By Ray Hamill — High school basketball is now under way in 33 states, with nine more and the District of Columbia slated to tip off by Feb. 1. Once again, however, […]
barstoolfanatics
At the age of 10, having failed in his lifelong ambition to become a vigilante vampire werewolf – otherwise known as a vamp-wolf – Ray Hamill finally admitted defeat and turned his attention full-time to daydreaming instead.
A mere few decades later, the world of crime fighting’s loss is now the literary world’s gain.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Ray moved to the United States after graduating college, spending time in Boston and San Francisco before settling among the redwoods in Northern California, where he has worked as a journalist for the past 20 years.
In that time he has published three books, including his most recent, Help, My Horse is Drowning!, a humorous look at the world of sports and the life of the enthusiastically delusional athlete in us all.
He previously published the outrageously satirical Free the Leprechauns! as well as the semi-autobiographical Help Me, Im Irish! - a book about the non-meaning of life.
Ray is also the host of a weekly sports talk radio show broadcast locally in Northern California on Blue Ox Community Radio, and a sports blog at barstoolfanatics.com.
Hoopa Warriors name new football coach
By Ray Hamill — After more than a decade coaching youth and JV football in the Hoopa Valley, Floyd Billings is finally getting the opportunity to be head coach of the Warriors […]
Big week for two former Eureka Loggers
By Ray Hamill — It was a big week on the basketball court for two former Eureka Loggers. On Sunday, the day before the Alabama Crimson Tide won the national football championship, […]
EDITORIAL — The importance of CR football for local players
By Ray Hamill — Never underestimate the importance of a local community college football program. This past year, three former H-DNL offensive linemen played at the Division-I college level, and two of […]
More states move toward a return to prep sports
By Ray Hamill — High school sports are back on in Arizona. On Tuesday, the Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board reversed a decision made just four days ago, voting 5-4 to begin […]
GVC schools opt out of men’s and women’s soccer
By Ray Hamill — The Golden Valley Conference has cancelled men’s and women’s soccer for the school year after all seven schools decided to opt out. That includes College of the Redwoods. […]
H-DNL meeting pushed back to Friday
By Ray Hamill — This week’s scheduled H-DNL athletic directors meeting has been pushed back from Wednesday to Friday. The league ADs are expected to discuss the sports calendar and what options […]
What now for the H-DNL and what sort of calendar can we expect?
By Ray Hamill — As we gear up for a possible return to competitive high school sports in the coming weeks there is still plenty of uncertainty. And not just in terms […]
Alex Cappa suffers fractured ankle in playoff win
By Ray Hamill — Alex Cappa’s playoff run appears to be done after the former Humboldt State star suffered a fractured ankle in his first-ever NFL playoff game on Saturday night. Cappa, […]
Eureka coach confident season will go ahead
By Ray Hamill — At least one local coach is confident his team’s season will go ahead this year despite the uncertainty surrounding the high school sports calendar. Eureka High cross country […]
Alex Cappa prepares for playoff run
By Ray Hamill — Former Humboldt State star Alex Cappa will begin his playoff journey with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday after what has been a breakout season for him. Praised […]
HSU student athletes setting new standards
It may have been a disappointing fall with no competition on the fields of play, but the Lumberjacks did not disappoint in the classroom Not only did the Humboldt State student athletes […]
CIF issues statement, still hoping for Jan 25 return
By Ray Hamill — The California Interscholastic Federation issued a statement this week addressing a potential return to competition later this month. The state high school sports governing body is asking people […]
Corsairs, GVC looking at 12-game basketball season
By Ray Hamill — It looks like the Corsairs will get the opportunity to defend their conference championships in men’s and women’s basketball this year. On Tuesday the Golden Valley Conference Athletic […]
Deadline passes with no update from CDPH
By Ray Hamill — High school athletes and sports fans throughout the state remain in limbo after the California Department of Public Health failed to re-address the proposed January return date on […]
Our 2020 Sports People of the Year
By Ray Hamill — Some local sports fans will remember 2020 as the year of COVID-19, while others will remember it as the year Orion and Louis Cosce broke onto the UFC […]
The year that was in local sports and a handful of shoutouts
By Ray Hamill — The 2020 year in sports will be remembered more for what we didn’t get to see than what we did. For the most part, local sports have been […]
Plenty for H-DNL to discuss at January meetings
By Ray Hamill — The Humboldt-Del Norte League will have plenty to discuss in the coming weeks, as local high school sports hope for a return in late January. According to the […]
Matt Adkins to coach in New Year’s Eve bowl game
By Ray Hamill — The Adkins coaching tradition is alive and well. On New Year’s Eve, former Arcata High quarterback Matt Adkins will be on the sidelines for San Jose State, when […]
Former Lumberjack steps into NFL head coaching role
By Ray Hamill — For the second time this season, a pair of former Lumberjacks will face off against each other in the NFL. And this time, one of them will be […]