hamilton, one of El Paso’s most highly regarded writers, wrote, “Thanks so much for your wonderful sports book.  I couldn’t put it down and finished it (the same day she got it)”
Jim Rewis, a fellow golfer, and many others have echoed the sentiment of not being able to put it down once they started reading it.
Joe Shepard, a local author in his own right, was figuratively jumping up and down with glee after reading my book and called to say, “It’s fantastic. I want all my friends to read it. I’m going to get about 100 of them together and have you autograph a book for each of them.”
Jim and Marie Darby, parents of UTEP assistant athletic director in charge of media relations Jeff Darby, told me with smiles that they “thoroughly enjoyed” the book.
Ramon Renteria, El Paso Times columnist and book editor, wrote that “you did a great job assembling all those sports nuggets.”
Victor Sanchez, my son and a former two-time all-district basketball star at Coronado High, says “as I read the book I kept saying ‘I didn’t know that’ and ‘I didn’t know that’ and ‘I didn’t know that.’”
 
BUT THE MOST heart-touching comment came from the late Bob Haynsworth, who did so much for so many sports in El Paso during his lifetime. He passed away on Feb. 23. Due to illness, he had been totally blind for months prior to his death but when my book came out shortly before he died he told his daughter, Jan, to read it to him. She did and she says that when she was through he had enjoyed the book so much he told her to read it to him again. She did.
I wanted to cry when I heard that.
That a book can cause joy to people is the biggest reward there is for a writer.
 
ANSWER TO trivia question: Bob Gibson.

^© by Ray Sanchez   03.16.14

Don’t you love keeping up with El Pasoans that do well locally then go on to do great things elsewhere? I do. Let me tell you about a couple.

Rennie Rebe, an outstanding soccer coach at Franklin High School in the 1990s, has been setting an amazing record as girls soccer coach at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. Ms Rebe, who has been named Coach of the Year in her 5-A district several times, reached a milestone this season on Feb. 18 when her team defeated Austin High School of Austin, Texas. It was her 300^th victory! For soccer, 300 wins is exceptional since only 21 to 25 games are generally played in a season.

THEN THERE’S Eric Darnell, former outstanding Franklin High School football player who earned a scholarship to Fordham University. Eric, a junior, was recently recognized as a scholar/athlete by the Patriot League for his outstanding academics and high grade point average, which he earned by taking pre-medical school classes. He had a 3.51 GPA. By the way, Fordham had its best football record in school history last fall: 12 wins and only two losses.

TRIVIA QUESTION: For which minor league team did Cleveland Indians super star Bob Feller pitch? Answer at end.

WOULDN’T IT be something if El Paso’s Nolan Richardson is selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year? He’s a finalist along with former UTEP super star Tim Hardaway.

KVIA-TV general manager Kevin Lovell, former sportscaster Tom Ciaburri and your friendly sports columnist have been trying to get Richardson inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame for years with no success. After all, Richardson won all three college major basketball championships (junior college, NIT and NCAA) and is the only coach in all of the United States to do so. His pick to the national Naismith Hall of Fame would really show up the Texas Hall.

CHARLIE MINN, director of CM Films who did such a super documentary on the Eastwood High Troopers that won the 1976 state basketball championship, is now working on doing one on the Del Valle High soccer team. Bruce Reichman has coached the team to two state titles, a truly amazing feat considering how many schools have soccer teams. One of the pre-requisites of doing a documentary, Minn says, is that there be film of the action available. Luckily, Del Valle has some.

A COUPLE of people have told me they don’t know how to buy a copy of my latest book, “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso Sports History,” on Amazon.com via the internet. It’s really easy. After signing on to Amazon.com type in “El Paso Sports History” or “Ray Sanchez” in the search box and a photo of the cover of the book will pop up. Click on the photo and presto, buying options will appear. Yes, credit cards are accepted

GAINES BATY, son of former Bowie High School coach Buryl Baty who was killed in a tragic automobile accident in 1954, has received unanimous formal approval from the Texas A&M Press Faculty Advisory Committee to publish the book he wrote on his father. He writes, “This has taken forever but I think it legitimizes the story in Texas history and your contribution to my dad’s legacy. Thank you so much for your help on this project and your friendship …”

I can honestly say it was an honor to be involved.

AND BOUQUETS to Julius Lowenberg, one of the greatest high school coaches ever to come out of El Paso, and his enchanting wife, Irene. They’re celebrating their 62^nd anniversary.

ANSWER to trivia question: Gotcha! Bob Feller never pitched in the minor leagues. He went straight from high school into the majors

© by Ray Sanchez 03.09.14

Eight more outstanding El Pasoans were nominated for induction into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame last Monday. That brought the total of nominees this year to 17.
The meeting, which opened with a moment of silence in honor of 2008 inductee Bob Haynsworth who passed away on Feb. 23, was the last in which nominations will be accepted this year.
Eight of the 17 nominees will be chosen when voting is held on March 17 (three in the athlete category, two in the coaches/administrators category, one in the media/supporters category, one in the officials/trainers category and one in the posthumous category)
The induction banquet will be held April 30 at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Following are the eight latest nominees in order in which they were introduced:

BOB RAPANUT, the first non-student equipment manager in the history of UTEP athletics. He worked with hundreds of coaches, student athletes, trainers and equipment managers in his 23 year career with the Miners and had a significant impact on their lives and UTEP as a whole.

LARISA ITO PITCHKOLAN, one of El Paso’s greatest lady runners who has competed in 21 marathons. She won the El Paso Marathon four years in a row from 2010 to 2013 and qualified and competed in five Boston Marathons. She was the top finisher from Texas in the Boston Marathon in 1998.

BRIAN KANOF, El Paso professional photographer who has covered just about every sport imaginable in El Paso and many major sports events throughout the country. Some of his photos of UTEP sports have become legends, including the one of Don Haskins with his arms outstretched which led to Haskins being nicknamed “The Bear.”

MARK MILLER, former Eastwood High and UTEP baseball star who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round. A prolific hitter, he played three years in the Texas Rangers organization before an injury ended his career. He was also an outstanding softball player and participated in five fast-pitch world tournaments.

JOE OVERTON, who played both baseball and football at Auburn University. He was a pitcher in baseball and quarterback in football.  He won 14 games for the Tacoma Giants in 1965 and later played for the El Paso Sun Kings. He stayed in El Paso and had a successful career as a coach at Coronado High School.

GORY GUERRERO, professional wrestler and promoter. The sport was highly popular in El Paso in the 1950s, 1960s and into the 1970s and Guerrero was the super star of that era. His matches and promotions packed the El Paso Coliseum with cheering fans and he became a hero of sorts all over town.

HARRY GROESSEL, who is known as the “Granddad of El Paso Drag Racing” and dominated the sport in El Paso and the southwest area for 35 years. He was Texas and New Mexico National Hot Rod Association champion six times. All in all, he won 18 track titles.

RUBEN DOMINGUEZ JR., who never had coaching but became one of the best long distance runners in El Paso. Running for Austin High, he won the Texas cross country championship in 1973, the Texas mile title with a time of 4:17.4 in 1974 and was an alternate team member for UTEP when it won the NCAA cross-country title in 1975.

THERE WERE nine other nominees prior to last Monday, which I introduced to you previously.  To refresh your memory, they were:
Football official Gen Semko, professional golfer J.P. Hayes, sports promoter Bob Azar, Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino publicist/racecaller Eric Alwan, UTEP basketball star Gloria Estrada, UTEP women’s basketball coach Keitha Adams, UTEP Fan Club president Larry Rodriguez, Austin High basketball star Gabe Nava and sports supporter Fred Loya.
I’m sure you’ll want to be at the induction banquet to honor these outstanding folks. Stayed tuned here for details on tickets and other news.

^© by Ray Sanchez   03.02.14

 Bob Haynsworth, one of the most remarkable men I ever met, will go down as one of the biggest contributor to sports in the history of El Paso.

While serving in the U. S. Army as a major during World War II he was stationed at Fort Bliss for a time. He liked our city so much he decided to settle here.

But he didn’t just “settle” here. He liked us so much he became one of us. He went into business and found success as a contractor and head of Surety Savings, became a civic leader and oh, how he went to work for us in sports.

Take a look at some of the things he did in sports:

IN 1950, after visiting his previous hometown of Sumpter, S.C. and discovering they had started a Little League program there, he came back and organized a group of El Pasoans to start Little League baseball in El Paso. Haynsworth and his group talked the city into building a fence and putting in lights at Houston Park, which was located behind Houston Elementary School.

Haynsworth served as commissioner. Segregation was still rampant at the time but Haynsworth would have none of it. He made sure that everyone would be eligible regardless of race. Nolan Richardson was among the first blacks to take advantage of that ruling and was on his way to becoming one of El Paso’s greatest athletes and coaches.

IN 1958, Haynsworth served as president of the Sun Carnival Association and as such started the ball rolling toward getting CBS to telecast the Sun Bowl football game.

He personally went to New York to lay the groundwork. The contract was finalized by Harrison Kohl a few years later.

IN THE 1960s, when the El Paso professional baseball team was in dire financial trouble, Haynsworth, by then a successful businessman, helped form an organization along with other prominent El Pasoans, raised money and took over the club.

The team, then known as the Sun Kings, survived and went on to become one of the best minor league clubs in the country under Jim Paul.

ALSO IN THE 1960s, Sunland Park Racetrack was having a hard time. It needed a new general manager and the owners were looking for a respected El Pasoan to take the position.

Haynsworth was the perfect choice. He took over the running of the track, saved if from extinction and horse racing continued. He also became a racehorse owner himself and continued racing horses the rest of his life. Some of them are racing this season at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

IN SHORT, Haynsworth seemed to be everywhere helping sports. After all, he had developed his love for them as a youth. He played football, baseball and basketball at Sumpter High School, was named all-state in basketball and played on the American Legion baseball team that won the state title.

And as one would expect, he was also active in many charitable and civic causes. He was a civilian aide for the Secretary of the Army from 1966-1970, chairman of the host committee for the Chamber of Commerce 1966-70, chairman and organizer of Goals for El Paso 1975-77 and a member of the board of directors of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame during its formative years in the 1950s. He was inducted to the latter himself in 2008.

BOB HAYNSWORTH passed away last Sunday, Feb. 23, at his daughter’s home in Ruidoso where he spent his last few years after becoming seriously ill. He was 92.

Say a little prayer for him and add a great big “Thank you” for all he did for El Paso.

I did.

Gene Semko, El Paso’s contribution to big time college football officiating, and four other worthy sports figures are the latest nominees for induction into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame.

Semko, a Burges High School graduate who also attended UTEP and University of Texas at Austin, has officiated some of the biggest college football games in the country, including the 2008 BCS championship games between Ohio State and LSU, the 2012 BCS championship game between LSU and Alabama and this year’s Rose Bowl game between Stanford and Michigan State.

That he hasn’t been inducted into the Hall before seems rather amazing.

J.P. HAYES, winner of two PGA Tour championships, was another nominee at last Monday’s meeting of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame board of directors.

Unlike several other golfers who came to El Paso and won on the PGA Tour, Hayes has made El Paso his permanent home,

He is known internationally for one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship in the history of professional golf. In 2008, he reported himself for using an unapproved ball although no one had noticed. He knew it would result in a two stroke penalty. His honesty cost him a chance to play that season as a regular PGA Tour member.

He is reportedly thinking of returning to professional golf.

OTHER NOMINEES so far this year include former sports sponsor Bob Azar in the administration category, Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino publicity director and race caller Eric Alwan in the media category and former UTEP women’s basketball star Gloria Estrada.

There will be two more meetings of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame where nominations for induction from the public will be accepted. Those meetings will be held Feb. 17 and March 3 at 5:15 p.m. in the Carroll Hall of First Christian Church, 901   Arizona Avenue.

To nominate you must present a resume and make an oral presentation.

Voting will be held on March 17. The induction banquet will be held April 30 in the Signature Room at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

TRIVIA Question: In what sport is the word “moguls” used and what are they? Answer at end.

DON HASKINS used to say that defense wins games. Perfect example: Seattle 43, Denver 8 in Super Bowl XLVIII last Sunday. The Seahawks’ defenders simply overwhelmed their foes.

However, I was surprised Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson didn’t get more credit. He threaded needles with his passes to hit receivers, especially on crucial third downs, time and again. I would have voted him Most Valuable Player.

WHEN I READ the headline that stated that Gerald Rubin was leaving Helen of Troy my heart sank. I thought he’d be leaving El Paso. Then I read the story and found that he’ll be staying here and I smiled.

He’s done so much for El   Paso and UTEP he’s one of our treasures.

Another person I’m glad stayed in El Paso is former UTEP football coach Mike Price. He’s so becoming I’ve always referred to him as everyone’s favorite uncle. I get a big kick out of seeing him at UTEP sporting events cheering on the Miners.

NICE COMMENTS about my book “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso Sports History” keep coming in. One of the latest was a little special because it came from one of my golfing buddies, Matt Sloan. It was only two short sentences but they went to the heart of the matter. He wrote:

“I have read your book and loved it.  I am overwhelmed thinking of the amount of research you had to do.”

ANSWER to trivia question: In skiing. “moguls” are large snow bumps.