SPORTS
STORM CENTER COLUMN: Plenty of sports on Christmas, past and present
Let’s get the fanfare out of the way.
I wish you a Merry Christmas. Or if you are with the rest of us, let me wish you Happy Festivus.
Even though this holiday is a time for family, togetherness, presents, yuletide cheer and Jesus away in a manger, sports are certainly a part of the day’s docket.
When I was growing up in Connecticut, one of the events I looked forward to was the now-defunct Blue-Gray Football Classic – it was an all-star college football game in Montgomery, Ala.
The game – which pitted Grays from Confederate states versus Blues from northern states – was discontinued after 2003.
Jerry Rice was the most valuable player of the 1984 game.
It has been reported Rice’s performance in this game led then San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh to drafting him.
Gray won 33 of the games, while Blue took 29 and two of the games resulted in tie outcomes. Overall, 64 games were played, with the first one dating back to 1939.
The National Football League, like for Thanksgiving, has played games on Christmas Day.
However, in recent years, the NFL schedules games on Christmas only if it falls on a day normally used for games – Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
Here are this year’s Christmas TV games: Washington Wizards at New York Knicks, 11 a.m., ESPN; Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, 1:30 p.m., ABC; Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat, 4 p.m., ABC; Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls, 7 p.m., TNT; Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers, 9:30 p.m., TNT.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Bowie News sports editor Eric Viccaro. (News photo by Ryan Evans)
Nearly 600 youngsters signed up for this season of youth baseball sports through the BSA. The group celebrated with awards this past week and introduction of all its teams. See all the awards and photos from the night in the mid-week Bowie News. (Photos by Barbara Green)
The 2024 Summer Olympics is just a few weeks away taking place in Paris. The opening ceremonies will be July 26 and are planned to be unique as they take place along the Seine River that flows through Paris. Thomas Bach prepared this op-ed to welcome the world to Paris.
By Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee
The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is only days away. The excitement gripping this nation is palpable.
As this unique festival of sport draws closer, we all are feeling that France and the French people are ready to welcome the world’s best athletes with the hospitality and passion for sport for which they are famous all around the world.
Already millions of people have greeted the Olympic flame on its journey around France with a huge wave of enthusiasm. All of us are looking forward to an unforgettable celebration of Olympic sport and French culture in the coming weeks.
Read the full story in the mid-week sports in your Bowie News.
Saint Jo’s Firecracker 5K welcomed 100 runners for its 16th year on July 4th.
According to runsignup.com, Old Jo’s Firecracker 5K saw 100 runners of all ages register to kick off in downtown Saint Jo.
Brayden Willett, 14, Nocona, was the top male finisher with a time of 19:02.6. Sarah Rainey, 35, Saint Jo, was the top female finisher with 21:47.1.
In the male nine and under division, I. Miller, nine, Muenster, repeated his first place win from 2023 with at time of 34:52.8. E. Thomas, eight, no town listed, also repeated her win with a time of 31:58.5.
Emry Raney-Cavnar, 14, Ardmore, OK, won the male 10-14 group and E. Christensen, 11, Decatur, took the female race. In the male 15-19 division Luke Gehrig, 17, Muenster, won, while Sophia Christensen, 15, Decatur, took the ladies’ title.
See all the results and more photos in the weekend Bowie News.
Special appreciation to Jennifer Gaston Panther Photography for use of her photos.
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