WVU hoops — and, most importantly, a Christmas wish for all
When I sat down to write this blog, I looked at notes I’d scratched out.
An idea was to examine the ongoing WVU basketball season. The one that has the Mountaineers 9-1. The one that has them ranked No. 25 in the latest Associated Press poll.
Coach Bob Huggins has to be pleased, right? If you look at that A.P. poll, his WVU team is ranked above those of tradition powers like North Carolina, Purdue, Indiana, etc. (Footnote: In the USA Today coaches poll, WVU is below 9-1 Wichita State. Yes, the Wichita State team the Mountaineers defeated 75-63.)
My original thought was to point out WVU’s lone loss – that at St. John’s – should be considered disappointing (the Red Storm has yet to defeat another team of note), while giving more love than originally thought for downing Wichita State. The Shockers, as stated, are 9-1 now with wins over Oklahoma and Oklahoma State as well as South Carolina.
Sitting in front of me were other notes on my yellow pad.
Yet when I look at my texts and emails, when I have conversations of late, it’s not about sports. They are about gift exchanges. They are about Christmas cards and parties. They are about wish lists.
Mostly, though, they are about holiday wishes.
They are about this wonderful celebration that is Christmas.
And, in a magical turn Santa would appreciate, the sports notes, the scratches on the notepad, disappeared.
They were covered up by the peanut butter cookie brought by a co-worker.
Which made me smile. Which made my heart warm.
So it’s in that spirit I simply want to wish all my friends, an early Merry Christmas.
Followers through the years know, I’ve had quite a journey from a raw sports writer and editor of WVU’s Daily Athenaeum to stops in Beckley, Martinsburg, Pittsburgh, Morgantown, Charleston and, now, Wheeling/Glen Dale.
It’s been one giant, wonderful loop around (mostly) my beloved Mountain State. I was blessed at every stop. And now, I’m fortunate enough to be with our state’s most creative and talented marketing agency, Wheelhouse Creative.
I urge all business owners to check us out. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
On this day, however, I mostly urge all to have a blessed and safe Christmas. Because it is the most important time.
It is a celebration of Jesus Christ. Also, through that, it’s a celebration of family and friends. It’s a time to make those you love and respect actually feel that love and respect. It’s a time to show them your smile, let them hear your laugh and experience your hug. It’s a time to reach out to those less fortunate.
It is the best time.
It is the most important time.
And it is a time to wish all a very Merry Christmas.
God bless, everyone.
