Phil Hicks

I feel bad for even making out a Christmas wish list this year.

After all, Santa brought me what I had always dreamed of — a Texas Rangers World Series championship.

As I write that, it is still hard to fathom those words in the same sentence, Texas Rangers and World Series champions.

You could say it was a Miracle on Randol Mill Road or better yet, Nolan Ryan Expressway or any of the streets leading up to Globe Life Field.

I am still trying to wrap my head around it, just as many Rangers fans.

I wrote this on Facebook on Nov. 1, the day the Rangers clinched the championship over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

My first Rangers game was in May 1972. My dad wanted me and my brothers (Mark and Jimmy) to see Ted Williams as manager that season.

“This is surreal. I can’t believe the Rangers are World Series champions. We would go every summer to see a Rangers game without fail, enduring the heat, eating nachos, enjoying family and baseball. I wish dad and brother Mark and my mom were here to see the Rangers as World champions, but I know they watched it from above.”

Side note, the first time I got nachos I thought those were pickles, but I soon found out it was a jalapeño. Lesson learned.

I know in the grand scheme of things, sports does not rank with our Constitution’s preamble “in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” but man does it feel good to say “Texas Rangers World Series champions.”

That being said, I will be selfish and ask for a few wishes:

1, With the annual UIL realignment in Feburary, I wish for the following high school football games in our area: Whitehouse vs. Tyler Legacy and Chapel Hill vs. Tyler High. Maybe a doubleheader at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. It would certainly bring crowds.

2, In Longview, how about the Lobos vs. Pine Tree every season in a football game.

3, All high school football games to kickoff at 7 p.m.

4, It would be fun to see two days of a Tyler Hoopfest — first a high school slate of games involving (boys and girls), Tyler Legacy, Tyler High, All Saints, Grace, Bishop Gorman and Cumberland. The next day (men and women), Tyler Junior College, Texas College and UT Tyler.

5, Here’s an annual wish of everyone abiding by “the left lane is for passing only” and a Stop sign is not just a suggestion.

6, A Texas flag to fly at all football stadiums in the Lone Star State.

7, While it is fun to watch the Houston Texans this season, it sure would be nice for the team to be called the Houston Oilers again and don those “Luv ya Blue” uniforms. It was very confusing seeing the Tennessee Titans in those colors playing the Texans.

8, Now that it appears Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson have reconciled, it would be awesome to see the Cowboys in a Super Bowl. This drought is too long.

9, Fans stop yelling “three seconds” and “over the back” at basketball games.

10, A Texas team or teams to make the Final Four in the men’s and women’s basketball tournament.

A final wish, everyone to have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.