Musical performances are some of the most exciting times of the holiday season. One of those occasions took place on an afternoon last week, when some members of the Key West High School Band visited the residents at Poinciana Gardens on Duck Avenue.
I know that I, for one, enjoyed the occasion.
Gary Hernandez has been the KWHS band director for 14 years. He grew up in Key West and graduated from the University of Central Florida. He taught for a few years at schools in the Orange County area before moving back to Key West.
He brought a group of 17 student musicians, who entertained the Poinciana Gardens residents. Some filled the courtyard, some watched and listened from their apartments and some enjoyed the show from their balconies. Based on their applause, the audience clearly enjoyed the afternoon concert.
ONE OF THE MOST exciting games to kick off the football bowl season was Jackson State against North Carolina Central, both unbeaten, in the Celebration Bowl. The regular game ended on a fourth down completed pass from “Coach Prime’s” son, Shedeur Sanders. (Coach Prime is former NFL star Deion Sanders, who was known as “Prime Time” during his pro career.) That sent the game to overtime and it ended when Shedeur’s long pass fell incomplete.
It also ended Coach Deion Sanders’ career at Jackson State as he is moving to the University of Colorado for a reported $500,000 a year (compared to $300,000 at Jackson). It’s also the end of his sons’ careers at Jackson State as Shemeur and Shilo are both transferring to another college.
HOWEVER, THE MOST EXCITING game of my week or maybe my year was the World Cup. Argentina’s World Cup. Lionel Messi’s World Cup. Argentina and France tied, 2-2, in regular time, then 3-3 in extra minutes, as Kylian Mbappe scored all three French goals for the hat trick. Messi scored twice in the extra times for Argentina.
Then the teams went to a shootout, each team selecting five players to shoot a penalty shot. France went first and Mbappe connected on his shot. So did Messi for Argentina. But when Gonzalo Montiel’s shot attempt missed for France, that gave Argentina an unbeatable 4-2 lead. And the celebration began. The Argentine players stripped their shirts. They hugged each other and anyone who came within reach. They cried – except for Messi, who was all smiles despite losing the prized Golden Ball Award to Mbappe.
Then the players from both teams received their awards from dignitaries from both teams’ countries as well as Qatar, where the final games were played.
I can’t tell you how happy I am that Brittney Griner is free and safe at home. And that she has announced that she will play with her Phoenix basketball team in the WNBA.
