HUNTSVILLE — How much fun was that last week watching former Hornet Jay Oliphant back on the basketball court, ripping down rebounds, clearing the lane like a snow plow and flying to the basket for a crowd-pleasing dunk?

Yeah, Jay O. got his shorts pulled down in the process of his last two points, but that put an exclamation point on the fun of the first Huntsville Hornets Alumni Basketball Game.

If you missed it this time, don’t you dare miss it next time. That game was a blast!

These guys — Alumni teammates Cody McKinley, Jason O’Bryant, Michael Walker, Billy Smith, Kendall and Kirby Cason, Scooter Langley and Rodney Cooksey, plus Huntsville Legends (and coaches) Larry Carlson, Jason Holbrook, Marcus Williams, Jay Oliphant, Michael Wagner, John Fuller, Trey Wharton, Eric Guillory and Patrick Antwi — played like a state championship was on the line.

They also raised money and collected canned goods for two super causes. The $1 ticket cost went straight to the Hornets Basketball Booster Club, which helps both the girls’ and boys’ basketball programs at Huntsville High.

Fans could also donate canned goods, and many of them did by the looks of the full bags at the front door of Hornet Gym, that were collected and taken to the Good Shepherd Mission. The good folks over there always need help filling the larder, and the Hornet basketball family gave a big assist Thursday night.



Softball and baseball seasons are right around the corner — Yeah, it’s January, but in Southeast Texas that means it’s nearly time for first pitch. Baseball and softball seasons start soon.

The Huntsville Girls Softball Association held its first day of live registration yesterday, and they’ll do it again next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mance Park Middle School. Parents can also register players online by going to the league’s website at www.huntsvillegirlssoftballassoc.org.

Draft day for the HGSA is Jan. 26, so get those gloves out girls and get ready. This is going to be the best season ever.

The Huntsville Boys Baseball Association is gearing up for the 2013 season, too. Online registrations, which are the only way to go this year, are open now through Jan. 26 at midnight.

Parents can register online at www.huntsvillebaseball.org by clicking on the “Login/Register” button on the top menu. Folks who do not have a computer or Internet access, or those who just need help with the online registrations, can sign up at the ballpark on Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

HBBA’s new president Reese Vaco says, “Grab your child’s birth certificate(s) and checkbook and come out to Kate Barr Ross Park and we will help you get registered.”

There is a new PeeWee League for 4-year-olds, and the commissioners are promising another exciting season this spring.

“We are very excited about this season and you will notice a lot of changes around HBBA,” Vaco told the Item last week. “We stole a page from HGSA and we will hold a family fun day this year where we will hold a live raffle. Also, we have teamed up with the Astros to have an HBBA night at Minute Maid Park where our kids will get to go out on the field and parade around representing Huntsville during a day game in April or May.

“This is our first year to separate our 4-year-olds from the 5- and 6-year-olds to create small teams of seven and eight players that will mean more one-on-one time with the coaches.”

Sounds like a winner, Reese. See you at the ballpark.



Texans have a shot in New England — All right sports fans, there may be only one sports writer in the country who believes this, but the Texans have a real chance to pull off an upset and beat the Patriots this afternoon.

Don’t put a lot of money on the 9 1/2-point underdogs from Houston, but also don’t be too surprised if the Texans are hosting the Ravens in the AFC Championship next weekend at Reliant Stadium.

You heard it here first: Texans 20, Patriots 18.



While we’re talking Houston sports ... — Astros fans were upset, some of them outraged when Craig Biggio swung and missed on his first attempt at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Biggio received more votes than any other player on this year’s ballot. And he came up only 39 votes shy of the 75 percent required for induction.

Hang loose everybody, Biggio is going to the Hall of Fame. It just didn’t happen this time.

Someday, Jeff Bagwell will join his longtime Houston teammate and they’ll both have rightful spots in Cooperstown. Remember, patience is a virtue, good things happen to those who wait and all that stuff.



News from the Hall in Canton — A fine list of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame was announced Friday. Who belongs in Canton with the greatest of the greats?

Playing the role of Hall of Fame voter Saturday afternoon while waiting for the Ravens and Broncos to kick off, I made my list.

The shoe-ins are probably Giants sack master Michael Strahan, Cowboys all-everything offensive lineman Larry Allen and the guy who coached both the Giants and Cowboys (and Jets and Patriots), Bill Parcells.

Three or four more greats who might belong next to Jim Brown, Joe Greene and Emmitt Smith are longtime Bills receiver Andre Reed, big, bad Warren Sapp, the “Bus” Jerome Bettis and the great Curley Culp.

Culp anchored Kansas City’s defensive line during the greatest era of Chiefs football. Heralded as one of the quickest linemen in the league, Culp was a starting tackle on the Chiefs’ winning Super Bowl IV squad.

“Curley Culp was a tremendous athlete,” Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson once said. “He had such strength and quickness. I remember (Chiefs center) Jack Rudnay used to say that every center in the league should have to go against Curley in order to know what it’s like to go against the very best.”

When Culp got to Houston, Bum Phillips was the defensive coordinator for Sid Gillman. Bum had convinced Houston’s head coach to try a 3-4 defense, employing three down linemen and four linebackers.

The Oilers acquired Culp midway through the 1974 season for troubled tackle John Matuszak. Culp had signed to play in the rival World Football League for 1975, so the Chiefs thought they were unloading a problem of their own. Culp outlived the new league and then some.

Some feel like that trade was one of the best in Oilers history.

Culp was so strong he required two and three players to block him, opening lanes for Elvin Bethea, Gregg Bingham and Ted Washington Sr. (and soon Robert Brazile, the player Houston drafted with the first-round pick that came with Culp). Houston won seven of their remaining nine games after Curley came to Houston.

Phillips later said, “Curley made (the 3-4 defense) work. He made me look smart.”

Culp’s finest season came in 1975. He notched 11 1/2 sacks, an unheard of total for a defensive tackle. He earned All-Pro honors and was chosen NFL Defensive Player of the Year and as such received the George S. Halas Trophy.

Convinced? This full-time Chiefs, part-time Oilers fan sure is. Besides, wouldn’t the Football Hall of Fame be a better place if it included a fella named Curley Culp?