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)
Landry Norwood has agreed to become the new Head Boys Basketball Coach for Bowie High.
Norwood grew up in Paradise, playing a number of sports for the Panthers during his high school career. With a number of family members still in the area and the position coming open, Norwood applied and was hired.
“I know the tradition up here,” Norwood said. “I was glad (Athletic Director and Head Football) Coach Tyler Price felt he could put his trust in me.”
Bowie’s varsity went 2-10 last year, both wins coming against Vernon. Norwood spent five years as an assistant in Lipan before spending the next four years at Llano, three years as head coach. He said his last two years in Llano were rough after graduation of nine seniors his first year and a 26-7 squad.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News
Nocona came into game two of its Class 2A Division I bi-district series with Archer City looking to rebound from a 17-0 loss in game one.
The Lady Indians took a quick lead but the Lady ‘Cats had too much in the tank and knocked Nocona out of the playoffs courtesy of a 13-3, five-inning victory winning the best of three series, 2-0.
Kylea Wallace reached base on a second baseman’s error. With one out, M’leigha Franklin took a pitch over the wall in left field for a home run, igniting the Lady Indian crowd with a 2-0 lead.
Archer City prevented further damage by retiring the next two hitters. The Lady ‘Cats struck in the bottom of the inning for seven runs.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Culture. It’s a beautiful word.
Bowie Softball Coach Griffin Fields has been trying to install a positive, winning culture since taking over the job. For the first time since 2019, the Lady Rabbits qualified for the postseason, facing District 8 top seed Early in the bi-district round.
After beating the Lady ‘Horns 9-8 in game one of the best-of-three series April 23, Early came back and evened the series less than 24 hours later, 15-0. The Lady Rabbits used the aforementioned culture and got out to a quick lead in game three.
Bowie was then forced to come from behind for the second straight night. Kinley Baker, who had the game winning RBI in game one, came through again in game three and broke a 6-all tie with a single to lift the Lady Rabbits to a 9-6 victory in the finale.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
-
NEWS2 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS3 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS3 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News