Posts Tagged ‘Raysanchezbooks.com’

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

El Pasoan Inducted In Texas Aggies Hall of Fame

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

By Ray Sanchez 08.01.15

A few weeks ago I told you about El Paso’s Nicky Thrasher Adams being named 2015 women’s soccer Coach of the Year in Conference USA after leading Rice University to a school record 14 victories while nickywinning the 2015 conference championship.

Now she has received an even greater honor – as an athlete. She’s been inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Lettermen’s Association Hall of Fame.

Can you believe? It’s true.

Nicky, the daughter of former Sunland Park Racetrack jockey Jeff Thrasher, was an All-American soccer player for the Aggies and helped lead them to three conference titles and an Elite 8 appearance.  She finished her Texas A&M playing career near the top of virtually every Aggie offensive category.

She now joins the greatest athetes in the history of the school, stars like John David Crow, for instance. What an honor.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: Vince Lombardi gained fame as coach of the Green Bay Packers. As a college player, he was a member of “The Seven Blocks of Granite,” so-called because of the linemen’s outstanding defensive performances. Can you name the school?

 

GOLF IS NOT only a fascinating sport, it’s a great way to raise funds for worthy causes. Two of those are coming up.

First will be the 6th annual First Tee Desert Classic, sponsored jointly by the Rotary Club of West El Paso and the First Tee of Greater El Paso.

It’ll be held Saturday, Sept. 19, on the Sunrise Course at Underwood Golf Complex.

First Tee of Greater El Paso is a national non-profit youth organization where the skills and core values are taught through the game of golf.

KristiKristi Albers, the Grand Lady of El Paso Golf and the only El Paso born woman to win a LPGA golf championship, heads the program.

There are three ways you can help: Provide prizes, become a sponsor or play in the tournament.

For more information visit the Rotary Club of West El Paso website at rotarywestelpaso.org or Mrs. Albers at kristeealb@yahoo.com. You can also call Kristi Albers at 915-252-6511 or Carol Lewis at 915-544-5205.

You’ll be doing the youths of El Paso a great service.

 

THE OTHER outstanding benefit golf tournament coming up is the Moye’s Boys Jefferson High School Foxes 5th annual Golf Tournament on Oct. 16. It, too, will be held at Underwood Golf Course.

The Moye’s Boys Foundation, named after late former coach, teacher and principal H. R. Moye, raises funds to assist students who are in need. In the past the foundation has provided glasses, shoes, clothing, medical help and school supplies to students in need.

This year, the tournament is honoring Isaac “Ike” Camacho, a Vietnam War hero who was held as a prisoner of war for 22 months in the jungles of Cambodia.

Captain Camacho is the recipient of several medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

He was captured when he returned to his camp to help other American soldiers but found the camp had been overrun. He later escaped, becoming the first serviceman to successfully escape a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp.

By participating in the tournament you’ll not only have a lot of fun, you’ll be helping young students and honoring an exceptional local war hero.

For more information contact Frank Maldonado at 915-474-1946, Sal Samaniego at 915-592-0076, Ret. USMC Col. Luis Juarez at 915-593-0468 or Tony Robles at 915-256-0031. You can also email fwleesales@gmail.com.

 

TRIVIA answer: Fordham University.

19 Jul

Book On State Champions A Great Contribution

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

By Ray Sanchez 07.19.15

A couple of weeks ago I told you about El Pasoan Charles Hill writing a book about high school state chillchampions from the El Paso area. I just finished reading the manuscript and I can’t emphasize enough what an important piece of work it is.

Can you imagine how much work and research it took to compile a list of team and individual state high schools champions from our city and surrounding area in every sport?

And it’s not dry reading. Hill gives his own views and analysis on many of the subjects.

As one who has lived and written about most of the history of high school sports here I found it totally fascinating and a great contribution to our sports history.

The book is not in print – yet – but it’s available via the Internet. KVIA-TV has it on its website. As for me, I’m hoping to help Hill get his manuscript published. Everyone whoever won a state championship should have it in book form.

 

PERSONALLY, there are gems in the book that made my eyes pop out. For instance, I didn’t know that the legendary Ball brothers, George and Russell, had won a state tennis doubles championship. Nor that Bobby Goldfarb, who was on the 1941 state basketball championship team from El Paso High at the tender age of 13, had also won a state tennis doubles title with Ed Chew.

But I digress. Let me let Charles Hill tell you about his book in his own words.

“I STARTED writing my book in November of 2013 … I started with football. … I knew that no area UIL team had won a state championship so I decided to write about the teams that made it to the third round of the playoffs (Austin in 1937) because that was the deepest level any El Paso area team had gone before Canutillo’s historic run in 2014. …. I tried to highlight the best teams that have ever played in El Paso. My choice would be 1975 Coronado. Some people think the ’79 Coronado team was better.

“BASKETBALL came next. I knew El Paso High’s history as I am a fellow Tiger alum. I saw their last Final 4 appearance in 1965. EPHS had a great team with Kenny John, George Hodge and a pair of 6-7 centers.

“I also knew about Eastwood’s championship and Riverside’s run. I was surprised to learn about Cathedral’s nine TCIL titles. “BASEBALL WAS next. I knew Bowie had won in 1949 and Socorro in 2009. I wanted to tell the Bowie story again because of the hardships that team went through and also to emphasize that some of those racial attitudes haven’t changed much in parts of Texas, as Socorro found out in 2009.

“The chapter on soccer came next. I knew of Del Valle’s success and that soccer was the rising sport in El Paso. I didn’t know about the ’95 Coronado title team until I researched it on the UIL website. “The hardest sports to cover were wrestling, swimming and track. My wrestling chapter ran long because I decided to list any athlete that had medaled at a UIL state tournament. I didn’t realize there had been so many.

 

“SWIMMING ran long because of Cathedral’s great history in the sport (29 championships and 25 straight).

“The El Paso area has been very successful in cross country track and to a lesser extent in Track and Field (many individual champions but no team titles). “MY GREATEST surprise or disappointment: Golf. You would think that a city with world class weather would produce more champions in golf but such is not the case.

“Biggest pleasant surprises were Bowie’s history in track, El Paso’s great history in cross country, soccer, basketball and Track and Field (many individual champions). Of course Canutillo 2014 football season and Andress in basketball were great stories. And soccer. San Elizario and Cathedral won championships this year and Horizon made the Final 4.”

Stayed tune here for future details.

 

 

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.

27 Jun

Sunland Hotel Shows Importance Of Track, Casino

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

by Ray Sanchez 06.21.15

splogoWhat a smart idea. I mean, the fact that Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino is going to build its own hotel.

Heck, other smart folks have been building hotels all around Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino for years. So why not have Sunland build its own right on its premises?

Yes, that’s how popular the racetrack and casino have become. I don’t think El Paso appreciates what an asset Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino is. Not only does it attract tourists and racing fans by the thousands, it provides hundreds of jobs for El Pasoans.

And I won’t even mention what a great contributor it is to worthy causes, including UTEP and New Mexico State.

 

SOME PEOPLE look down on the Sunland operation because it involves gambling — but they shouldn’t. It’s entertainment. Yes, a few may overdo the betting part, but the vast majority of fans know how to handle their money. That’s why you see the same folks year after year at the track or casino.

Look, anywhere you go it’s going to cost you money. If you go to a movie, it’s going to cost you money. If you go out to dinner, or a play, or a sporting event, it’s going to cost you money. In horse racing or casino playing, besides being fun and exciting, you at least have a chance of going home with more money than when you left.

And you’d be surprised how often that happens. I know, I’ve been a Sunland fan since the track opened.

 

THE SUNLAND hotel will be located in its parking lot and is part of a $7 million expansion project.

It will have 79 rooms, a business center and a fitness center with track-side views and will be connected to the racetrack and casino with a bridge, just like some of the best hotels in Las Vegas.

Construction will begin in August and will be ready by the summer of 2016.

Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino director of operations Dustin Dix says he’s very “excited” about the coming hotel.

So am I. So should you.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name an NBA guard who was a first team all-star for 10 consecutive seasons? Answer at end of column.

 

EDDIE MULLENS, former longtime UTEP sports information director, has been through quite an ordeal. I’ll let him explain in his own words:
“…If I took the time to fully explain what has happened in recent months, you would say something like: ‘why the hell did I ask!’…Seriously, to give you the Reader’s Digest version, my problem started with a botched knee replacement that required a second surgery which was still unable to correct the damage done to tissues, etc. … Then neuropathy arrived big time and I’m now wearing braces on each leg, using a walker to get around with a wheel chair in the wings … Not to mention three ER trips in 16 days with heart issues …

“But I can still laugh, joke and smile about the situation even though I no longer drive a car… I hope to be able to see you at the UTEP Hall of Fame gig (in October) … Time will make that call. Otherwise, as Mrs. Lincoln was asked, ‘Otherwise how was the play?’”

 

I’M PRAYING for Eddie’s full recovery. He’s a legend in El Paso sports lore. In addition to his remarkable work ethic, his similes while at UTEP added fun and enjoyment to his press releases and brought national attention to the school.

Two of his similes I remember most: 1) When he described someone being “as excited as Tarzan with his loin cloth on fire” and 2) when he said 1966 Miners basketball rebound specialist Harry Flournoy “takes everything off the boards except the paint.”

Needless to say, Mullens was inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame years ago.

I’ll see you in October, Eddie.

 

ANSWER to trivia question: Bob Cousy, from 1951-1952 through 1960-61.

 

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.

21 Jun

KVIA’s Lovell Qualifies for Boston Marathon – Again

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

By Ray Sanchez 05.31.15

Kevin Lovell has been a great asset to the El Paso sports scene klovellsince he became general manager of KVIA-TV, not only because his station covers sports events with uncanny efficiency but because he goes far beyond the call of duty and gets involved in the community.

He’s served as president of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame, acted as master of the ceremonies for that Hall’s induction banquet and this year almost single-handedly made sure that Nolan Richardson was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

When Lovell found that Richardson had been elected to many other Halls of Fame, including the national Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, but that the Texas Sports Hall of Fame had not given him that honor, he started contacting people throughout Texas. He wrote letters, made phone calls, urged, pleaded and finally got Richardson inducted this year.

 

BUT DID YOU know that besides all that Lovell is, and has been, a marathon runner? And a good one? Really.

How good? Well, good enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Now 60, Lovell started running years ago and competed in his first marathon at the age of 50. He even made it to the Boston Marathon. He stayed in shape through the years but did not run a competitive marathon until he decided to turn back the hands of time and try to qualify for the Boston Marathon after he recently turned 60.

After training the past six months he ran in the Mountains2Beach Marathon from Ojai to Ventura in California last month. It’s a fast downhill race at sea level but it’s still 26.2 miles. He finished third in the 60-64 year old age male category with a time of 3 hours and 33 minutes. That equaled his Boston Marathon time from ten years earlier and was 21 minutes under the Boston Marathon qualifying time of 3:55 for a 60-year-old man.

 

LOVELL SAYS, “I was very pleased to learn that I also exceeded by less than one minute the New York City Marathon qualifying standard which is much tougher – 3:34 for a 60 year old man. Boston is set up to have only runners who qualify. New York City is a race where almost all of the entrants are selected in a lottery. NYC does allow for some runners to make it via the qualifying route but they make the time tougher than Boston because they want the vast majority of the NYC runners to be everyday people and not just the fastest runners. Since I have to run Boston, I plan to run New York in November of 2016 when I will be eligible.  I won’t be running for time, however. I will be running for fun. Running a full marathon for time as fast as you can is very stressful and demanding. I love the challenge but don’t want to run that kind of race again.”

 

TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name the pitcher who won the Cy Young Award while pitching for two different Major League teams in the same season? Answer at end of column.

 

SPEAKING OF Nolan Richardson, it’s amazing how much the man is revered. He held his 28th annual Nolan Richardson Charity Golf Tournament and Awards Dinner/Auction benefitting El Paso charities and scholarships last Saturday and people turned out in droves with open pockets. I got a chance to talk to him and he revealed a touching story about his daughter, Yvonne, who died of leukemia at age 15. Nolan had decided to turn down the offer to coach University of Arkansas because of his daughter’s illness. But, he said, she pleaded with him not to. He went on to win the NCAA basketball championships there. He had a tear in his eye as he recalled the moment.

 

ANSWER TO trivia question: Rick Sutcliffe, who was 4-5 for the Cleveland Indians then went to the Chicago Cubs where he was 16-1 to earn the award in 1984.

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

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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

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