If you’re expecting a glowing Christmas column days before the big day, then you obviously don’t know about my Grinch tendencies. Instead of writing about some fluff about this week’s holiday, I’m going to skip a week and focus on 2024 coming to an end.

This will be my last column – at least in opinions – this year, so I thought I’d take one last look back at this year before we all flip the calendar and make some resolutions that likely won’t last through Valentine’s Day (Quick aside: it’s crazy how many holidays we pack in from the last week of November until the second week of February, then seemingly go every two months in between. It’s a busy time of buying in the winter).

Personally, this past year brought with it some massive losses, a few great gains and – as always – hope everything is still going to be great in 2025. I went back and read all my columns from this year before writing this and none hit harder than the one I wrote after I lost my grandma – Big Mama Joy – back in March. 

Not a week later, I lost my grandpa too. 

I’m not special in the fact that I’m not only one who suffered some losses this past year, but I know that’s something all of us who did lose people we loved will be thinking about a lot this week and during the whole holiday season. It’s always tough, but focus on the good things about those relationships. I know that’s what I’ll be doing.

As for the gains, it’s the same great gift I’ve gotten the last three years. Since I’ve started coaching, I’ve had the luxury of watching some special young women do awesome things and grow and excel on and off the court. They may think I’m hard on them sometimes – or all the time – but I think of them as my kids and I’d do anything for them. 

More locally, 2024 has brought with it some wild twists and turns in local news. I can say this much very confidently (and especially with the big news that is dominating headlines currently): I’m glad I get to write sports. 

Winning and losing games may feel like life-or-death situations, but I don’t think I’d ever really want to tackle stories daily or weekly about real life-or-death situations. Luckily, Rob Nunley took over this year and has done a great job of covering those stories carefully and thoroughly.

Lastly, as a nation we’re about to experience a change to start 2025. Yes, I’m talking about Taco Bell starting to serve chicken nuggets. Isn’t that exciting and exactly what you thought I was referencing?

OK, maybe I meant the impending inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States. As it’s been with every president that has been elected and taken office in my life, I’m hopeful they will leave the position in a better spot than they found it. 

Some may think that’s impossible. Others may think that will be done on day 1. 

No matter what, I’m sure we’ll have plenty more to talk about in 2025. See ya there.

Standard Sports Editor Jeffery Simmons can be contacted at sports@southernstandard.com.