Posts Tagged ‘Ray Sanchez’

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.

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.

3 Aug

Looking Forward To Thrills of UTEP Football

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

by Ray Sanchez 07.26.15

Are you starting to get excited about the upcoming UTEP football season? I am.

The Miners will play their first game in five weeks (Sept. 5) and I can’t wait to see. runing back Aaron Jonesaatonjones and kickoff return specialist Autrey Golden back in action. They’re so good Jones has already been named a preseason candidate for the 2015 Doak Walker Award presented annually to the autreygolden.jpgnation’s top college running back and Golden has been named the preseason Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year.

To me, there’s no more thrilling sight in football than watching a back running through, around and over would be tacklers. Maybe it’s because of my high school experience.

 

I WENT OUT for football as a sophomore running back at El Paso High School. I weighed only about 135 pounds then but boy, was I fast. The first time I took a kickoff I blazed through my bigger, stronger – and slower — teammates like water through a strainer.

Unfortunately, on the first play from scrimmage I hit the line and a big lineman (170 pounders were considered big then) fell on my left arm and broke it.

I was taken to the hospital and a cast was put on. I expected to get a lot of sympathy when I got home but instead my mother (a typical strict, loving but no-nonsense Mexican mother) gave me the bawling out of my life. “I told you not to play that stupid game,” she groused.

She made me drop the sport.

But to this day every time I see a running back break loose for a long run I can imagine me in his shoes.

Bring on the football season!!!

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: What was Doak Walker’s full name and for which college and pro teams  did he play? Answer at end of column.

 

THERE’S HOPE again that the El Paso Golf Hall of Fame will be revived after a few years of being comatose. Rita Aguilar writes:

“The board of the El Paso Golf Hall of Fame is proud to announce that this year’s induction banquet will be held Nov. 17 at Coronado Country Club. As usual, we are requesting resumes for nominations … Resumes should be sent electronically in pdf format to:  epgolfhof@yahoo.com.  Deadline for resumes is Monday Aug 3. Resumes must include golf background and qualifications along with biographical information either as a player, coach, volunteer or any other golf related capacity.  Should also include any other civic involvement if applicable.  Referral and recommendation letters may be included within the resume and biographical information.”

 

ONE FELLOW I would love to see inducted is the late Ernie Ponce. Ernie, a longtime community leader, led the push to build Ascarate Municipal Golf Course at its present location, which is so much more accessible to the general public.

As the council member overseeing the Parks and Recreation Department, he also helped the construction of small playgrounds all over the city during his three terms from 1951 to 1957.

A graduate of El Paso High and the Alexander Hamilton Institute of Business of New York, he was also a successful businessman.

Many believe Ascarate Golf Course should have been named Ernie Ponce Municipal Golf Course just like the previous municipal golf course was named for A.S. Valdespino, its originator.

 

AND OUR condolences to Ron Gillett on the death of his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Hughey Gillett. She passed away June 30. Born in El Paso November 6 1941, she attended Dudley School, Mesita School, El Paso High School, Mary Baldwin College and graduated from Texas Western College (UTEP). An exceptionally attractive lady, she was a tennis buff and she and Ron owned Dos Lagos Golf Course in Anthony for 29 years.

 

ANSWER to trivia question: His full name was Ewell Doak Walker Jr. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1948 while playing for SMU then played six seasons for the Detroit Lions. He was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

28 Jun

El Paso High Seeks Help, Names 2015 Ex

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

By Ray Sanchez 06.18.15

Help! My alma mater, El Paso High School, needs assistance.

The beautiful “Lady on the Hill,” as the school has been called, is getting ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year and Michael Montes, president of the school’s alumni association, has sent out a call for alumni to provide, as he put it, “your ideas, input and talents.  What would you like to see be part of your Centennial?”

He says the centennial committee needs:

* Researchers to find archives in the Museum * Researchers to find alumni and classmates * Webmaster for Alumni webpage * Writers for our monthly newsletter * Help with Social Media * Graphic Designeramadaflores

If you have any thoughts, contact Anna Mares for details at annamares@aol.com or email your ideas to that address.

 

I DO HAVE one tidbit of information to offer. Or rather, Nancy Hamilton, a classmate of mine at UTEP and a co-worker on The Prospector then, does.

A couple of years ago I wrote that Kristine Ferret was the first female principal at El Paso High School.

Wrong. Mrs. Ferret is the only woman principal at the school since the present building opened 99 years ago but the very first principal at the high school in 1885 was a lady named Emma Seabough.

Let Mrs. Hamilton, a historian who has authored several books, explain. She wrote:

 

“I ENJOYED your column about the EPHS lady principal.  However, in researching ‘The Rise and Growth of Public Education in El Paso,’ Elaine Lewis Morrell’s MA thesis of 1936 for the University of Texas, I find that we had some earlier lady principals.

“In 1885-86 a high school was established on the second floor of the Central School with Miss Emma Seabough as principal … There was no graduating class that year. In 1886, Miss Ella B. Meekins (later to become Mrs. G. H. Wilkins) became principal and held the position for a number of years.  She was assisted by the superintendent, who taught mathematics, and Miss Fannie Echols and Mrs. Leigh Clark, who taught English and Latin.

“There were two pupils in the graduating class of 1887. Mrs. Morrell taught at Austin High when I was there in the early 1940s.”

 

IT’S GOOD to set the record straight.

Oh, and let me inform you that El Paso High School has picked its Outstanding Ex of 2015. And what a selection!

It’s the remarkable Amada S. Flores, president and CEO of MST Consulting, Inc., dba AIM Construction, Inc.

In a business where few women seek success, she took a small investment and great work ethic and built it into a multi-million dollar construction firm.

 

SHE WAS HONORED by Major Gl James L. Terry with a certificate for outstanding workmanship and renovation at Fort Bliss in 2010. Also in 2010, AIM Construction was chosen by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as a Future 15 Company. And in 2012, she was chosen as Minority Contractor of the Year.

Then, in 2013, her firm was chosen as Texas Minority Business of the Year.

Now she will be honored by her high school.

A 1963 El Paso High School graduate, she has been involved in many projects at the school through the years and is currently co-chair with Sandy Aaronson for the Tiger Friends and Exes tiles project.

”I will continue to work and make ourselves available where needed to make our Centennial a smashing success,” she says.

 

OKAY, SO WHAT does all this have to do with sports? Well, not much except that sports figures have been chosen as Outstanding Exes before, including, to name a few, Jim Paul, Jerry Rubin, Jimmy Rogers Jr., Sammy Schneider, Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt (last year) and an old, creaky sports writer (the year before last).

Besides, hey! Spare me. El Paso High School is my alma mater.

21 Jun

Coronado Cheerleaders on ‘Top of the World’

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

By Ray Sanchez 06.14.15

coronadocheer

Coronado High School Cheerleaders, left to right: Front row — Carolina Quintana, Becca Shapiro, Captain Cami Rodriguez, Captain Taye Guardado, Sydney Freyermuth, Sydney Ward, Natasha Marcum; Back row — Katie Meneses, Coach Amy Stell, Amanda Villarreal, Anika Pettit, Abigail Gladden, Yasmin Martinez and Sydney Reiter).

I’m so old I remember when high school and college cheerleading used to consist of some pretty young ladies, and sometimes a young fellow, waving pom-poms and occasionally jumping up and down.

These days, cheerleaders have to be super athletes with acrobatic ability. They do back flips, balancing acts and get thrown up in the air. It’s so daring, I often hold my breath fearing for their safety.

But oh, what a show they put on.

El Paso has a great group of high school cheerleaders but today, under the direction of coach Amy Stell, Coronado High School is sitting on top of the cheerleading world.

 

THE CORONADO Thunderbirds won The Best ‘N’ West Mini-National Competition in Las Vegas last month. The team competed against schools from across the country and took the school division and overall cheer division
“For the first time ever, we won the whole thing,” coach Stell beamed. “We’ve won our division in the past, as recently as last year in Florida. However, this time, we won our division of Intermediate varsity with tumbling, the School Cheer Division and the overall Cheer Division including All-Star teams (50 plus). Out of 90 total points, we scored 84. WOW!!”

The team was awarded letter jackets and national championship rings similar to Super Bowl rings, only smaller.

Hurrahs and congratulations to you, T-Birds.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: You probably know the answer to this one, but who is the only player to lead the Major Leagues in homeruns and ERA? Answer at end.

 

I LOVE HEARING from readers. Some bring back fond memories. Following is an email from Steve McKnight:

“…A friend gave me a copy of the book on coaches (Buryl) Baty and (Jerry) Simmang – ‘Champion of the Barrio.’  It was a wonderful read and I have sent copies to many of my El Paso friends, including Mary Hoover, Sara McKnight, Van Hill, Ronnie Kahn and the Shapleigh brothers.

“I grew up in El Paso in the 1950’s and 1960’s and loved sports. Nemo Hererra was my baseball coach at Coronado High School, Wayne Hansen was my Grey Y football coach at Mesita. It was a magical time. I took great pride when Bob Beamon jumped over 28 feet at the Mexico City Olympics, when the Miners won the NCAA championship in college basketball, when Jimmy Edwards won the state tennis championship and on and on and on.  All the while I read your wonderful sports writing in the El Paso Herald Post (Note: Excuse me while I blush).

“Among my many heroes, including Frank and Sara McKnight, Dalton Hill, Mary Hoover, Walter Driver, Margaret DuPont, Margaret Varner, Nolan Richardson, and many others – now I can remember you as well as coaches Simmang and Baty. Your column on ‘Champion of the Barrio’ published in El Paso Inc. was spot on.”

 

BY THE WAY, if you have missed one or more of my previous columns and would like to find them, just google elpasoinc.com, go to the website and type “ray sanchez columns” in the little search space. They’ll pop right up going back many years. Also, I keep getting asked by folks where they can get my latest book, “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso Sports History.” You can go to Barnes and Noble Booksellers or go on Amazon.com but if you want it fast and autographed just give me a call at 915-584-0626 or email me at rayf358@yahoo.com and it’ll be out to you the next day.

 

LAST WEEK’S column on KVIA-TV general manager Kevin Lovell qualifying for the Boston Marathon got some nice responses but the following email from El Pasoan Alton Setliff summed it up pretty well:
“Kevin is a very nice person.  Not bad for a dude from Dalhart, Texas.”

 

ANSWER to trivia question: Babe Ruth, of course. I like to mention his feats now and then just to keep the memory of the greatness of The Bambino alive.

19 Jun

Meet Hall of Fame President, Inductees

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

By Ray Sanchez 05.03.12

DSC03413

Photos: From left: Brian Kanof, Ed Stansbury Jr., Jerry Pippins, Bob Geske, Paul Pearson, Ruben Dominguez Jr. and Mike Price being interviewed by Kevin Lovell.

In last week’s column I pointed out that El Paso has a lot of talented people, and I gave some great examples.

Manny OntiverosLet me add another: Manny Ontiveros.

He will take over as president of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame this year, replacing Barnard Polk, who did such an outstanding job the past two years.

Is Mr. Ontiveros qualified? Oh, my goodness, is he ever.

 

HE GRADUATED from UTEP with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and a Master of Arts degree in public administration,, served three years in the United States Army, worked as a staff assistant to U. S. Congressman Richard C. White, was an employee relations specialist at Fort Bliss and was Supervisory Employee Relations and Labor Relations Specialist at U.S. Customs and Border Protection

He is also former board chairman of Boys and Girls Club of El Paso and now is vice-president of Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso Alumni Association.

 

ON TOP OF ALL that, he has been one of the work-horses behind the scenes for the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame the past 19 years.

He joined the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. Then, in 1999, he took over the task of handling the resumes for the Hall and, in 2009, he also took over the duties of coordinating the creation of the induction plaques and placing them at the Don Haskins Center. He’s been handling both chores ever since.

He was asked this year if he would mind being nominated for president as well. He says, “I said I would be honored. I look forward to next year since it will mark my 20th membership year. Little did I know that I would still be in this hallowed organization, but then I had a good mentor and example in Frank Porth, my neighbor who invited me to join the Hall in 1997.” Porth was a valuable member of the Hall until his passing in 1999.

 

THE EL PASO Athletic Hall of Fame will also have a new vice-president this year: El Paso Times chief photographer Ruben Ramirez. Danny Devine will continue as secretary, Gary Crossland as treasurer, Ron Leiman as parliamentarian and Wayne Thornton and Kevin Lovell as coordinators of student athlete recognition.

 

THIS YEAR’S induction banquet of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in the Signature Room at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino last Wednesday was a splendid affair, as usual, and the inductees spoke eloquently about their experiences.

Mike Price thanked UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull for lifting him up and hiring him when he was at the lowest point of his coaching career after being fired by University of Alabama.

Jerry Pippins said he turned to tennis after suffering injuries in football. He found great success as Coronado High School tennis coach.

Ruben Dominguez Jr. explained he never had coaching but turned out to be one of El Paso’s greatest long distance runners by reading books and watching television.

Paul Pearson, another long distance star, told of how he failed to make the track team in his freshman year in high school but through hard work was a national star 13 years later.

Ed Stansbury Jr., one of El Paso’s greatest all-around athletes, told how his father of the same name taught him different sports as he was growing up.

Bob Geske, one of El Paso most outstanding officials, told how late UTEP coach Ben Collins started him out in that direction.

Brian Kanof, who has taken photos all over the world, praised El Paso highly. He said he had offers to go to bigger venues but turned them down.

They all got a big hand from the sold-out crowd. So did the many incredibly gifted high school athletes who were introduced by Lovell and Thornton

19 Jun

Richardson Accepts Texas Hall Honor With Grace

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

by Ray Sanchez 04.19.15

Nolan Richardson could have been upset. He could have been unhappy. He could have been bitter. After nolanjayall, even the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him before the Texas Sports Hall of Fame got around to it.

Instead, he was gracious.

And so were Texas Sports Hall of Fame officials. They welcomed Richardson at the reception and induction banquet with open arms and apologized in one way or another for not inducting him sooner. Jay Black, vice president of the Hall, told me he was sorry it took so long. President Jared Mosley and master of ceremonies Brad Shram expressed regret that sometimes it takes a “long” time to induct someone.

For his part, Richardson thanked the Hall for inducting him and mentioned the delay only in passing. He said he had been inducted into 12 previous Halls of Fame which was like having a large cake and now it would have “icing” on it.

 

AND SUPER public speaker that he is, Richardson gave an acceptance speech that those at the induction banquet will long remember. He had the crowd in stitches with jokes one moment, listening with sheer rapture other times.

He introduced those at his table, which included KVIA-TV general manager Kevin Lovell, who was so instrumental in getting him inducted.

I was at his table, too, and Richardson introduced me as the one who gave him his first writeup when he was nine years old and hit a homerun in Little League.

“At first, Ray reported that the homerun went 257 feet,” Richardson said. “But (the distance) grew through the years. It became 300 feet, then 400 feet. Today (at the reception before the banquet), I asked Ray the distance again. He said it was 500 feet.”

The crowd burst into laughter.

 

IN MORE serious moments, he told of how he lost his mother at age 3 and was raised by his grandmother. He called her “the captain of the ship” and said that she told him achieving success would be up to him and him alone. He lived by that philosophy and imparted it to his players.

He praised El Paso, saying that he couldn’t have had the opportunities he had anywhere else in the country. Segregation was still rampant in the country in the 1950s but, he said, the principal at Bowie High School at the time, Frank Pollitt, opened the door for him by hiring him to teach seventh grade.

That’s all he needed, he said, just a crack in the door to success. He went on to coach the Bowie High basketball team with great success, win a junior college championship with Western Texas, win a NIT title with Tulsa and win a NCAA championship at University of Arkansas. He is the only coach in the country to win all three of those national titles at the college level.

 

OTHERS INDUCTED into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame with Richardson were Prairie View A&M and NBA star Zelmo Beaty (deceased), former Dallas Cowboys vice president of Player Personnel Gil Brandt, BYU Heisman Trophy quarterback Ty Detmer, Dallas Cowboys All Pro safety Cliff Harris, former University of Texas swim coach Richard Quick (deceased), Dallas Cowboys All Pro defensive back Everson Walls and Baylor  NCAA and Olympic 400 meter champion Jeremy Wariner.

Richardson was highly sought for interviews by the media and autograph seekers. Perhaps it was because of the long time it took to induct him or because it was the first chance for most of the media in the eastern part of the state to interview him or because of his outgoing personality.

Whatever, it’s no exaggeration to say he was the center of attraction.

 

OH, YES. A special note of thanks to Brad Shram, the legendary sportscaster of Dallas Cowboys games. He is one of the people Lovell contacted for help to get Richardson inducted and, Lovell says, Shram quickly got to work spreading the word throughout the state.

What is that saying? Better late than never?

19 Jun

Albers: A Titan in El Paso Sports Media

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

by Ray Sanchez 04.12.15

I’ve always believed that anyone who lives and works in El Paso should contribute in other ways than their job to albersphototheir hometown.

That includes members of the media.

I have tried to live up to that belief. I’ve helped start several organizations and have served on so many boards that I like to kid that I’ve got splinters in my behind.

Three past examples of those who became an integral part of El Paso and helped it grow are El Paso Herald-Post sports editor Bob Ingram, El Paso Times sports editor Chuck Whitlock and KTSM sportscaster John Phelan. They’re deceased now but they set the standard for what I’m talking about.

I call them The Titans of the El Paso Sports Media.

They were everywhere helping, encouraging, suggesting and attending meetings that made things happen in the city, like the building of the Sun Bowl, the growth of UTEP, keeping professional baseball alive, helping build organizations like the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame.

 

ADD A NEW name to that list of Titans: Former KTSM-TV sports director Fred Albers.

Like the other Titans he wasn’t just great at his craft but he got deeply involved in the community. It seems like every meeting I attended, every board I sat on, every organizational program I was in on, there he was. And what a presence he made. One could feel his genius fill the room. He was articulate, knowledgeable and full of ideas.

Albers, a native of St. Louis and a journalism graduate of the University of Missouri, came to El Paso in 1980 as a sportscaster at KVIA-TV. He was an immediate hit with his strong, clear, insightful delivery and in 1992 he became sports director at KTSM-TV.

 

HOW GOOD a sportscaster was he? So good that a few years ago he put El Paso on the world map by becoming a play by play announcer for the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour Network on Sirius XM radio. He became one of the sport’s best-known announcers, traveling throughout the world while still working as KTSM-TV sport director.

The PGA position eventually cost him his job at KTSM-TV. His PGA work took him away from El Paso as much as 25 weeks out of the year. There was a change of ownership at KTSM-TV recently and his absence was just too much. The station let him go last month.

Albers took the decision well. “I understand,” he says without rancor.

 

HIS ABSENCE will leave quite a hole in local TV sportscasting but not to worry. Albers is well paid by his PGA job and says he will continue to make El Paso his home. “I love El Paso and its people,” he says. “I’ll keep doing PGA radio and maybe I can find an administrative job at some local station when I’m not on the PGA Tour.”

If I owned a local station, I’d jump at hiring him.

Until then, we can keep enjoying Albers’ great PGA coverage on Sirius Radio station 202.

And keep enjoying just having him, his wife Kristi and their son living here.

Kristi, like Fred, is an icon in El Paso sports. She’s the only El Paso woman to win an LPGA Tour event and started the First Tee program for El Paso youths.

One can only wish them the best.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name the player who won the Jim Thorpe Trophy as the NFL Most Valuable Player three years in a row? Answer at end of column.

 

HAVE YOU purchased your tickets to the induction banquet of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame? It’ll be held April 29 in the Signature Room at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

Don’t be left out. It’s going to be a dandy event with seven outstanding El Pasoans honored.

For tickets, call 915-490-8156.

 

ANSWER to trivia question: Earl Campbell of Houston in 1978, 1979 and 1980-.

 

19 Jun

El Paso Swimmer Wins Two NCAA Crowns

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

By Ray Sanchez 04.05.15

Meet El Paso’s latest super star: William Licon.

Oh, you may have heard of him before if you’re a swimming enthusiast. He never swam for a high school licon photohere but instead opted to join local clubs like the West Texas Typhoon Swim Club in El Paso.

He took to swimming like a fish.

He quickly became a Swimming Junior National Team member and represented the U.S. in the 2012 Junior Pan Pac Swimming Championships. At the Junior Pan Pac meet, he tied for sixth place in the 100m breaststroke. And he qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials held in Omaha, Neb. He swam in the 200m breaststroke, finishing 19th, and missed qualifying for the semi-final by three places.

SWIMMING coaches Kris Kubik and Eddie Reese of the University of Texas at Austin, one of the most successful NCAA swimming schools in the country, knew a good thing when they saw it and came calling.

Smart move. It wasn’t long before Licon started raising eyebrows and breaking Texas school records.

As a freshman at the 2014 NCAA Championships he placed fifth in the 400 IM (Individual Medley) in school record-setting time. In addition he finished 12th in the 200 breaststroke as well as 14th in the 200 IM. Prior to the NCAA Championships Licon was the Big 12 champion in the 400 IM and the 200 breaststroke.

AND THERE he was last weekend as a sophomore, all 6 feet 4 inches of him, helping the Longhorns win their 11th NCAA team championship, and doing it in record times.

On Friday, Licon became UT’s first champion in the 400-yard individual medley while beating the event’s American record holder, Georgia’s Chase Kalisz, in 3:36.37.He now ranks as the fourth-fastest swimmer ever in the 400-yard individual medley.

The next day, Licon matched up against the American record holder in the 200 breaststroke, Arizona’s Kevin Cordes, and edged Cordes by five one-hundredths of a second.

So in two days, the El Paso native won two individual NCAA national swimming championships.

Which helped the Longhorns handily claim the team title with 528 points. California, the 2014 NCAA champion, took second with 399 points while Michigan placed third with 312 points.

LICON, WHO had set other school records previously, has already been designated All-American. He holds the Big 12 title in the 200 IM with a conference record time of one minute, 41.67, which beat the time of Olympic gold medalist Ricky Berens of 1:41.92 set in 2009.

Licon is taking his successes humbly. After setting the Big 12 record, he said, “It’s kind of hard for me to soak it in right now. It feels awesome and I’m just thrilled to be up there ln the company of names on that (school records) board.”

And oh, how much more thrilled he must be today with two NCAA titles.

TRIVIA QUESTION: Who was known as “The Galloping Ghost” and what number did he wear? Answer at end.

ANOTHER El Paso super star, Nolan Richardson, will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame this coming Thursday, April 9, in Waco. Kevin Lovell, general manager of KVIA-TV, and I will be there representing El Paso in general and the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in particular.

I don’t do much traveling anymore but this is one trip I have to make. I mean, I not only gave Richardson his first writeup in 1950 when he was playing Little League baseball as a 9-year-old and hit a homerun but I’ve watched him grow into one of El Paso’s greatest athletes and one of the country’s greatest coaches.

As for Lovell, he helped get Richardson elected with letters and other forms of communication and he should be there, too. Expect some great video.

ANSWER to trivia question: Red Grange, who wore number 77

« Older Entries