I want to start by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. After chasing the Mustangs for almost two months, I woke up Monday morning and said, “OMG, it’s December 22!” Thankfully my wife Angie is a Christmas professional. I always hate that Christmas seems to fly by once it gets here. But I hope those of you who wish for a Merry Christmas get everything you want out of it.
What I won’t miss about Christmas are the Hallmark movies. My wife loves them so they have replaced HGTV on our TV for the last 60 days. I refer to them as Holiday Porn. I looked it up to see if I’m alone and was surprised to find out I am not. It said, “it’s a common preference, often stemming from disliking predictable plots, cheesy acting, or unrealistic happiness.” That’s exactly what it is. Plus I can’t compete with these hunky guys who always say the right things, look good in all of their clothes, and don’t have hair growing out of their ears.
–
We’re also coming up on the end of 2025, which also means the end of the first year of The Juice and the Behind The Mic Podcast. Both the column and the podcast were started because of your suggestions. I hope you have enjoyed both as we’ll continue them into 2026. I just need your help to promote them so we can continue them.
–
I know it’s supposed to be a “feel good” story even though he hasn’t won a game yet. A 44 year old quarterback comes out of retirement to try to lead a team to the postseason. This QB is Phillip Rivers, who hasn’t thrown a pass in an NFL game in almost five seasons.
My question is this, you’re telling me he’s your best option? There’s not another QB who’s been working out all season? Just seems crazy to me. Sidenote: Rivers is not only doing it for the opportunity…but for the health insurance! He was about to lose his NFL insurance (five years after retirement) and now he’ll get another five years, plus another five years of eligibility for the Hall of Fame.
Staying in the NFL, there’s not a clear favorite to win the Super Bowl. At this point Jacksonville has just as good of a chance to play in the final game. They were 4-13 a year ago. And there was a poll at the beginning of the year that had more than 50% of voters picking either Kansas City or Baltimore to win the AFC and neither will make the playoffs. But our Cowboys….same old mediocrity.
–
Coach Dan Hooks was laid to rest on Monday and it was good to see so many coaches come out to pay their respects besides the coaches who were speakers or pallbearers. We saw Jeff Mathews, Josh Smalley, Jerry Nichols, Dwayne Dubois, Bradley Dale Peveto, Roy Locks and Matt Burnett, who was recruited by Hooks when he was coaching at Lamar. Peveto also told me he will be joining the staff at North Texas next season. Barry Norton, who was one of the pallbearers, is in his fourth year as Athletic Director at Birdville ISD. He says he can see AT&T Stadium from his press box. It was also great to see Randy Crouch who is battling cancer. Please put coach on your prayer list.
My good friend Ken Sury also came in from Waco for the funeral. Ken worked at the Leader for about a decade starting in 1989. He met his wife Jean while he was in Orange, living at the Sunset Apartments. Sury is now a member of the city council in Woodway, which is where former Orange City Manager Shaun Oubre moved to when he left Orange.
–
Use this time of year to reach out to family and friends and I hope you all enjoy the holiday season.
-Gary Stelly-
gstelly66@gmail.com
Volume 1 No. 38
The Juice is a weekly column where Gary Stelly discusses things that happened the past week and mixes it with 40 years of being involved in the Orange County community. (If we think of a better way to explain it we’ll change it) You can also check out his podcast by clicking on the Behind the Mic banner on the KOGT.com front page.
Social Media