El Paso Sports Columns by Ray Sanchez

If you want an autographed copy of my book, “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso Sports History,” for Christmas you’ll get your chance at the men’s basketball game between UTEP and Oregon at the Don Haskins Center Monday, December 16, 2013. I will be signing copies before, during halftime and after the game.  What a great Christmas gift that would be. The game starts at 7 p.m.

The Good, the Bad and Funny of El Paso Sports History, my latest book, is now available at Mesa Publishing Corporation. Send an email directly to rayf358@yahoo.com or call (915) 584-0626. It is also available at raysanchezbooks.com and amazon.com. The book will ablso be available at PDX Printing at 120 Porfiio Street off 1-10 West near UTEP in El Paso, Texas. It is my 7th book on sports

The El Paso, Texas area was settled in the 16th century but it didn’t become a viable city until the first railroad arrived in 1881. Sports really blossomed after that. In this book will re-live some of the greatest moments in El Paso sports history. You will read about the city’s greatest teams, athletes, coaches and administrators. And you will learn how sports institutions started and grew through the years.

Big things have been happening at Dos Lagos Golf Course in the upper valley. Business has increased dramatically since the closing of Santa Teresa Country Club, management has changed hands, new golf carts have been ordered.
And no one is happier than Jesus Jose Gallegos. You see, he almost single-handedly started building the upper valley course more than 50 years ago. And to have seen it grow into its present status, which includes his son Pepe as part of the new management team, well, one can imagine what a great thrill that is for him.

THE ELDER Gallegos arrived in El Paso in 1956 with 50 cents in his pocket, barely enough to buy a “tornillo” (a long loaf of Mexican bread), which helped him stay on his feet. But he was quickly contacted by some cousins living in the United States and they took him under their wing. And just as quickly they recommended him for a job to Sam Gillett, an upper valley farmer.
Gillett took him on and before long was so impressed with Gallegos’ work ethic he offered to double his salary if he would help him build a golf course. Gillett had been an avid golfer and had decided in the late 1950s to use some of his land for his favorite hobby.

NEEDLESS TO say, Gallegos jumped at the offer. Gillett hired an architect and turned the design over to Gallegos. “I planted the first tree, cleared the grounds for the fairways, planted the first greens,” Gallegos recalls. “I was practically alone out there for the first two years.”
Fifteen hour work days were the norm.
The course finally opened in 1961, and Gallegos has been there ever since, working and fixing and doing many of the chores it takes to keep a golf course going.

SAM GILLETT, who has since passed away, was so appreciative he bought Gallegos a mobile home, put it on the course and declared Gallegos would always have a job and the mobile home for as long as he lived.
He still lives there with his wife, Carmela, and he’s turned the inside and outside of the home into a bit of a showcase, obviously working on it with the same dedication he displayed on the golf course. It would be difficult to find a mobile home anymore eye-catching and immaculately kept than his.

GALLEGOS, 84, says “I’m supposed to be retired now but I can’t just sit around doing nothing.’
So you’ll find him out on the course riding around in a cart, clearing debris, raking leaves or doing other chores.
And then going home to his wife of 67 years with whom he has produced five children, 19 grand children and 20 great grand children.

PEPE GALLEGOS, who along with Mike Olson is running the course now, is proud of his dad.
Pepe and Mike took over operation of the course on a lease from owner Ron Gillett, Sam’s son, on Nov. 1. Ron had been running the course since the death of his father but decided it was time to take life a little easier. The name of Dos Lagos Course will remain the same but it will now be under the company name of Dos Golf LLC.
Dos Lagos Golf Course, so named because of two lakes on the property, has been a boon to El Paso golfers on the Westside of town. It’s moderately priced and just some 15 minutes away.
So if you happen to be playing there and see an old man riding around with a rake and shovel in the cart, wave to him to show your appreciation. He certainly deserves it.

When I learned El Paso’s new Triple A team was going to be nicknamed “Chihuahuas,” I frowned, wondering if I was going to like it.

Then when I learned the logo was going to be a Chihuahua, I smiled. Chihuahuas are such cute dogs.

Then when I saw the logo, I frowned again. Instead of a cute little dog I found a fierce looking dog.

Then I smiled again. After all, I thought, the mascot is always supposed to look tough.

When all the frowning and smiling was done, I found I liked the nickname. It’s cute but tough and certainly fits the area. And it sure beats Desert Dogs or Desert Gators.

BOUQUETS TO Shae Vierra of El Paso, who submitted the name, and Jason Klein and Casey White of Brandiose, a design firm in San Diego, for coming up with the name and the logo.

As a former sports editor, I do wonder about one thing: How are headline writers going to shorten the nickname of Chihuahuas to fit a certain space? Will it be “Chi’s” or “Huas?” Maybe headline writers had better just go with El Paso or EP.

But that’s immaterial.

Bring on the Chihuahuas!

TRIVIA QUESTION” What do the green, red, white and checkered flags indicate in auto racing? Answer at end.

OOPS, I GOOFED. I wrote last week that the Texas Racing Commission passed a law outlawing online wager on horse and greyhound racing in Texas unless it’s done at a Texas racetrack.

I was quickly corrected by Robert Elrod, public information officer of the Texas Racing Commission. Of course that commission doesn’t have the authority to pass laws, only the Texas Legislature does. And I knew it. It was a slip of the, uh, brain.

Here’s a further explanation of how the law came about by Mr. Elrod:

“THE SECTION of the law you refer to (the Texas Racing Act) is not actually new. Here is a little background on the topic that might be helpful. The Texas Legislature amended the Texas Racing Act in 2011 to clarify that the existing prohibitions against off-track wagering also applied to the Internet. Accordingly, the Texas Racing Commission sent cease-and-desist letters to all of the advance deposit wagering (ADW) companies that reportedly accepted these wagers from Texas residents.

“Most of the contacted companies voluntarily complied with the statute. However, TwinSpires.com refused and then filed a federal lawsuit in September 2012. TwinSpires.com continued to do business in Texas until a federal district judge ruled in favor of the Commission and dismissed the suit on Sept. 23.”

“WE UNDERSTAND the frustration of some Texas bettors and are sensitive to their concerns, but the Texas Racing Commission is obligated to enforce the Texas Racing Act as enacted through the legislative process. It is not the agency’s role to take a position on these public policy issues. Nor is it the role of this agency to lobby for or against any issue. Those policy changes can only be made by the Legislature, and cannot be made by the Commission. Thank you for your time.”

AND SOMEONE asked me if I really checked at the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame banquet to see if Greg Joy, former UTEP high jumper who once cleared 7 feet 7 inches, had wings. I did, and he didn’t. And when I asked him how he soared so high he himself seemed surprised. “I now look up and see how high seven feet is and can’t believe I did it. I guess it just took a lot of practice.”

ANSWER TO trivia question: Start, stop because of unsafe conditions¸ beginning the last lap and end of race.

If you’re a horse racing fan you’re probably hopping mad or scratching your head over a couple of changes this month.

First, the Texas Racing Commission passed a new law banning online wagering of horse and greyhound racing in Texas unless you do it at a racetrack in Texas.

Wow. You can imagine the uproar. Betting from your home computer had become extremely popular here in El Paso and throughout the state.

HERE ARE SOME of the comments on the Internet from racing fans throughout Texas:

“ I live in Texas, and bet almost exclusively online. The track is a hassle to travel to, and I don’t have time to go to the track every time I want to make a bet. The industry will lose me as a fan.” … “These idiots in Texas might even stop us from gambling anywhere but here.” … “Well, I guess the lottery should go, too.” … “Bottom line on this is all tracks in the U.S. will lose all handle generated from Texas residents. The U.S. racing industry has been in decline for years and this recent law will likely cause many other tracks to close their doors.” … “George W. Bush and Rick Perry: Dumb and Dumber.” … “With all the other things that are going on they have to mess with this. Does this include sports betting and Texas poker?”

AND THOSE are just the printable quotes.

There aren’t that many tracks in Texas one can go to for simulcast wagering. Here in El Paso we’re lucky to have Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino nearby. But racing fans in the state that don’t live near any track will really be hurting.

Officials of Texas’ main tracks, Sam Houston and Lone Star Park near Dallas, say they didn’t lobby for the new law. In fact, they say they wanted to continue to be included in online wagering.

ANOTHER CHANGE that has some racing fans upset concerns the Daily Racing Form. Since it’s inception, it had been the size of a daily newspaper. This month it changed to magazine size.

Fans I talked to at Sunland Park are upset but frankly, I like it.

I was worried it would be harder to read but it’s a lot easier to carry, handle and just as easy to read as before. The size of the type didn’t change.

Stopping fans from betting at home is another matter. I’m going to miss the convenience of make an, uh, “investment” from the comfort of my home computer.

TRIVIA QUESTION: Rice University’s nickname is Owls. Can you name another Division I team with that nickname? Answer at end.

THE EL PASO Baseball Hall of Fame has had many outstanding presidents since it was initiated 26 years ago. Put this year’s prexy, Larry Hernandez, on the list. Being a computer whiz he improved the web site significantly and kept everyone informed of what was going on step by step in an attractive manner before last week’s induction banquet. Many kudos to him.

WHAT A THRILL. Tom Hussmann, a good friend and a sweet guy, invited me and a couple of my buddies to play with him at Coronado Country Club. Also accompanying us was Ben Lesley, brother of former Eastwood High coach Bobby Lesley.

The course is as beautiful as ever. The clubhouse is still elegant, the fairways plush and the greens immaculate. And I won’t even mention the view from the top of the Franklin Mountains, the most spectacular view from any course in El Paso. I always found the Coronado fairways in great shape since its inception in the early 1960s but director of golf Danny Swain and Co. aren’t standing still. They’re now replacing all of the fairways with No. 419 Bermuda. “It makes the ball sit up even better,” assistant Drew Norris says.

ANSWER to trivia question: Temple University.

I thought I knew everything about El Paso High School. After all, I spent four years there, graduated from there and have covered many of the school’s athletic events.
So I was somewhat surprised to learn that several tunnels under the school and stadium that run all the way to the street at the bottom of the hill and beyond were included when the school was built in the 1910s.
What’s more I learned that one of the tunnels was used as a morgue and some bodies were buried there because there was no place else for them at the time. (That tunnel has since been blocked off.)
I’d heard rumors of a “Haunted Hall” when I was attending classes there in the 1940s but I just dismissed it as some kind of made-up ghost story.
Now I’m wondering.

MICHAEL MONTES, vice-president of the El Paso High School Alumni Association who has studied the history of the school, revealed the above tidbits during a lecture as part of the school’s Homecoming activities last week.
Montes is a remarkable fellow in many ways. He’s not only a historian, one of the school’s biggest boosters and a former district golf champion, but he also does the announcing for El Paso High School football, volleyball and basketball games and various other school events. And all that while working full time at Kemp Smith Law Firm.
He’s blessed with a strong, clear voice that makes one think he would be a great addition to some local radio or TV station.

TRIVIA QUESTION: A team in the NBA had a record of 9-73 one year. Can you name it and the year? Answer at end.

AH, EMAIL. Ain’t it great? I’ve received so many congratulations on being chosen Outstanding Ex at El Paso High School my inbox almost crashed. Thanks to all who sent them. But more than that, email is a great way to keep up with other folks. And you run into some very interesting stories. Like the following:

PETE HERLIN writes “My brother and sister went to EPHS in the 30’s, I finished there in ‘42 and Betty in ‘44. I lived on Campbell Street. My neighbors were George McAlmon, Sara Jane Norton and Louie Hernandez. My teachers were the Kellys, Tepper, Jones, Harper and Frank. The school was outstanding and I made lots of friends. The building is outstanding … if you are looking for a story on an outstanding EPHS person, I recommend Louis Hernandez. He graduated in 1941, went in the Air Force, flew a B17, was shot down and lived with the underground, got back to England, then started flying B29s. After the war and college, he became a teacher and finally ended up as principle of Bowie High School. He died about five years ago. His father worked for Popular Dry Goods. His older brother was high up in the Air Force. Our oldest son is named Louis.”

ANOTHER EMAIL of interest comes from Charles Hill. Just about everyone I asked to predict how the UTEP Miners would do in football this year picked them to have a winning season. Not Hill. Instead of 9-3 like my crystal ball predicted he turned it around and said it would be more like 3-9. That was such a departure from what other folks were saying it was sort of a shock. But he’s sticking to his guns. In fact, he says he might have been too optimistic.

HERE’S WHAT he emailed: “From one Tiger to another congratulations on being chosen Outstanding Ex … Have you taken your crystal ball in for a checkup after its prediction for UTEP’s football season? I’m afraid my prediction of 3-9 may have been optimistic. UTEP’s defense couldn’t stop me if I was the running back running through those gaping holes. I hope the crystal ball is seeing better before it predicts Miner basketball.”
Ouch!

TRIVIA ANSWER: The Philadelphia 76ers in 1972-73.

October is a great time of the year. It’s neither too hot nor too cold and there’s little wind. What’s more, here in El Paso there are some heart warming get-togethers.

Like last Wednesday when the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame held its annual banquet and El Paso High School held a combination homecoming and reunion.

This weekend UTEP is celebrating its homecoming and the following Friday it will be inducting five former stars into its Athletic Hall of Fame.

I ATTEND MANY of those get-togethers to hear what these stars of stars have to say in their acceptance speeches. How did they start in their chosen sports? Who helped them? What made them so successful?

You’d be surprised how fascinating some of the answers can be. For instance, I asked Joe Castillo, the father of pitcher Frank Castillo who was inducted into El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame last Wednesday posthumously, what made his son so good that he pitched in the Major Leagues for 13 years. I thought he might answer “a good arm” or “good coaching” or “a good curveball.” He answered simply, “Heart.”

THE UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame this year is inducting Gus Bailey, Gloria Estrada, Harry Flournoy, Wayne Hansen and Greg Joy. I’m sure it’ll be interesting to hear what they all have to say, too.

I especially want to hear what Joy has to say. I like all track events but high jumping has always been the most fascinating to me. How in the world can a person jump so high, I ask myself. When I started out as a sportswriter in 1949 athletes were clearing six feet. But the bar kept rising and athletes kept going over it.

BORN IN Portland, Oregon, Greg Joy began high jumping at age fifteen and it wasn’t long before he cleared six feet. He just kept going higher and higher and a few years later he cleared seven feet. That’s seven feet, folks. And in 1976 he cleared seven feet four inches in the Olympics in Montreal to win a silver medal.

Wow. But he wasn’t through. He set a world indoor high jump record two years later, going over the bar at 7 feet 7 inches.

That record has since been broken, which is almost incredible to me. I’ll be at the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame induction banquet next Friday not only to hear what Joy has to say — but to see if he was born with wings.

(Want to go, too? Call 915-747-8759 for tickets).

TRIVIA QUESTION: You know how many starters there are on a football team, a baseball team and a basketball team but how many in soccer? Answer at end.

A COUPLE of popular memorial golf tournaments are being combined into one. The meets, which celebrate the lives of Steve Cox and Donnie Henderson, will be held Oct. 19 at Painted Dunes Desert Golf Course in northeast El Paso. Entry fee is $125 and includes dinner and team prizes and raffle items.

The Cox tournament also remembers the lives of Paul Strelzin, David McCloughan, Robert Endlich and Mike Mauldin. For more information contact Margie Henderson at 584-3716 or 329-4653.

IT CAUGHT ME by surprise, but it shouldn’t have. Response to my recent column on El Paso High School was overwhelming. I’ve received emails and phone calls from near and far. Then I remembered that El Paso High School is nearly 100 years old and heaven only knows how many former students are out there. Since the column is on the Internet it’s easily available. I’ll let you know some of the comments in a future column. You’ll find them interesting.

I just had to have a serious talk with my crystal ball. I took it out of its drawer and plunked it on top of my desk.

I said, “You told us the UTEP football team was going to be 3-0 after its first three games. It went 1-2. What have you got to say for yourself?”

For the first time I can remember, the crystal ball looked sheepish. It hung its head and said, “I’m as disappointed as you are. In those two losses the Miners were simply out-played and out-coached if not out-fought. I guess I underestimated the inexperience of both coach Sean Kugler and quarterback Jameill Showers. They’re both rookies.”

THE ORB SHOOK its head and went on. “I also underestimated the strength of both New Mexico and UT San Antonio. They were really much better than I expected. But I’m not giving up on the Miners yet. I still think they’ll win some games. Look, it takes a coach and a quarterback time to get the hang of things. I think they have shown some promise and will continue to get better.”

I frowned. “Well, they’d better,” I said. “You really went out on a limb by saying they’d win nine games. After seeing their first three games, how many do you say they’ll win now?”

The crystal ball looked down at its toes, made a little circle with them and, with fingers crossed, it said, “six?”

TRIVIA QUESTION: Alabama has been the power in college football the past several years. But which college has the most football victories overall and where does Alabama rank? Answer at end.

LAST WEEK’S column about El Paso High School brought pleasant memories to Elizabeth McAlmon. Her late husband, George, and other of her relatives graduated from there. Somehow, she wound up with a yearbook of the 1915 El Paso High School which was located then on Arizona Avenue. The new El Paso High School opened in 1916 and the previous one was turned into an elementary school and renamed Morehead Elementary. That 1915 yearbook is a real treasure of memories.

AND WHILE on the subject of El Paso High School, two of the greatest athletes ever to don a football uniform there passed away this month within days of each other: Bill Chesak and Bill Squires.

Chesak was a powerful running back who made the 1945 All-State high school team and went on to star at UTEP. He helped the Miners reach the 1950 Sun Bowl game and scored the game’s first touchdown as the Miners beat Georgetown, 33-20. I got to know him well later in life and found him always to be a friendly, out-going guy one couldn’t help but like. He passed away at the age of 84.

BILL SQUIRES preceded Chesak at El Paso High. He was your typical quarterback – tall, handsome and with a great arm. He led the Tigers to their most successful football season ever, not only winning the district title but advancing past the bi-district game on penetrations. He was named the district’s most valuable player and received All-State honorable mention that year.

He had a long and fruitful life and died at the age of 89. I had the privilege of writing a column about his exploits shortly before his death. Although he was very ill and could hardly talk, he was such a gentleman and so gracious he called me and thanked me for it.

Both Bill Chesak and Bill Squires are legends in local high school lore. They’ll long be remembered.

ANSWER to trivia question: Michigan was number one in total number of football victories going into this season with 903. Alabama is ninth with 827 behind Yale 871, Texas 867, Notre Dame 865, Nebraska 856, Ohio State 837, Oklahoma 831 and Harvard 829.