TERRE HAUTE — Welcome to my 19th annual Christmas column, where I ask Santa Claus to leave gifts for members of the Wabash Valley and world sports community.
This year, I promise not to ask Santa for any selfish presents. I have a great wife, my mother is healthy and my 2006 triceps injury is a distant memory, so I don’t need anything else.
I mean, there’s absolutely no reason for Santa to bring me a new answering machine for my home phone, a “The Baseball Career of Harmon Killebrew” DVD, a new alarm clock that actually works, two tickets to one of the Indianapolis Colts’ remaining home games or a 21st Century computer for my work station.
Seriously, I can live without these items.
No, really, I’ll be fine.
Just don’t do it, Santa.
But if you insist, just because I’ve been so good this year, I can make room under our tree.
Now on to the gifts that I’m requesting for others:
• For the above-mentioned Colts, plane tickets to Nashville, Tenn., so they can enjoy a January rematch with the Tennessee Titans after they meet in Indianapolis for the regular-season finale Dec. 28. (I think Indy can take them with a healthy Peyton Manning.)
n For Peyton Manning, a new bursa sac (whatever that is) so his knee doesn’t become infected again next summer.
• For Terre Haute South boys basketball coach Mike Saylor, a T-shirt that says, “Vigo County’s Senior Basketball Coach.” (Hard to believe after so many years of Hall-of-Famers Jim Jones and Pat Rady gracing our sidelines, isn’t it?)
n For seniors Jake Odum of Terre Haute South and R.J. Mahurin of Rockville, authentic basketball jerseys that say “Indiana All-Stars” on the front.
• For recently convicted felon O.J. Simpson, two gloves that actually fit in case his new home gets cold. (If Santa can’t find time to accommodate Simpson, maybe Fred Goldman can mail him something that expresses exactly how he feels.)
• For former Terre Haute North multi-sport standout Steve Weatherford, a long-term contract to serve as punter for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• For Indiana State football coach Trent Miles, a verbal commitment or — better yet — a signed letter-of-intent from the 2011 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision National Player of the Year to become a Sycamore, starting next season. (I requested this last year, but maybe Santa skipped over that part of my column.)
• For Tribune-Star staffer John D. Wright, dozens of favorable reviews for his new book “The Terror of Terre Haute,” which chronicles the life of 1920s boxing legend Bud Taylor. (I plan to generate my own review of his book for next week’s column.)
• For fellow T-S sportswriter Craig Pearson, whom I face in our Pig Skinners League fantasy football playoffs this week, a sticker that says “Wait ’Til Next Year” to place on the side of his desk. (Never mind, Santa. He’s a Chicago Cubs fan, so he already owns plenty of those.)
• And for my new gym, the nice and clean Fitness Experts on Ohio Street, a new incline bench with a rack so that members like me can get the most out of our workouts in the free-weight room.
Oops, I think I just broke my promise.
David Hughes can be reached by phone at 1-800-783-8742, Option 4, or at (812) 231-4224; by e-mail at david.hughes@tribstar.com; or by fax at (812) 231-4321.
Hughes News & Views
HUGHES, NEWS & VIEWS: Selfishness aside, let’s give sports figures what they need
- Hughes News & Views
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DAVID HUGHES: Super Bowl odds getting stranger and stranger
Today’s annual “Super Bowl odds column” feels special to me because I’ve been a diehard NFL fan since 1967 and next Sunday will be the first time the big game takes place in our great state of Indiana.
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HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: Coach’s book a chance to remember North Vermillion state champs
Almost 10 years ago, February 2002 to be exact, the New England Patriots upset the high-powered St. Louis Rams to win Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, the Winter Olympics entertained spectators in Salt Lake City and Terre Haute South High School’s girls basketball team started its tournament run toward a Class 4A state title.
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HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: Plenty of sports-related gifts for columnist's wish list
Last week, I was all set to beg Santa Claus to give the Indianapolis Colts a certificate good for one NFL regular-season victory.
Then the 2011 Colts decided to play like the 2009 Colts and clobber the Tennessee Titans on Sunday for their first win of the season. So that present won’t be necessary. -
HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: WTHI defends decision not to show Colts
When your favorite NFL team is threatening to finish 0-16, you have to figure a few fans will jump off the bandwagon.
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HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: Former South coach Rady makes it look easy
Jack Butcher, Howard Sharpe and Bill Stearman.
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HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: Wheldon's genuine personality a devastating loss to racing
Lori Wood, the Tribune-Star’s Indianapolis 500 correspondent since 2000, planned to visit a friend in California and take in the IndyCar Las Vegas 300 as a ticket-buying fan last weekend.
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HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: Past greats proud of ISU’s recent improvements
Indiana State football alum Chris “Big C” Hicks will turn 58 Saturday and he knows exactly what he wants for his birthday.
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HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: Rose-Hulman hungry for first football victory of season
The Engineers have not endured a losing season since 2004. But they’ve opened this season at 0-2, causing Sokol to admit they’re desperate for a win.
“We’re all very hungry for a victory,” he said after practice Thursday. “We all want to taste victory really, really bad.” -
Valley semipro football team reaches championship of IFL
The West Central Wildcats’ semipro football team from Terre Haute has been written about before in this column space over the last two years.
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HUGHES NEWS & VIEWS: Colts cheerleaders glad to get back on field
When I heard the NFL lockout finally ended this week, I looked for someone affiliated with the Indianapolis Colts to get a reaction.
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Amateur boxing card set for outdoors at Show-Me's
We all know what Show-Me’s sports bar is famous for around Terre Haute, right?
Chicken wings, of course. -
HUGHES NEWS & VIEWS: Porter’s persistence keeps his boxing career going
When I walked in Sweatbox Gym through the alley door Wednesday, I wondered if a time machine had taken me back to the 1950s, the glory days of boxing.
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HUGHES, NEWS AND VIEWS: Seaton aces chance for more Div. 1 volleyball
Plagued by one injury after another after another, Kristen Seaton was ready to turn off the lights on her volleyball career.
In her mind, the party was over.
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HUGHES NEWS & VIEWS: Semi-pro football team to kick off season today
If you’re worried about the NFL season being canceled and you can’t wait months for the college and high school seasons to begin, you can get your football fix tonight at Memorial Stadium.
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HUGHES NEWS & VIEWS: Somebody must know these answers
Can you forgive me for being one day late?
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Hughes News and Views: Weatherford eager to help with hometown benefit game
If you ask NFL punter Steve Weatherford if he thinks the owners’ lockout of players will end soon enough to begin the season on time Sept. 8, you probably won’t like his answer.
“No.” -
Hughes, News and Views: Woodward continues to excel with speed for West Vigo softball
As I’ve stated in this space before, I don’t like change.
Somehow I’ve learned to use the Internet, Facebook and a cell phone over the last 15 years, but most changes I try to avoid because I tend to think the old-school way of doing things is better. -
HUGHES NEWS & VIEWS: West Vigo grad makes transition to boxing ring
Chris “Ryan” Jewett never shied away from contact. So it should come as no surprise that he transitioned from three years of varsity football and wrestling at West Vigo High School to amateur boxing as an adult.
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HUGHES, NEWS & VIEWS: Memorable day uncharacteristic for team-oriented Rose outfielder
For various reasons, mainly space limitations, the Tribune-Star rarely publishes full boxscores for Rose-Hulman’s road baseball games.
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HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: Chokeholds hurt, especially when applied by McVicker
After learning that martial-arts expert Jack McVicker took a team to Irvine, Calif., on the weekend of March 24-27 to compete in the Pan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, I arranged for interviews Wednesday at his Terre Haute academy on South Seventh Street.
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HUGHES, NEWS & VIEWS: Mike Saylor leaves with class, dignity
Mike Saylor knew his Terre Haute South coaching career would be concluding soon. But he didn’t want it to be ended by Terre Haute North in the semifinals of the Class 4A Northview boys high school basketball sectional.
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ISU's Johnson, a former Indiana All-Star in basketball, one of top throwers in NCAA
As a senior at Lawrence North High School three years ago, 6-foot-2 Felisha Johnson averaged 15.9 points per game and earned selection to the Indiana All-Stars girls basketball team.
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HUGHES, NEWS & VIEWS: Aycock inducted into Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame
The Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame honors the “outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals whose significant accomplishments and effect upon the sport in Indiana merit the highest recognition.”
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Hughes, News and Views: Columnist brings back unique Super Bowl odds
As I write my first “Unique Super Bowl Odds” column in a while, I want to take this opportunity to make a major NFL-related announcement.
I have forgiven Michael Vick. -
Hughes, News and Views: McVicker still winning martial arts titles
Now that we don't have to worry about the Indianapolis Colts for a while, this seems like a good time to provide publicity to a few deserving Wabash Valley athletes and events that occasionally slip through the cracks:
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HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: It's not personal for Weatherford, who will try to help Jets top Colts
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan does plenty of talking to the media, so his players don’t need to say much about their AFC playoff rematch with the Indianapolis Colts this Saturday night in Lucas Oil Stadium.
That includes Jets punter Steve Weatherford, the former multi-sport standout from Terre Haute North -
HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: Christmas gift list returns after hiatus
Santa, stop watching Mrs. Claus play Wii hula hoop long enough to consider granting these holiday wishes:
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Hughes, News & Views: Terre Haute basketball icons to be honored this weekend
Mike Joyner has been gone almost 33 years, but he is not forgotten. Joyner was Terre Haute South High School’s all-time leading scorer at the time of his death, and wil have his No. 42 jersey retired.
Jim Jones is one of the state's all-time leaders in victories. The court at Terre Haute North will be named in his honor.
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15 years later, dad details life lessons from son’s death
Those of us who were at Riverton Parke High School’s baseball diamond April 8, 1995, will carry the memories of that sad Saturday to our graves.
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Hughes News and Views: Day after Thanksgiving not just for shopping
As someone involved with the upcoming Show-Me’s Alumni Turkey Bowl told me this week, the inaugural football game pitting former players from Terre Haute South and Terre Haute North against each other could resemble a high school reunion.
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