Kaz's Korner

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TONIGHT

Well, hopefully you were good all year because crunch time is about to happen when Santa Claus makes his annual visit tonight after everyone is asleep.

His sleigh is chock full of presents and gifts for everyone, including these special people:

CLASS 4A DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME—A Championship Trophy for the West Orange-Stark Mustangs winning the first half of Friday’s game at AT&T Stadium 25-7 and another for Gilmer winning the second half 28-0. Too bad for the ‘Stangs that it doesn’t work that way.

HOUSTON TEXANS DEFENSIVE STAR J.J. WATT—The NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award for 2014. If he’s not voted the best player in the league this year, they should quit giving the award.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER JAMES (PANCHO) McGILL—A giant piggy bank to hold all of the money he’s winning in our weekend skin’s game.

THE HOUSTON ASTRODOME—A Stay of Execution Reprieve after the Urban Land Institute of Houston released a proposal to convert the former Eighth Wonder of the World into a public space that includes an indoor lawn, outdoor gardens and a promenade of oak trees and exhibit space instead of the wrecking ball that was initially proposed.

WEST ORANGE-STARK HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CORNEL THOMPSON—The Improvising Award for making it through the entire district schedule and five tough playoff games victoriously with a varsity-untested sophomore quarterback who started the season on the junior varsity.

DALLAS COWBOYS—A Reversed Role-Play with the Philadelphia Eagles who usually win the NFC East Division championship by playing really well in December while the Cowboys flounder the final month of the season. This year Dallas is rolling in December victories and on Sunday won the division title while the Eagles have slumped miserably and were eliminated from the playoff picture with the Dallas victory.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER BOB HOOD—A Congruent Calendar with my weekly itinerary that calls for bridge on Monday, golf on Tuesday, fishing on Wednesday, golf on Thursday and a Bridge Tournament on Friday.

HOUSTON ASTROS OWNER JIM CRANE—A huge make-up kit so he can make up with the loyal Astros fans who endured four straight losing seasons while Crane managed the lowest payroll in major league baseball. He is suddenly spending money on established major league players in hopes of his team being much more competitive in 2015.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS ALL-PRO FREE SAFETY EARL THOMAS III—The Good Guy From Orange Award for remembering his roots where he came from and rewarding those who helped him get his great football career started with things like bus trips to Friday’s state championship high school football game, free football clinics for youngsters, bicycles and winter coats for Orangeites in need and his new foundation in Seattle just to mention a few.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER KEN RUANE—A pair of shin-guards to wear for protection from a potential wild shot by members of his foursome while playing golf.

THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS—A Window to throw out that old adage “there’s no place like home” after the team lost all seven home games this season, with one left to play this weekend that they probably will lose.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER BOB HOEPNER—A Monkey Wrench that he threw into our weekend skins game by getting a hole-in-one earlier this month that caused a lot of excitement in our group that witnessed the occasion.

BODY WORKZ SILVER SNEAKERS INSTRUCTOR CONNIE WOODS—A much larger workout room for a bigger class in the brand-new building for our weekly Tuesday and Thursday low-impact exercise sessions. She makes sweating fun.

KROGER STORE MANAGER MATT HALL—Long, straight drives on the golf course to match the long hours put in at the store.

NEWTON ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH LIDNEY THOMPSON—A Boomerang to represent the fact that he is back at the same school where he coached so successfully nearly 40 years ago.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER CRAIG COUVILLION—The Shining Son Award for taking time out of his busy routine to visit his mother almost daily.

HOUSTON TEXANS HEAD COACH BILL O’BRIEN—The Humble Pie Award for being a big enough man to ask Case Keenum to come back to the team last week after releasing him the first few days of training camp because O’Brien didn’t believe the young quarterback fit his offensive program. The recent move paid off big- time as Keenum led the team to a huge 25-13 victory over the heavily-favored Baltimore Ravens Sunday, keeping the Texans slim wild-card playoff hopes alive for an extra week.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS HEAD COACH JIM HARBAUGH—A Secretary to help him keep up with the NFL and college teams that will be interested in hiring him away from the place that does not appreciate his leadership ability. His alma mater—the University of Michigan—is hotly pursuing him as the Wolverines next head coach.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER JIM RODDA—A Clock to speed up the healing process from his recent shoulder surgery so he can get back to losing money to the members of his Saturday foursome.

WEST ORANGE-STARK MUSTANGS QUARTERBACK JACKSON DALLAS—A Shaving Kit to signify how fast the sophomore had to grow up when he was promoted from the JV to the Mustangs varsity as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. All Jack did was direct the ‘Stangs to an undefeated district championship and five playoff victories before falling to undefeated Gilmer 35-25 Friday. Even in that loss Jack was outstanding.

DALLAS COWBOYS QUARTERBACK TONY ROMO—A Trophy for becoming the franchise’s all-time passing yardage leader after Sunday’s impressive 42-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Romo currently has 32,971 career yards, 29 more than Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman.

FORMER VINTON HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL GLYNN EBARB—The Proud As Punch Grandfather Award over his grandson, Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER RICHARD DUFFEE—A Mid-Stream Change when his left-handed putter broke and he used a right-handed one to finish his round. The Duff decided to putt right-handed forever. He’s a better putter, too.

FORMER FLORIDA HEAD COACH WILL MUSCHAMP—The book “It’s Hard To Keep A Good Man Down” as he was asked to interview for several college coaching jobs, including the Houston Cougars head coaching position, less than a week after being let go by the Gators, and already chose to become the new defensive coordinator at Auburn.

AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO

Mike Lemons, Archie McClelland, Mark Dunn, Jeff Thomas, Johnny Montagne, Jerry Triggs, Ronnie Hutchison, Gene Harrison, Pierre De la Fosse, Chris Trout, Gwen Whitehead, Troy Manuel, Missy Pillsbury, John Prather, Brad Prejean, John Morris, Larry Moerbe, Judy Arnaud, Andy Conner, Tom Toal, Julie Mouton, Steve Betz, Harrison Vickers, Jerry Windham, Bill Van, Rodney Barrett, Gail Beckett, Larry Ancelot, Bobby Nelson, Carl Sanders, Matt Purgahn, David Thompson, James Denmon, Mike King, Durwood Bennett, Bob Cockerill, Chris Allen, Matt Morgan, Sid Caillavet, Doug Patterson, Mike Shuff, Jim King, Tiki Russell, Alex Morrow, John Cochran, David Benoit, Bart Corder, Roy Peterson, Jimmy Givens, Jimmy Sichko, Ken Ruane, Ron Hopperton, Joe Murphy, Walter Cox, David Ess, John Dubose, Lacy Hale, Mark Williams, Gary Cook, Bobby Eddings, Tommy Gunn, Mac Guillory, Buddy Hahn, Glynn Aldredge, Jim Rodda, Kerry Lamb, Brian Hudson, Stephen Patterson, Mike Poutra.

Joe Ely, Trez Sichko, Ella Mulhollan, Allen Beauchamp, John Patterson, Wanda Peveto, Larry Duhon, David Sand, Milton Newton, Mike Parish, Robert Baca, Jim Brown, Mark Hebert, John Toomey, Beth Baas, Stacy Hoffpauir, Tina Lawrence, Richard Duffee, Tammy Torrez, Derry Dunn, Mike Shahan, Wes Duvall, James Welch, James Vidrine, Bob Hollier, Ken St. John, David Bridges, Jim Matthews, Tommy Reed, Sandra Hall, Wayne Brint, Raquel Goodboddie, Jajemi Plut, V.L. Grimes, David Loden, Brian Waguespack, Manuel Godina, Joseph Droddy, Wayne Baker, James Thurman, Ray Benoit, Bill Belcher, Don Olivier, Jerry Ling, Brenda Buxton, Regina Edwards, Frank Hatton, Willow Simpson, Kathy Gunn, J. D. Quarles, Wade Gillet, Jerry McDonald, Jerry Pennington, Chrisleigh Dal Sasso, Cathy Day.

Lindsey Nelson, Jim Sharon Bearden, Dan Perrine, Billy Burrow, Dan Cochran, Ken Bridgers, George Crawford, Michelle Broussard, Jim Simon, Jack McClelland, Scottie Wilson, Willie Bednar, James Lopez, Dennis Powell, Bobby Duhon, Carlos Vacek, Roy Locks, George Toal, Mike Lucia, Jim Dunaway, Jack Tindel, Ray Pousson, Jim Ehlert, Bryce Conner, Mike Mazzola, Faye Parish, Gilbert Myers, Kathy Polansky, Yankee Mortimer, Pat Murphy, Leo Simpson, Mike McKown, Clint Hathaway, Jerry Decker, Mike Holbrook, Lee Roy Boehme, Jr., Jerry Ann Trouard, Jimmy Boyd, Donnie Mires, Bobby Swan, Larry Hammett, Tom Day, Bryan McKinley, Donny Ratcliff, Don Lormand, Robert Dunn, Violet Branch, Robert Roesler, Wayne Iles, Raymond Guilbeaux, Johnny Dugas.

Travis Clark, Martha Rogers, Robert Burris, Jerry Caillier, Harry Wood, John Scofield, Carol Perry, Kenny Lalonde, Linn Cardner, Mike Catt, Pete Runnels, Russell Bottley, James Luna, Dick Powell, Billie Carter, David Teague, Carl Floyd, Skip Moore, Pete Sterling, Brian Murphy, Montie Moran, Doug Rogers, Rick Keszeg, Cary Bresie, Scott Garvie, Pat Key, Rodney Townsend, Jerry Howeth, Phillip Brown, Homer Stuntz, Andrew Hayes, Linda Moore, Glen Oliver, Bob Byerly, Jerry Hughes, Bart Williams, Brooks Hill, Janet Newton, Benis Lee, Jim Keith, Lynn Smith, Ebb Moore, Steve Pomeroy, Jerrod Bland, Barry Thibodeaux, Frank Finchum, Charles Broussard, Sharon Bearden, Bob Hoepner, Ferral Ashby, Joe Doucet, J.B. Arrington, Bill Ellison, Dana Cruse, Dennis Lee, Jerry Ann Trouard.

Dennis Bishop, Gus Beuershausen, Leon Delome, Grant Gipson, Jeep Colburn, Jerry Nichols, Kevin Hebert, Brian Mingle, Dwayne Mims, Oscar Smith, Joe Parkhurst, Pete Gresham, Charlie Miller, Joe Alford, Chris Gunn, Ed Dyer, Bill Jackson, Bill Bromley, Ace Amodeo, Mike Bernard, Ken Wernig, Roland Gregorie, Todd McLane, John Tate, Brad Gilmore, Hal LaPray, Bob Campbell, Roderick Robertson, Buddy Hahn, Mark Foreman, Manuel Solis, Earl Parker, Neil Watts, John Martinez, Terry Childers, Joan Quartermont, Jeff Mathews, Tiffany Rochelle, Dempsie Jaynes, Kyle Walker, Randy Brown, Clay Dugas, Ellis Boyd, Glenn “Smoothie” Earle, Ron Cowling, Ruth Corder, Billy Bayliss, Andre Robertson, Billy Permenter, David Montagne, Earl Collier, Dewey Scott, Robert Tywater, Louise Savoy, Darrel Latiolais, John Cash Smith, Mary Beth Benoit, Jimmy Verrett, Russell Cronin, Al Granger, Kris Cherry, Richard Turkel, Rodney Townsend, Jr., Mark Williams.

David Dunn, Cecil Byers, Bo Brannick, Jimmy Owens, Margaret Broussard, Ollie Halten, Waymon Sibley, Rufus Flurry, Aaron Burke, Kris Olsen, Wayne Sparrow, David Hoelzer, James Bloodworth, Ron Roberts, Mike Hoke, Mike Hebert, Tim Hughes, Phillip Madar, Myrt Myers, Lou Garriga, Becky Grant, J.W. “Kid” Henry, Vicki Landry, Gene Steele, Ken Reeves, Jimmy Ray Burris, Brenda Morgan, Robert Mortimer, Mark Meadows, Jody Gray, Ruby Collins, Chris Hyde, Clifford Bray, Darline Zavada, Todd Marburgh, Dawn Collins, Stacy Caillavet, John Broussard, Greg Choate, Dave Walsh, Williard Lanier, Calvin Collins, Greg Smith, Jerome Wilkerson, Joyce Prescott, Keith Hogan, David Piland, Bryce Conner, Lana Stogner, Kevin Philen, Vernon Davis, David Hollier, John Lister, Anthony Padilla, Erin Godina, Greg Turbeville, Danny Blacksher, Terry Myers, Nancy Finchum, Curt Leger, George Nevarez, Patrick Toomey, Brad Gilmore, Larry Fisher.

Gary Pollock, Sandy Walker, Anita Vidrine, Bud Martin, Natalie Simon, Jerry Meads, Gary Mainero, Steve Taylor, Richard Scott, Lisa Dies, Darrow Judge, Mark Netherly, Barbara Hayes, Derrick Jones, Dale Peddy, Todd Hoffpauir, Terry Steubing, Donna Evans, Teresa Schreck, David Davis, Shirley Walker, Larry Woods, Steve Champion, Rex Ansley, Connie Burnitt, Greg Willis, Pat Anglin, George Baker, Henry Seals, Dan Mohon, Steve Issacs, James Blair, Troy Burton, Homer Stockton, Nita Duffee, Vic Arceneaux, Rick Keszeg, Don Burgess, Tommy Carroll, Mary Louise McKee, Barbara Bergeron, Paula Legate, Connie Lemaire, Debbie Perry, Scott Swearingen, Camilla Richard, Phyllis McCall, Brandon Prouse, Steve Griffith, Carolyn Schramm, Jessie West, C.A. Keasler, Betty Merchant, Ronnie Moody, John Young, Kay Morris, Jim Dwight, George Mortimer, Larry Willette, Leon King, Hughie Allen, Gail Griffith, John Rowland, Leon Evans, Preston Fuller, Karl Eason, Jim Mouton, Dean Granger, Peggy O’Leary, Brad Gilmore, Bret Johns, J.D. Willis, B.J. Morgan, Wayne Iles.

Bob Campbell, Ralf Mims, Louis Manuel, Richard Roddy, Sandy Turner, Ralph Barrientos, Shea Simon, Chris Cartwright, Sam Lucia, Jack Jones, Shirley “Fuzz” Ware, Gary Ware, Warren Claybar, Charlie Greenwell, Gary Mulhollan, J.C. Sea, John Hardin, Gene Tannehill, Anne Foster, Matt Murphy, Mike Collins, Sam Hudson, Aubrey Welch, Virgie Thomas, Charlotte Guillory, Elray Henson, Marilyn Malvo, Chad Havens, Wendy Rost, Josh Smalley, Art Mason, Mike Reed, Ray Tilley, Keith Doucet, Chad Bryant, Victor Enard, Mary Frances Hartley, Roddy Richards, Hugh Granger, Toby Foreman, Gary Thibodeaux, Stephen Lee, Darby Byrd, David Winfrey.

Doug Posey, Jimmy Givens, Rick Sand, Joe Raburn, Wallace Culps, Angie Simar, Bryant Calcote, Wayne Lowe, Connie Powell, Jack Horton, Tony Perry, Gene Dixson, Joy Haney, Bruce Savoy, Becky Rhoden, Dean Priddy, Randy Vayon, Heath Martin, Ed Freiberg, George Sepulvado, Johnny Dorman, Ronnie Puckett, Brenda Campbell, Lori Thompson, Madge Rogers, Travis Ashworth, Marty Monogue, Dave Young, Jeremy Green, Harry Sharpless, Ronnie Puckett, Bobbie Murphy, Jill Williams, Brandon Seaman, Jodie Pledger, Richard Terry, Marla Zoch, Quincy Procell, John Gradnigo, Judy Lowe, Richard Porter, Bart Williams, Joyce Drake, Jim Rawls, Bill Nicholas, Mark Berton, Ray “Mario” Dal Sasso, Jane Couvillion, Mickey Bergeron, Cheree Benoit, Jakie Stine, Pat Clark.

Jonathan Vandagriff, David Haney, Ron McPherson, Gene McCormick, Delle Bates, Gerald Beach, Ray Montagne, Wayne Outlaw, Carl Thibodeaux, Mike Bernard, Paul Mott, Kermit Richard, Ray Pousson, Charlie Blalack, Dick Alexander, Jeff Dalton, Craig Corder, Pancho McGill, Roland Wolfford, Dave Maddox, Robin Brooks, Shirley Almazan, Carolyn Lemons, Marlynne McNeese, Paul Vaughan, Vernon Myers, Billy Denham, Reggie Parker, Louis Willey, Clyde Davis, Bob Brown, Jerry Childress, Laurie Modisette, Bob Baptista, Jay Brown, David Williams, Russell Covington, Jerry Montgomery, Harold Gross, Russell Turkel, Larry Fisher, Steve Pesek, Charles Liggio, John Garrett, Brown Claybar, Larry Warner, Shelby May, Dickie Colburn, Joe Barrios, Virgis Benoit, Dwight Bickham, Miguel Castellanos, Howard Minor.

David Claybar, J.L. Vincent, Ron Theriot, Ross Smith, Dave Pederson, Peggy Vincent, Charlotte Montgomery, Jerome Standley, Sleepy Smith, Gwen Barton, Ron Sigler, Pat Brown, James Sanders, B.K. Ware, Leonard Brown, Billy Shults, Don Covington, Jeremy Hogg, Alicia Hebert, Reanna Morris, Bill Tillman, Ronnie Rost, Gay Richardson, Jim Turpin, Kelly Alford, Alan Whipkey, Jane Dunn, Ann Lieby, John Harrell, Max Staudt, Jessie Whitehead, Sweet Charlotte Tucker, Jim Graves, Jeff Wheatley, Moe Litton, Jack White, Glenn Hill, Maurice Mueschke, Martha Oliver, John Young, Tommy Ewing, Ernie Dyer, Carroll Holt, Shane Johns, Denise Himel, Pat Fountain, Sid Caillavet, Paul Patin, Lona Vasquez.

Dennis Duhon, Jim Miller, Calvin Parker, Jimmy Sattler, Rodney Dove, Lawrence Hunt, Eddie Faulk, June Gunstream, Cornel Thompson, Sam Kittrell, Dick Behnke, Huel Fontenot, Paul Lorimer, Ronnie Burton, Mike Lovett, Robert “Woody” Wood, Vicky Walters, Leroy Breedlove, Mike White, Frank Skeeler, David Payne, John Hersey, Dee Payne, Haazen Kenney, Bonnie Mingle, John Kimbrough, Wayne Peveto, Gene Alsandor, Bubba Lanning, Wayne Morris, Dale LeBlanc, Nelson Broussard, Sammy Owens, Heath Mouton, Harold Fuqua, Roger Hall, Joe Peery, Bob Hood, James Rigler, Robert Sims, Joe Sanders, Bill Modisette, Mark Oldham, Mackey Clasby, Vernon Collier, Michael Arnaud, Jay Ayers, Jeanette Cleaver, Ray Burch, Gerhard Hommel, Walter Landisch.

Jimmy Sims, Joe Ware, Roy Dunn, Phyllis Ryan, Eric Hinton, Debbie Fusilier, Penny Leleux, Les Patin, Debbie Buckalew, Ricky Trahan, Melinda Gipson, Jet Toohey, James Stringer, Alan Sanders, John Cooper, Glenn Toohey, Sam Lucia, Betty Derrick, Lon Craft, Margaret Peeples, Mike Abbott, Charles Gant, Oliver Seastrunk, Carl Himel, Earl Geis, Mike Leonard, Van Vandervoort, David Kosboth, Jack Burney, Brandon Landry, Randy Crouch, Ray Rogers, Gary Stelly, Pat Johnson, Andy Allen, Ray Conner, Keith Staudt, Louis McIntire, Brandon Fisher, Fred Zoch, Troy Burke, Bubba Brown, Johnny Trahan, David Clary, Joey Campbell, Robert Query, Gary Thibodeaux, Steve Mazzola, Tim Bonnin, Jay James, DeWitt Gipson, John Griffith, Howard Nelson, Randy Jarrell, Jimmy Jones, Joe Payne, Donald Moss, Betty Melton, Doug Nelms, Cecil Sylvester, Roy Knolley, Annabelle Stringer, Wade Smith, Shea Brown, Sam Ambers, John Raughton, Pat Leverne, James Scott, Ann Harner, Jenny Taylor, David Trahan, Donnie Shockley, Jr., John Crawford, Jim Gordon, Jim Colley, Dennis Doggett, Sue Rathburn, Keith Lyons, Wayne Franklin, Mandy Rogers, Terry Landry, Billie Rogers, Albert Gore, Betsy Phillips, Trent Cooper, Steve Toal, James Ray, Mike Hughes, Mark Magnuson, Ed Rasmussen, Gary Mulhollan, Miles Hall, Bobby Tanner, Jason Gipson, Jade Saucier, Georgia Corder, Ron Logan, Ken Manuel, Don Harmon, Sanford Lummus, Hunter Sheridan, Lewis Sims, Tommy Carroll, Van Wade.

And a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to my e-mail readers Dick and Gail Kazmar, Bobbie, Dick and Joe Wechter, Don and Linda Bivens, Karen and Brian Smith, Earl Thomas, Kate Butcher, Brock and Glenna Bult, R.C. Slocum, Paul Groncki, Jim Rodda, Bobbie Earle, Wayne and Kaye Morris, Tony Ottati and for anyone I may have missed, especially you, my loyal readers who have been with Kaz’s Korner since its inception Sept. 12, 1966.