I love sports! I especially like the high school variety, though I have no aversions to T-Ball, TDFL or GYBL games.

I have discovered over the years that this interest is not always about the quality of play, but rather about the intensity these players utilize on the field, court, or pitch. I know the same intensity is also with them as they build LEGOS, play computer games, or when they study, but those are more private moments, whereas sports is open for everyone to see.

The looks on their faces as they strive to do their best is one that never gets old and has been ageless for centuries. Their particular expression, usually a grimace, seems to light up their face. Even if...

The Menapace family has a long history of involvement with athletics in Gallup, starting with the oldest grandson of Rico, the founder of Rico Auto Complex. Howard, their father, coached all three of the boys through their baseball programs in summer leagues.

Oldest son Mickey is the only one to start and finish his early years in school at Cathedral School (now Gallup Catholic), from kindergarten through high school. He played Minor League, Little League and Babe Ruth baseball in the summer months before and during his high school years, and competed in Connie Mack as he aged up. Cathedral did not have a baseball program during his years there.

As a freshman, he was listed as a...

Bleacher Talk

Second place isn’t somewhere most people like to end up, but that does not mean that it is all bad. Take the case of the Gallup High basketball teams in the season just finished.

The girls’ team had losses to just two teams: 6A Clovis at their tournament on the east side of the state, and two losses to Los Lunas, one regular season and one in the final game of the state tournament. The boys did even better, though they lost to two teams as well; the opening game of the season back in November and in the last game of the state tournament. Some may view these as mere excuses. I don’t!

Domonic Romero, boys’ head coach for seven years, and Kamau Turner, girls’...