Of ACHS Frosh Basketball, Football, Grandkids and a Night at Ric's

Tues.-Thurs., February 3-5, 2026

Three more interesting days spent in ever fascinating Camarillo which is,' as everyone knows, "The Hub of Ventura County."

But first, an update from Monday's post . . .

. . . about the 2026-27 French

Elite League

Merci to Julien Urgenti in Lyon, France for updating me on the current status and future of France's top American football league.

There will indeed be 12 teams in this season's French DI but there will be major changes next season.

The Elite League will shrink to just eight clubs next year in a closed league configuration meaning that no club faces relegation for a losing season so long as said team can still meet some minimum criteria that includes a stadium that seats at least 1,000 rabid fans and an annual operations budget of a minimum of 300,000 Euros, about $354,000 USD.

Interesting . . .

I had a great phone conversation on

Thursday with 1974 Thousand Oaks H.S.

Green Helmet winner Robert Ornelaz

He wanted to know all about the

early history of this coveted award

It all started during a TOHS coaches' meeting at the local IHOP and some memories from my University of Washington days.

This rest is, as they say, history.

Call me if you want the story in detail.

On Tuesday afternoon I once again picked up Debi Murphy to go see her grandson Holtz play basketball for Camarillo H.S.'s Frosh team.

It was a BIG game for the Scorpions (22-3, 6-1 Coastal Canyon League) who had lost their first meeting with the Oak Park H.S. Eagles (17-9, 7-0 CCL), 63-61.

If Oak Park won, they were the 2026 CCL Champions.

If Camarillo won, then the two clubs would be the 2026 CCL Co-Champions.

It started off hot and heavy

By halftime, the Scorpions were

having their way with the Eagles

leading 34-20

There was no Camarillo let up

in the Second Half

The 2026 Coastal Canyon League

Frosh Basketball Co-Champions

Holtz is the first Scorpion in the back row on the right side of this photo.

This photo of the 1906 University of

Washington football team popped

up in a discussion of great teams

in Seattle history as the Seahawks

prepared for Super Bowl LX

More EuroBall info . . .

The Gijón Mariners have Flag

games on Sunday . . .

. . . they are still recruiting

new players, IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

There are no tackle football games on the Spanish DI slate for this coming weekend but there are five DII games scheduled.

Saturday's Spanish DII Schedule

Boadilla Vikings (1-1) at

Madrid Capitals (0-2)

Alcobendas Cavaliers (2-0) at

Alcorcón Smilodons (2-0)

Alicante Sharks (2-0) at

Alicante Thunder (0-2)

Sunday's Spanish DII Schedule

Sueca Ricers (0-1-1) at

Murcia Cobras (1-2)

Pinto Gold Bats (1-1) at

Tres Cantos Jabatos (0-2)

Italy's DI Varese Skorpions

are still looking for a Dual

Passport Offensive Lineman

Anyone interested?

Huge, well deserved honers for the

Athletic Directors from Rio Mesa

and Del Sol High Schools

The Rams' QB being named the

NFL MVP was also well deserved

I hate to say it out loud to my

Italian friends, but I think that

they are good together

Perfect timing as these three days

were Catania, Sicily's celebration

of the Sant'Agata, their Patron Saint

This is truly an awesome celebration that we experienced fully in 2008 and 2009.

The dessert on the top left are locally known as "Sant'Agata's Breasts."

Part of her 251 A.D. martyrdom that led to her sainthood was having her breasts cut off.

Enough said.

Jacob's 2026 CYBA Bulls Team Photo

Our favorite Rebounding Machine

Camarillo Cosmos track practices started

for both Jacob and Mary this week

Retired Rio Mesa H.S. teacher

Karen Pecht and her granddaughter

performing at Ric's Restaurant

on Wednesday night

A goodly sized bunch of former Rio Mesa teachers and their spouses were attendance for a fun evening of music, food and friendship.

Good Times Indeed!

Those were the days . . .

. . . these days, not so much

Groudhog Day 2026

Monday, February 2, 2026

Today was a special day in our relationship as a couple.

It all started in 1967 when we were living in Seattle and Valentine's Day was fast approaching. We were a tad short on funds in those long ago college days when we came to the economic realization that the prices at flower shops and restaurants spike drastically on February 14th.

We came to an agreement, instead of Valentine's Day, in the future we would instead celebrate Groundhog Day on February 2nd as the day to profess our love.

Thus . . .

. . . Groundhog Day has been a

BIG DEAL for us for 59 years now

As usual, flowers were still reasonably priced today and we found the Buca di Beppo restaurant in Thousand Oaks both affordable and a serenely quiet spot for a meal.

This is the book that Laurie gave

me as a gift on February 2, 1967,

for our first Groundhog Day

I have no idea what I gave her that year.

Probably just another pain in the neck.

GOOD TIMES!

After fasting since about 9:00 p.m. last night for a needed blood drawing to determine my current level of health, I headed to an independent, artsy coffee shop in Old Town Camarillo, Tree Lounge Coffee.

I said it was artsy

This aspiring youngster was drawing

some amazing art as I sat drinking

a cappuccino and devouring a

cheese and guava pastry

I have a feeling that pastries will soon be strictly VERBOTEN!

On to international football news . . .

Mexico keeps producing great art to

promote their upcoming tournament

I am still concerned about the organizers of this potential extravaganza to be held in the Yucatan Peninsula city of Merida.

Spain's Ávila Grizzlies are prepping for

another huge flag football tournament

This event has a reputation for being a well organized and worthwhile event for players of all ages and sexes.

Nine international games in 2026

The NFL will hold games in Melbourne, Paris and Rio de Janeiro for the first time.

Not to be left out, the Atlantic Coast Conference will play two season opening games overseas on August 29th and started pushing travel packages this week.

One game will be played in Brazil . . .

The Virginia Cavaliers

Atlantic Coast Conference

11-3 in 2025

vs.

The North Carolina Wolfpack

Atlantic Coast Conference

8-5 in 2025

The other game will be contested in Dublin, Ireland a non-conference game between the ACC's North Carolina Tarheels (4-8) and the BIG-XII's Texas Christian Horned Frogs (9-4).

Now, what about our famed Groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, and his prediction of the future based on whether or not he saw his shadow today when he was brought out into the light of day in Pennsylvania?

INCREDIBLY GOOD TIDINGS

Way to go, Phil!

But I digress.

France's DI is about to start

their 2026 season

Twelve teams divided up into two six-team conferences . . .

. . . I think

This second poster makes in sound like their will only be eight teams in the French Elite League.

I turn to our two experts on all things French American football related, Julien Urgenti and Olivier Rival, for help on this one.

Spain's Gijón Mariners are going

to the Carlingoal again this year

for their Super Bowl Watch Party

A good spot that I enjoyed while viewing last year's Super Bowl.

The Cluj Crusaders of Romania

announced their Super Bowl plans

as well as . . .

. . . their upcoming tryouts for

new athletes

Reading Is FUNdamental!

An excellent historical tome that

would please historian Paul Sabolić

were it not for its leftist point of view

This book recounts four dark years of battles and atrocities between the Republican duly elected left wing government and the fascist Nationalists rebels led by General Francisco Franco.

The Spanish Civil War lasted from 1936-1939 with the Nationalists winning in large part due to the military support of Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy and the spiritual support of the Roman Catholic Church.

The post war repression of the vanquished in particular and liberal ideas in general went on in Spain until Franco's death in 1975.

There were too many chilling parallels between Franco's policies and some of the things that we are seeing in the USA today.

Hmmm . . .

GREAT job today Punxsutawney Phil,

you've earned a long vacation,

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

A Memorial Mass

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Sadly, we attended a memorial Mass today for my brother-in-law, John, who was married to my sister Marilyn.

John passed away last October after a lengthy illness and wanted no one to make a fuss over him once he was gone.

Not even a memorial card like this one

Marilyn did not fully comply with John's final request and had these nice cards made in his memory.

The photo was taken the day that John and Marilyn were married.

The earliest date that Marilyn could secure for a memorial Mass at their Holy Angels Catholic Church in Arcadia was today, thus we assembled to support Marilyn in her ongoing time of grief.

Our small but caring group

Marilyn, George and Linda,

the children of Cuban immigrants

Jorge and Asunción Contreras

Michael, Jacob and George

I hope that our presence and support gave Marilyn some comfort today.

Afterwards, on the long drive home, we stopped for lunch in beautiful downtown Burbank.

It was Mary's first time at

the iconic Bob's Big Boy

"Big Boy Combos" were a big hit today. Who would have guessed?

These combos consist of the traditional double-deck Big Boy hamburger, fries and a salad washed down by a cherry coke and followed by a chocolate malt that Laurie and I shared.

DOUBLE DECK YUM!

George with the kids after a

fun meal with no cellphones

and lots of social interactions

Today's EuroBall results from Spain . . .

Spanish DI Eastern Conference

The Valencia Firebats (2-0) edged

the Mallorca Voltors (0-3)

Spanish DI Eastern Conference

The Terrassa Reds (2-0) beat the

traditional power Badalona Dracs (2-1)

SPANISH DI STANDINGS

Eastern Conference

1T. Terrassa Reds 2-0

Valencia Firebats 2-0

3. Badalona Dracs 2-1

4. L'Hospitalet Pioners 0-2

5. Mallorca Voltors 0-3

Western Conference

1. Las Rozas Black Demons 2-0

2. Osos Rivas 2-1

3. Zaragoza Hurricanes 1-1-1

4. Coslada Camioneros 0-1-1

5. Gijón Mariners 0-2

Spanish DII early game results

Torrelavega Berserkers (1-1) - 33

Villamayor Mercenaries (1-2) - 27

Santurtzi Coyotes (2-0) - 26

Guadalajara Stings (0-2-1) - 0

Mairena Blue Devils (1-0) - 7

Canarias Canes (0-1) - 2

Spanish DII late results

from two close games

Reus Imperials (1-0) - 10

Argentona Bocs (1-1) - 7

Barcelona Uroloki (1-1) - 14

Riudoms Rebels (0-2) - 13

Ireland's DI league is about

to ramp up

Sixteen teams split into two conferences, it should be a great season on the Emerald Isle.

This popped up on the net today

The 1926 season was the first one in the University of Miami's storied football history. Indeed, though chartered in 1925, Miami opened its doors in 1926.

By comparison to newborn Miami, the University of Havana, my father's and uncle's alma mater, was established almost 198 years earlier in 1728.

Thus the 'Canes fielded a Freshman only team in 1926 but it still was good enough to go undefeated in their inaugural slate recording an 8-0 record while giving up only 13 points.

As for the poster above, the Hurricanes would play the University of Havana Caribes twice in 1926. That first Thanksgiving game in Coral Gables, Florida ended with Miami winning 23-0.

A month later, on Christmas Eve, the 'Canes and Caribes met again but this time in Havana. The result was another Miami victory by the exact same score as the first game, 23-0.

Regardless . . .

Go Caribes GO!

The Caribes were the native people who inhabited the island of Cuba when the Europeans invaded and conquered.

On to international news . . .

Our current Administration is mulling over the idea of sending some of America's best and brightest to the Milan-Cortina Olympics that start this coming weekend to protect the USA team from possible terrorist attacks.

Not everyone agrees that

it's a good idea, including me