MORE THOUGHTS WHILE THINKING

Don’t Be Surprised If … ….. The Richmond Kickers have a new coach next year, the ninth in club history that began in 1993 when founder Bobby Lennon was numero uno. He was succeeded (in order) by John Kerr Sr. (1994), Dennis Violet (1995-96), Fred Kohlenstein (1997), Colin Clarke (1998-99), Leigh Cowlishaw (2000-2018), David Bulow (2018-19 and Darren Sawatsky (2019-present). The Kickers were regular-season USL League One winners then reached the semifinal round of the playoffs in 2022 ... and were expected to challenge again this year. However, a 14-game non-winning streak (0-10-4) has left them nearer the bottom of the 12-team third-division league than the top … with two games remaining. Latest misadventure was a 1-0 loss at home Saturday night to defending champion South Georgia Tormenta, beating Richmond for the first time since 2020. A questionable – OK, terrible -- call against former South Georgia forward Ryan Sierakowski led to a penalty kick in the 70th minute for the only score, spoiling an otherwise brilliant performance by Kickers’ keeper Will Palmquist. ….. Hal Nunnally is inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame as member of the Class of 2024. At last. For reasons that have been undisclosed but, nevertheless, defied logic, the late Randolph-Macon College basketball coach remained on the outside, looking in, since first being nominated about 10 years ago. The hall’s honors committee, which has the last word, is expected to come to its senses at its annual meeting in November. The timing coincides with the next induction ceremony that will be held for the first time outside the Tidewater/Hampton Roads area April 19-20 at the new Henrico Sports and Events Center scheduled to open early next year. “It’s only logical that Hal should go in now,” said a man with knowledge of the process. From Petersburg, Nunnally spent most of his basketball-coaching life in Central Virginia – first at Prince George then Tidewater Academy in near-by Wakefield and finally in Ashland, first as an assistant to R-MC’s hall-of-fame coach Paul Webb. When Webb left to replace 2023 inductee Sonny Allen at Old Dominion University, Nunnally took over the Yellow Jackets’ program and maintained its record of excellence that included reaching the finals of the 1977 NCAA Division II playoffs after being the 32d (last) team to make the field. In 24 years at Randolph-Macon, Nunnally had a record of 431-232, one of only four to reach the 400-win plateau among coaches at state schools only. He retired in 1999 for health reasons and died five years later at age 56. In recent years several R-MC alumni who played for Nunnally have made a concerted effort to get him in the state hall. “You might say that,” said state hall of fame executive director Will Driscoll, laughing. You should see some of the testimonial letters including one by Gary Williams, who led Maryland to a national championship. They should have been enough to convince the committee. It’s doubtful there has ever been a better, obviously heart felt, plea for hall of fame inclusion than the one written by Williams on Nunnally’s behalf. All along Driscoll, while supportive of Nunnally, continued to maintain it was simply a matter “of so many qualified nominees in his category.” Unlike some other state halls, like Kentucky, which select x-number of people every year – period, Virginia breaks it down into categories including media, veterans, contributors and coaches. As a result, there have been many years when one category was over-loaded – like coaches and media (which includes sports information directors … don’t ask) – and the honors committee seemingly was hard-pressed to come up with a comparably-worthy candidate in one … or more. For example, this year, look all the candidates to be considered for the media award, starting (alphabetically) with Bob Black, including Lane Casadonte, Dan Bonner, David Fairbank, Harry Minium, Dave Smith, Doyle Smith, and ending with Paul Woody. Talk about a difficult choice. ….. It won’t be long before the sports world is rocked by another point-shaving scandal. Think about it. Betting became legal (outside Las Vegas) five years ago and has spread to 38 states plus the District of Columbia with more to come. In 2022, a total of $96 BILLION was wagered on the games people play, with estimates of more than $120B this year. The more people lose … and, trust me, the house (in the long run) always wins … the more desperate they become … which leads to all kinds of bad stuff. ….. CBS overdoes a tribute to outgoing sports prez Sean McManus, 68, who is retiring. The son of iconic sportscaster Jim McKay (“They are gone … They are all gone!!), he came from a different era … when the people in charge were as visible as their network’s talking heads. ….. Lionel Messi is a passing fad that won’t last beyond 2025, which is the end of his megabucks three-year deal with Major League Soccer. The addition of Messi, one of the game’s all-time greats, by Inter Miami this year revitalized MLS international exposure … and David Beckham’s team as well. However, the smallish forward has been nursing injuries and currently is sidelined. Also, he reportedly has been less than obliging with the media which, to this point, has been adoring and given him (cliché alert) benefit of the doubt. How long that will last is anybody’s guess. Meanwhile, season ticket holders have been informed prices will skyrocket for 2024. For example, the worst seats will go from $456 this year to $855. Others will jump $4,000 to $16,000. Messi or no Messi, Inter Miami fans aren’t happy about it – to say the least. Until next time …