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December 24, 2003

Once again, shopping for the holidays

By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist


It is that time of year. We have all been thinking about what we want to give to others and this is the week that most of those gifts are distributed.

The sports community, despite being busy with tournaments and bowl games, is no exception. Therefore, let us take a few moments of your time to offer this wish list.

These are the gifts that we would give – if we could – during this holiday season. Some are in fun, others quite serious. A few are even repeat gifts from previous lists that have not yet materialized. We hope you enjoy them.

JIM SCHAFER: his own private jet
PAUL RODIO: a state championship.
BUD RINCK: a home on a golf course with a private beach just 10 minutes from Talladega.
DAVE TALARICO: a runaway hit with his new collectible – the Oriole Bear.
TOM FERACO: a work schedule with more flexibility.
STEVE PARKER: a basketball team of granddaughters.
BILL HUF: a third radio station – “All LifeSounds, All The Time”.
KARL GEISINGER: a new press box to work from as football public address announcer.
MIKE PELLEGRINO: a location at home for his Coach of the Year award that is child proof.
BOB WEISS: no more high school games that conflict with his sons’ college schedules.
FRANK BASILE: somebody to root for in the Super Bowl.
ROCCO SANSONE: a massaging recliner which fits right in the front of that bus for those long rides to Woodstown and Penns Grove.
JIM HANDSHAW: a weekend with Harry Sachs.
WALT TUCKER: an elevator into the Carey Stadium two-story press box.
DAVE TROIANO: a trip to Toms River.
BRITTANY SEDBERRY: A return trip to San Diego.
CHRIS TOPPER: season tickets to the Flyers.
COACH JOE FUSSNER: victory in a three-point shootout with Margaret Carey.
BUDDY TARBOTTON: a waffle iron.
JOHN BRUNO & PAUL BARUFFI: their big gift is coming next year – a new gym.
FRANK CAMPO: a souped-up golf cart.
FRAN ST. JOHN: a quick course in Turkish.
WHITEY HAAK: a doctor assigned full-time to his basketball team.
JOHN HUFF: his own team.
DAN HEYMAN: a three-peat.
GREG GOODWIN: another championship season against possibly the toughest schedule in CAL history.
TOM GETZKE: another week in Florida.
CHRIS FORD: a return to the NBA finals.
BILL BECKER: his own Irish pub.
SUE WUNDER: continued success in Middle’s new gym.
ROB SEITZINGER: a year with no deadlines.
WAYNE COLMAN: a great retirement, including the chance to watch his son coach Absegami to a championship.
MIKE LOMBARDI: congratulations on his Hall of Fame selection.
BRIAN CUNNIFF: a new whistle.
JACK NIXON: an injury-free season.
DENNIS SMITH: an open bar in his own hospitality room.
JACK BOYD: season tickets to the Surf and the Bullies.
LARRY DiGIOVANNI: a tougher schedule – UConn has an opening.
CLAUDIA McCARTHY: please, no ties for the Millville field hockey coach.
JOHN RICHARDSON: season tickets to Wildcats basketball.
TOM BECKER: extending the curse into 2004.
JOE FAGAN: dinner with Miss America.
ERNIE TROIANO: five days of SRO crowds in the Convention Center.
DAVE LEWIS: a quick recovery.
DAVE PFEIFER: a couple of Hall of Famer Bob O’Hara’s frozen donuts.
TRISH HOPSON: congratulations for the South Jersey championship and Coach of the Year award as a rookie coach.
BRUCE WELCH: see above.
BOB RIDGWAY: at least one game in March.
MIKE BRADWAY: a great – and healthy – college career.
SCOTT WAHL: a Three Stooges marathon.
PAT HOLDEN: a chance to defend his coaches three-point shooting title.
GEORGE McNALLY: a 6-6 transfer from Argentina with a great serve and slam dunk who plays basketball at EHT and tennis for Ocean City.
BILL NICKLES: a couple new wrestlers like his new assistant coach.
ANTWAINE CAMPO: a healthy college football career.
STACEY MILLER: a cruise around the World.
CHAMP McGAFFNEY: a chain of ice cream shops.
AMY MASON: an Emmy for her new role in Judging Amy.
GARY DEGENHARDT: his 100th win in 2004.
JIM GINN: a video replay of that great run he made against Mainland.
ROY WRIGHT: continued success in Lower Cape May’s new gym.
FRANK RIGGITANO: a plasma TV in his new office, symbolic of his elevated position.
MIKE GALANTE: a National championship for Blair Academy.
DAVE SMITH: golf lessons from Jeff Wunder.
PETE YARD: dinner with Lt. Col. Ken Farrell (Ret.).
TERESA CUNNIFF: a softball championship.
MIKE GILL: a condo in Wildwood.
TRISH LeFEVER: her own suite at the Flagship Resort in Atlantic City.
OFFICER JOE FUSSNER: a spot for Monmouth in the Final Four.
GARY HEGH: plenty to eat.
BRUCE BEAVER: Christmas with Minnie Minoso.
DINO HALL: a few home-grown soccer players.
DIANE SNOW: lots of applause for her recently announced selection to the South Jersey Basketball Club Hall of Fame.
BILL WALSH: a championship season.

TO THE REST OF YOU: a very happy holiday and the chance to see the kind of exciting high school sports in 2004 that we did during the past year.



Read more of Tom Williams' columns