Here’s another: The USA TODAY Co. stands ready to provide the perfect holiday gift for the sports fan, music lover or avid reader in your life.
Plus, in the true spirit of the Black Friday season, our items are on sale.
Over the past year, USA TODAY and news outlets across the country have published more than a dozen hardcover, premium books on topics from championship seasons (Eagles, Dodgers, Buckeyes, Gators, etc.), well-known figures (Uecker, Corso, Carter, Trump, etc.), musical icons (Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Springsteen’s Jersey roots) and so much more.
Check out our lineup. Then check a gift off your to-do list!
Order now and all books will arrive in plenty of time for the holidays. Even if you procrastinate, you can send a gift certificate to say an incredible book will arrive soon.
Amazing sports books!
“CHASING GOLD: A Kid’s Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics.” Watch your little ones’ eyes light up as they discover figure skating, skiing and other winter sports, meet Team USA’s superstars and try the book’s fun activities such as Olympic bingo and crafts. Details at Gold.KidsGuidebook.com.
Buy our Winter Olympics book for kids now!
“LEE CORSO: Not So Fast, My Friend: A Tribute to the Soul of College Football.” Each of the 160 stunning pages celebrates what makes college football a cherished American passion. Besides insider stories about Corso’s career as a Florida Seminole (rooming with Burt Reynolds), college coach and beloved broadcaster, “Not So Fast, My Friend” includes tidbits about every major-college team and each of Corso’s 431 headgear predictions. Details at Corso.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Lee Corso tribute book now!
“BOB UECKER: The Life and Career of the Milwaukee Brewers’ Legendary Broadcaster.” This 144-page hardcover brings to life the wit, wisdom and unparalleled storytelling of an American icon. Filled with rare photos and insider anecdotes, this book about “Mr. Baseball,” so dubbed by Johnny Carson, traces Uecker’s life from Milwaukee to a journeyman catcher to a Hall of Fame broadcaster to an actor, Miller Lite pitchman and self-deprecating funnyman. Details at Uecker.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Bob Uecker tribute book now!
“EARNHARDT! The Intimidator’s Life, Legacy and Enduring Popularity after 75 Years.” Dale Earnhardt earned his nicknames of the Man in Black and The Intimidator by willing his black No. 3 Chevrolet past the competition and into the hearts and minds of NASCAR fans … and way beyond. With the 75th anniversary of his birth in April, The Daytona Beach News-Journal is producing a coffee-table book about the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion whose legend has only continued to grow, nearly 25 years after his tragic death on a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500. At 160 pages, the book will provide flag-to-flag coverage of Earnhardt’s long run as NASCAR’s leading man, with tons of classic photos and plenty of stories — old and new. Details at ManInBlack.PictorialBook.com. This book will not ship until April, to include Earnhardt coverage from this year’s 500, but gift vouchers are available right now.
Buy our Dale Earnhardt tribute book now!
“COACH STEVE’S YOUTH SPORTS SURVIVAL GUIDE: How Parents and Kids Can Get the Most of the Experience.” USA TODAY Sports columnist Stephen Borelli, a national authority on the $40 billion youth sports industry, offers his perspective and expert advice from sports figures ranging from Caitlin Clark to Andre Agassi, Shannon Miller, John Wooden, Annika Sorenstam and even Ted Lasso. Details at CoachSteve.USATbook.com. This book will not ship until March, but gift certificates are available right now.
Buy Coach Steve’s survival guide for youth sports!
That championship season books!
“DYNASTY IN BLUE: The Dodgers’ Back-to-Back Championship Reign.” This 208-page collector’s book captures the historic season that cemented the Dodgers of the 2020s among baseball’s greatest dynasties. It’s all there with dynamic photos and insider stories — from Opening Day in Tokyo to Shohei Ohtani’s MVP season, Clayton Kershaw’s last hurrah, Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s playoff dominance and the dramatic home runs by Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas and Will Smith that won Game 7 of the World Series. Details at LAD.ChampsBook.com. Also available: “BLUE BLOODS: Superstars Align for LA’s 2024 Championship Run,” the story of Ohtani joining the 50-50 Club and the Dodgers crushing the Yankees in the World Series. Details at LA.ChampsBook.com.
Buy Dodgers 2025 championship book now! Buy Dodgers 2024 championship book now!
“FLYING HIGH: How the Eagles Soared to the Championship.” Saquon Barkley hurdled defenders backward, and Philadelphia kept the Chiefs from a three-peat. Details for this 208-page hardcover at Fly.ChampsBook.com.
Buy our Eagles championship book now!
“SCARLET REIGN: Inside the Ohio State Buckeyes’ Fight to Claim College Football’s Crown.” The Buckeyes steamrolled the College Football Playoff field by a combined score of 145-75. Details for this 208-page hardcover at OSU.ChampsBook.com.
Buy our Buckeyes championship book now!
“THUNDER UP! SGA’s MVP Season and OKC’s Historic Championship.” From Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP brilliance to the NBA’s best record to a thrilling seven-game NBA Finals, these 160 pages of stunning photography and behind-the-scenes stories capture the magic of a season that shook the NBA. Details at ThunderUp.ChampsBook.com.
Buy our Thunder championship book now!
“CHOMP-IONS! The Florida Gators’ Rise to the Top of College Basketball.” This 208-page coffee-table book takes Gator Nation courtside for Walter Clayton Jr.’s All-America heroics, crushing Tennessee’s spirit with a 30-point victory and another in the SEC title game, the impossible Elite Eight comeback against Texas Tech, the epic second half to eliminate Auburn in the semifinals and the wild finish against Houston for Florida’s third national championship. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com.
Buy our Gators championship book now!
“RUN IT BACK! The Florida Panthers Repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.” This 144-page collector’s book relives another thrilling Final against the Edmonton Oilers, plus Sergei Bobrovsky’s mastery between the pipes, Sam Bennett’s scoring prowess in the playoffs, Matthew Tkachuk’s knack for agitating opponents and Brad Marchand’s goal in double overtime to prevent a 0-2 deficit in the Final. Details at Panthers.ChampsBook.com.
Buy our Panthers championship book now!
Music to your ears books!
“FULL CIRCLE: 100 Years of the Grand Ole Opry.” Celebrate a century of country music and its grandest stage. From Roy Acuff, Lester Flatt and Loretta Lynn to Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill! Packed with rare photographs, compelling stories and exclusive insights from The Tennessean in Nashville, “Full Circle” honors the legends who built the Opry stage, the stars who shine today and the rising voices shaping its future. Details at Opry100.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Grand Ole Opry anniversary book!
“FROM FREEHOLD TO E STREET: Six Decades of Bruce Springsteen.” Before his rise from the backstreets of the Jersey Shore to global superstardom, reporters and photographers from the Asbury Park Press chronicled the emergence of The Boss. After that, they kept right on covering New Jersey’s folk hero. This book includes rare photos, concert reviews and interviews from the early days. Details at Bruce.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Bruce Springsteen book now!
“THIS SWIFT BEAT: Following the Record-Shattering Eras Tour Around the World with Taylor Swift’s Most Devoted Fans.” Step into the whirlwind of sequins, screams and superstardom with a front-row ticket to the Eras Tour phenomenon, this century’s Beatlemania. Details at TSBeat.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Taylor Swift tour celebration book!
Tragedy-to-triumph books!
“KATRINA’S LEGACY: The Hurricane That Changed America.” Twenty years later, USA TODAY and news outlets across the country provide a comprehensive look at the disaster that revealed our deepest flaws and our greatest capacity for compassion. These 160 pages give voice to the survivors from New Orleans and coastal Mississippi who showed profound resoluteness in the face of overwhelming destruction, the evacuees who built new lives in new places, and the countless strangers who became family during America’s darkest hours. Details at Katrina20.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Hurricane Katrina remembrance book!
“MOUNTAIN STRONG: Tropical Storm Helene: Perseverance amid historic flooding, destruction in Western North Carolina.” Step into the heart of Appalachia, where the unyielding spirit of a community shines brighter than the darkest of storms. “Mountain Strong” stands as a poignant tribute to the strength and resilience of those who weathered the unimaginable. Details at Strong.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Tropical Storm Helene book!
Famous people books!
“POPE LEO XIV: The First American Pope.” For centuries, American Catholics dreamed of this moment. Now, preserve it forever. This magnificent coffee-table book captures Robert Prevost’s remarkable journey from Chicago to missionary work in Peru and ultimately to the Chair of St. Peter. These 128 pages of dynamic photography and insightful stories will be a treasured keepsake of faith, heritage and American pride at a pivotal moment in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Details at PopeLeo.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Pope Leo commemorative book now!
“JIMMY CARTER: Peanut Farmer, 39th President, Humanitarian.” From humble peanut fields to the highest office in the land, Carter’s extraordinary journey exemplifies the American dream. This 160-page tribute captures the life of America’s longest-lived president: from a Georgia farmer to the White House and his even more impactful post-presidency years as a Nobel Peace Prize winner and tireless humanitarian. Details at Carter.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our President Carter tribute book now!
“POPE FRANCIS: A Tribute to the First Latin American Pontiff.” Celebrate the late pope’s humble spirit, compassionate leadership, transformative papacy and historic significance as the first cleric from the Americas to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Looking for a thoughtful present for someone whose Catholic faith guides his or her life? Each of the 160 beautifully crafted pages offers a chance to reflect on his teachings and read his words that brought comfort and inspiration to millions around the world. Details at PopeFrancis.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Pope Francis tribute book now!
“DONALD TRUMP: The Road to a Historic Second Term.” This 160-page hardcover volume captures the electrifying journey of President Trump’s unprecedented return to the White House. From the campaign trail to the debates, multiple assassination attempts and Inauguration Day, every pivotal moment of Trump’s remarkable political comeback is immortalized in vivid detail and with striking photography. Own a piece of American history — a collector’s item to save for future generations. Details at Trump.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our historical President Trump book now!
Sports legacy books!
“ROAR OF 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers.” This archival-quality, 208-page hardcover chronicles 125 seasons of Tigers baseball. Al Kaline. Miguel Cabrera. Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg. Tram & Lou. Sparky. Verlander & Scherzer. Prince Hal. Galarraga’s 28-out perfect game. Wire-to-wire and Gibby’s homer in 1984. McLain’s 30 victories, Lolich’s three in the World Series and Horton’s throw to nab Brock in ’68. The Corner. The CoPa. It’s all there, plus an all-time Tigers team picked by the Detroit Free Press. Details at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Tigers 125th anniversary book now!
“FAREWELL TO THE RALPH: Remembering Where We Cheered, Froze, Cried and Bonded.” Since 1973, the Buffalo Bills’ stadium has gone by a multitude of names, topped by “The Ralph” after former owner and founder Ralph C. Wilson. The stadium has been home to countless highs and lows — from dramatic Josh Allen touchdown runs to the heyday of the early 1990s Super Bowl years. This 208-page coffee-table book from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle commemorates The Ralph’s long and storied history as the gates close for good after the 2025 season. Details at BillsStadium.PictorialBook.com. This book will not ship until March — after a W in Super Bowl 60? — but gift certificates are available right now. Thousands already have reserved a copy of “Farewell to The Ralph.”
Buy our Bills stadium commemorative book!
“BIG RED MACHINE: Cincinnati’s Dynasty 50 Years Later.” Until the Dodgers won the World Series in 2024 and 2025, no National League team had won back-to-back championships since the Reds in 1975-76. With this 160-page 50th anniversary book, Reds fans can step back to a legendary period in Major League Baseball history. Every page from The Enquirer immerses fans in the era’s defining moments and personalities. Every Reds fan recalls the “Great Eight:” Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, George Foster, Ken Griffey, Dave Concepcion and Cesar Geronimo. Feel the roar of Riverfront Stadium echo through these pages and reconnect with the pride and passion that made the Big Red Machine a force unlikely any other in baseball. Details at Reds.PictorialBook.com. Also available: “Pete Rose: A Tribute to a Baseball Legend,” this 160-page hardcover chronicles the career of baseball’s all-time Hit King. Details at Pete.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Big Red Machine anniversary book! Buy our Pete Rose tribute book now!
And even more sports books!
“DAWN OF THE DUCKS: The Inside Story of Oregon’s Epic March to the Big Ten Championship in Season One.” In 2024, the Ducks finished the regular season unbeaten and ranked No. 1 after beating Penn State in the Big Ten championship game. Details at Oregon.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Ducks commemorative book now!
“CULTURE SHOCK: The Inside Story of the Best Football Season in Indiana History.” In 2023, the Hoosiers lost nine of their 12 games. In 2024, new coach Curt Cignetti inherited a team picked for 17th in the Big Ten but finished 11-2 and reached the College Football Playoff. Details at Indiana.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Hoosiers commemorative book now!
“GOLD RUSH! How the Indiana Pacers claimed their first Eastern Conference title in 25 years.” Boom, Baby! With a series of late-game heroics, Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers to Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder only to suffer a torn Achilles tendon in the first quarter. Details at Pacers.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Pacers commemorative book now!
“INSPIRING WOMEN OF INDIANA SPORTS: They Changed the Games We Love.” The Hoosier State has produced champions across every sport imaginable — from Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking performances to trailblazers in track and field, swimming and diving, gymnastics, soccer, cycling and beyond. Read how they have inspired generations of athletes to chase their dreams. Details at WomenIN.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our book on inspiring Indiana women now!
“THE BIG HOUSE: Celebrating 60 years of high school basketball championships at State Fair Arena.” This 144-page keepsake from The Oklahoman celebrates the six decades high school basketball teams chased glory and fans roared with pride at an Oklahoma City arena nicknamed The Big House. The book includes coverage of all the state champions from 2025, the arena’s final season. Details at OKBigHouse.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our book celebrating OKC’s Big House now!
From our vault books!
Looking for other gift options? We have much, much more from years gone by.
“NICK SABAN: A Career That Changed Alabama Football Forever.” With a foreword by Miss Terry. Saban won seven national championships, including six with the Crimson Tide, before retiring after the 2023 season. Details at SabanBook.com.
Buy our Nick Saban tribute book now!
“MAIZE & GRAND: Michigan’s Epic March to the 2023 National Title.” The Wolverines also won their 1,000th game — the all-time record — and handed Saban a loss in his final game. Details at Michigan.ChampsBook.com. Also available: “HAIL, YES! 25 Years Later,” the amazing story of the 1997 Wolverines, who ended a 49-year national championship drought. Details at UM.PictorialBook.com.
By our 2023 Wolverines championship book now! Buy our 1997 Wolverines championship book now!
“WHERE LEGENDS ROAM: The Greatest Players, Coaches and Teams to Play at Lambeau Field.” From Starr to Farve to Rodgers. From Lombardi to Holmgren. From the Ice Bowl to the Lambeau Leap. Details at LambeauBook.com.
Buy our Lambeau Field commemorative book now!
“150 YEARS OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Through the Lens and Voice of The Courier Journal.” From Aristides to War Admiral to Citation to Secretariat to Seattle Slew to Justify to Mystic Dan. All the drama, all the glory, all the hats! Founded in 1868, The Courier Journal is only seven years older than the Kentucky Derby and has covered all the races at Churchill Downs. Details at Derby150.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Kentucky Derby anniversary book now!
“DOMINANT DAWGS: Georgia’s Journey to the 2021 National Championship” AND “GLORIOUS: Georgia Secures its Second Consecutive National Title with a Perfect Season” AND “DAWGS RISING: How Kirby Smart Transformed Georgia into a Perennial Contender.” These books from the Athens Banner-Herald commemorate the Bulldogs’ national championship seasons of 2021 and 2022 and Kirby Smith’s accession to the top of his profession. Details at UGA.PictorialBook.com, ABHbook.com and Smart.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Georgia 2021 national championship book! Buy our Georgia 2022 national championship book! Buy our Kirk Smart commemorative book now!
“BOB KNIGHT: On the Record: The Story of a Complex Character and Hall of Fame Coach.” With a foreword by Steve Alford. Details at Knight.PictorialBook.com.
Buy our Bob Knight tribute book now!
“UNMATCHED: Caitlin Clark’s Remarkable Journey, From Her Iowa High School Career to Breaking Collegiate Records and Captivating the Nation.” Details at Caitlin.PictorialBook.com. AND “FEVER PITCH: How Caitlin Clark Captivated the Basketball World and Won Rookie of the Year.” Details at Clark.PictorialBook.com. Experience the phenomenon that is Caitlin Clark with two hardcover books — one from The Des Moines Register and one from the IndyStar — totaling 304 pages filled with photos from her life and stories of her exploits.
Buy our book about Caitlin Clark at Iowa Buy our book about Caitlin Clark with the Fever
Deck your walls!
The USA TODAY Network also has a series of page prints for fans looking to adorn their walls with memorable moments, including the Dodgers, Eagles, Thunder, Panthers and Aces celebrating 2025 pro championships and Ohio State (football), UConn (women’s basketball), Florida (men’s basketball), Wisconsin (women’s hockey), Texas (softball) and LSU (baseball) celebrating college championships.
Other page prints commemorate the winners of the Kentucky Derby (Sovereignty), Indianapolis 500 (Alex Palou) and U.S. Open (J.J. Spaun and Maja Stark). There’s a page print of Lee Corso making his final headgear prediction: Brutus rules! And there’s a page print of Pope Leo XIV: America’s turn!
These color, full-page prints come in a variety of sizes and styles. Go to usatodaystore.com and search for the team’s name, the two-legged or four-legged athlete’s name, or the broadcaster’s or pontiff’s name.
Buy our commemorative page prints now!
Contact Gene Myers at gmyers@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @GeneMyers. After nearly a quarter-century as sports editor at the Detroit Free Press, Myers unretired to coordinate book and page print projects across the USA TODAY Network. Check out more books and page prints from the USA TODAY Network coming every month.
This story has been updated with the book announcement made on Black Friday about the Man in Black, Dale Earnhardt.
ATHENS — A Colquitt County student is among 30 high school students who’ve been selected for the Youth LEAD Georgia 2026 cohort.
Elizabeth Redding will join her peers for a transformative year-long leadership initiative facilitated by the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development in partnership with Chick-fil-A, according to a press release from Youth LEAD Georgia.
The program equips youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle challenges that impact Georgia’s vitality as future leaders of the state, the press release said. A $1.5 million pledge from Chick-fil-A to the UGA Fanning Institute provides financial support for Youth LEAD Georgia. Thanks to this support, the program is available at no cost to participants.
These 10th- and 11th-grade students, representing 27 different counties, were reviewed by an external selection committee from a record pool of nominations, reflecting growing interest and competitiveness in the program.
Participants will take part in four weekend retreats held throughout the year in different regions of the state, a week-long summer bus tour visiting areas not covered in the retreats and a two-day statewide youth summit in Athens. Experiential learning is accompanied by dialogue on current topics facing the state, and interaction with business and community leaders.
Alongside hands-on learning, participants can apply for Bullard Community Champions grants, using their newly acquired skills to lead impactful community service projects in their local areas. These grants are made possible through funding from Regions Bank and Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House.
Time Out Sports Bar has announced it will also cease operations at its current location, with its final day of business set for Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Notices posted at the bar invite the community to attend a “last day of business” event that day, with all bartenders scheduled to be on site from 3 p.m. until close.
According to the notice, customers who have funds remaining on the bar’s sweepstakes machines will be given a two-week window to cash out. Management stated that specific times for cash-out availability will be posted.
Time Out Sports Bar also indicated plans to relocate and said information about its new location will be shared on the business’s Facebook page.
The building housing both Margaritas and Time Out Sports Bar has been sold to a new owner. As of publication, the identity of the buyer and any future plans for the property have not been publicly disclosed.
However, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a new Denny’s restaurant will occupy one of two lease spaces attached to a new convenience store development called Q-Mart, which is set to be located at 10280 W. Hwy. 29–is the same address as Margaritas.
Plans for the Q-Mart include an 11,766-square-foot main building, two fuel canopies, and a second lease space that remains open for a future tenant. The privately funded project carries an estimated construction cost of $3 million. Work is expected to begin in March 2026, with completion anticipated by February 2027.
A commercial demolition permit for Margaritas’ playground, covered wood deck and canopies was approved in December 2025 to occur Jan. 5.
Follow The Independent for more information on this developing story.
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Akron Garfield and Euclid stole the show Sunday during the NEO Youth Elite Christmas Classic at Garfield Heights High School with their double-overtime thriller.
It took two buzzer-beaters by the Rams’ Rayshawn Hamilton and Monty Thompson Jr. in both overtimes to lift Garfield to a 73-71 win against Euclid. Afterward, they were greeted in the locker room by the hosts from Garfield Heights ahead of the Bulldogs’ game with Glenville.
Both share the name, Garfield, and both are in Division III for OHSAA postseason play.
They could meet in March, but both put on shows Sunday during the five-game showcase. Here are the standout performances to go with the highlights in this post:
Mekhi Asberry, Euclid
Had Akron Garfield not hit so many clutch shots, it would have been Asberry’s shooting that lifted Euclid (5-3).
The Panthers’ sophomore guard scored 19 points and knocked down five 3-pointers in their double-overtime loss. He played off junior guard Tyree Williamson and 6-foot-8 forward Kye Owens, who scored 18 points with 10 rebounds.
Dereon Barber, Richmond Heights
His older brother, De’Erick, is Ohio’s all-time leader in assists after starting four years at Richmond Heights. Now a sophomore, Dereon follows in his footsteps as the Spartans’ starting point guard on a new-look team for first-year coach Mel Burke Jr.
The younger Barber controlled the tempo early in Richmond Heights’ 74-56 win against Orange to start Sunday’s showcase. He finished with 21 points and three assists, including two to senior guard Khyell Moreland, who scored 20 points and hit four 3-pointers. The Spartans (5-5) returned to .500 and bounced back from a seven-point loss last week to defending Division III state champion Louisville.
Rayshawn Hamilton, Akron Garfield
Hamilton’s 27 points carried the Rams for much of their thriller vs. Euclid. The 6-4 guard also grabbed nine rebounds, as Garfield outmuscled a lengthier Euclid team.
Chris Hill, Lutheran East
Lutheran East beat Warrensville Heights at its own game with a tenacious defense and quick passing offense. Hill led the Falcons (6-0) in both of those aspects for their 60-38 win, as he dished out seven assists with three steals and 11 points.
Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights
Mr. Basketball is out to keep his crown this season, and Sunday’s 40-point effort is another addition to the resume. The Bulldogs’ standout guard and South Carolina commit knocked down seven 3-pointers in a 74-70 win against Glenville. Three of those 3s came in the fourth quarter, as the Bulldogs (4-4) built a 15-point lead.
Johnson scored 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Aaron Lewis, Orange
A freshman guard, Lewis came off the bench to score 22 points in the Lions’ loss to Richmond Heights. He is the nephew of Trey Lewis, who starred at Garfield Heights before a professional career that now has him playing overseas and most notably a run with the Utah Jazz.
Greg Price, Hawken
Hawken (8-1) held off Rhodes’ rally, as four of its starting five led the way. Price earned MVP honors from the Hawks’ 87-80 win, as he scored 24 points and made repeated trips to the free-throw line down the stretch. He also dished out five assists.
Sophomore guard Ice Taylor scored a game-high 25 points, while Daron Hill added 12 and Charlie Mallett had 10, but Price set the tone early and took responsibility for his team’s turnovers that led the Rams back into it.
Hawken is playing back-to-back games against Cleveland Senate League teams and has a rematch from last season’s Division IV state semifinals coming Sunday against Glenville at Euclid for the Scholastic Play By Play Classic.
Gio Ramos, Glenville
Ramos is a newcomer for the Tarblooders, who made it to last season’s Division IV state finals. The junior steps into the big forward spot for a Glenville team that graduated leading scorer Xavier Vickerstaff and played a role similar to him against the Bulldogs with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
Monty Thompson Jr., Akron Garfield
Thompson, a junior guard who came off the bench for coach McNeal Thompson III, is quickly developing a reputation as a clutch shooter.
He made some big shots this summer at the Midwest Live showcase in Sandusky and continued Sunday in one of the Rams’ biggest tests to date. Thompson scored 17 points, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the third quarter and his baseline jumper to beat Euclid in the second overtime.
Dylan Zeigler, Lutheran East
The sophomore guard, who has big offers including Ohio State, led the Falcons with 20 points in their revenge game against Warrensville Heights after the Tigers beat them last year at this showcase.
After arriving in Fayetteville, it doesn’t take long to realize that sports are woven into the city’s DNA. From Razorback game days to the cyclists on our trails to families filling fields and courts across the region, this is a community that moves.
And that movement represents far more than recreation. It is one of the strongest economic opportunities ahead of us.
Sports tourism has grown into one of the most powerful, reliable economic engines in the country. According to the Sports Events & Tourism Association, spectator sports tourism generated $47.1 billion in direct spending last year, supporting more than 665,000 jobs nationwide. Youth and amateur sports, everything from tournaments to camps to regional competitions, contributed even more, with $52.2 billion in travel-related spending. These visitors stay in hotels, eat in local restaurants, shop in stores, and explore outdoor assets, leaving a meaningful mark on local economies.
In Arkansas, that story is magnified. Outdoor recreation alone contributed $7.3 billion to the statewide economy in 2023, supporting more than 68,000 jobs. And tourism reached $17.4 billion in economic impact in 2024, with Northwest Arkansas playing a major role in that growth.
Ryan Hauck
At a time when leisure and business travel have softened nationally, sports-related travel has continued to rise, providing a level of stability and resilience that communities increasingly depend on. When communities like Fayetteville lean into their strengths — outdoor recreation, hospitality, accessibility and local culture — the returns are significant.
Fayetteville is uniquely positioned to lead the state and region in this space. We’re home to a thriving SEC city, incredible year-round weather, world-class outdoor recreation, a variety of indoor sporting facilities, and a welcoming culture that makes competitors and travelers feel instantly at home.
Our community has also invested intentionally in the infrastructure that makes sports tourism possible. Centennial Park is a perfect example. Purpose-built to host world-class cycling events, it has already welcomed the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championships and will host the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships this December, and again next year. These events don’t just bring athletes. They bring national attention, media coverage, and significant economic impact for our hotels and hospitality businesses.
And that momentum extends well beyond cycling. In the past year, organizations such as the Women’s Football League, Athletes Unlimited Softball League, and the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation have approached us about hosting events in Fayetteville. Their interest reinforces what the sports community already knows: Our city is emerging as a national-caliber sports destination.
But the value of sports tourism extends beyond visitor spending. It strengthens identity and builds civic pride. It brings families together. It activates public spaces and showcases the best of who we are. In my previous role in Cody, Wyo., I saw firsthand how powerful it can be when a community rallies around its strengths and invites the world to experience them. In Fayetteville, that same opportunity is in front of us, and we are already leaning in.
The path is clear: We need to continue investing strategically. That means purpose-built sports facilities and deeper partnerships across the region. If we continue investing with intention, collaborating across sectors, and telling our story with clarity and authenticity, Fayetteville can set the standard for what a modern, movement-driven destination looks like.
The momentum is already here. Our job now is to harness it and to make sure the world knows exactly why Fayetteville is a place worth traveling to, competing in, and coming back to again and again.
Editor’s note: Ryan Hauck is CEO of Experience Fayetteville, the city’s tourism marketing agency. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Omar Sy is one of those personalities who brings people together.
At 47, the internationally acclaimed actor is stepping into a new role – one firmly rooted in real life.
Already the star of productions that have left a lasting mark on audiences worldwide, Sy will now become one of the faces of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026, the first Olympic event to be staged on African soil.
Known for his roles in hit films, the actor first established himself as one of the most popular figures in French-language cinema with The Intouchables in 2011. His global profile grew even further thanks to the Netflix series Lupin, which helped expand his audience well beyond Europe.
His appointment as an ambassador for Dakar 2026 YOG on Monday, 29 December, marks another step in his growing international influence. He shared his feelings upon the announcement of this new role.
“I am proud and honoured to be an ambassador for the Youth Olympic Games that will take place in 2026 in Senegal. These Games represent values that are close to my heart: sharing, solidarity, pushing beyond one’s limits, and intercultural encounters,” he said.
He also underlined the symbolic significance of the event: “Seeing the youth of Senegal and the entire world shine together on the land of Teranga is a powerful symbol of unity and hope.”
Born in France to a father from Senegal, Sy maintains a close personal connection with the country.
This bond has influenced some of his artistic choices, as reflected in his roles in Yao (2018) and Father & Soldier (Tirailleurs, 2022). In January 2025, he was also received by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, further highlighting his commitment to Senegal and its youth.
DICKINSON — It’s no secret that hockey is a huge part of my life. I’d even say it is my life.
When I was interviewing for this job at The Dickinson Press in 2024, the editorial staff said that they’ve never had someone with a lengthy track record of covering hockey. From that conversation, I knew I would have a big role once the puck dropped.
When I returned to Dickinson from Thanksgiving that year, I was told that I was going to be getting a hockey show. I was stoked.
It took me some time to come up with a name. I even bounced around some name ideas with my mom. Let’s just say some of her suggestions weren’t ideal.
Once I settled on The Breakaway, I slated for it to start at the beginning of 2025. The first episode I did featured Kyndall Peterson and Sarah Menge taking on each other in a faceoff competition. I’ll never forget seeing one of the first comments on the video — “this is amazing!”
But this show is more than about me sharing my immense passion for hockey with the Dickinson community. It’s about showing off what these athletes are capable of on the ice. This year I plan on expanding the show beyond the on-ice skills.
I want to get to know them on a personal level and find out more about their hockey background. One of the biggest things I especially want to do this year is get more involved in the hockey community. Those ideas are currently in the works and you’ll have to stay tuned to find out more.
I hope everyone has enjoyed The Breakaway since this started and I can’t wait to see what this season holds.
See you on screen – and on the ice!
Jacob Cheris covers a variety of high school and college sports. A graduate of Penn State University’s class of 2023, with a degree in broadcast journalism, he covered Penn State Men’s Hockey for three years. Jacob also covers Big Ten Hockey for College Hockey News.
