By Ray Hamill — To say that the McKinleyville Panthers have gotten hot at an opportune time is an understatement. After struggling to win close games for much of the season, the […]
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.
POLL RESULTS — Warriors, Huskies overwhelming favorites
By Ray Hamill — We asked you which teams you thought were going to prevail in this week’s Dick Niclai tournaments, and the results show two teams are overwhelming favorites. In the […]
Ferndale boys top South Fork in Niclai opener
Third time was the charm for the Ferndale Wildcats, who got the better of Little 4 rivals South Fork 68-54 at Miranda in the opening round of the Dick NIclai tournament in […]
Another Logger going D-1, as Meynell signs letter of intent
By Ray Hamill — The Aggies got the player they wanted on Saturday, and Miles Meynell got the school he had hoped for all along. That, however, doesn’t mean it was an […]
CR women’s title hopes take a hit at Butte
The Corsairs’ chances of a Golden Valley Conference championship took a big hit on Saturday afternoon, as they fell 82-66 at Butte in women’s basketball. The loss was just the second in […]
POLL — Who will win this year’s Dick Niclai girls tournament?
VOTING CLOSED The Dick Niclai tournaments get under way this coming week, featuring the best local prep teams on the North Coast. In the girls tournament, the Fortuna Huskies are the No. […]
POLL — Who will win this year’s Dick Niclai boys tournament?
VOTING CLOSED It’s arguably the most exciting week of the season for prep basketball here on the North Coast with the Dick Niclai tournaments set to get under way on Monday. And […]
Tigers win first Niclai play-in game, get set for Panthers
The Arcata girls kept their Dick Niclai ambitions alive with a 65-55 win at Del Norte in basketball on Saturday night. The victory sets up a home game against McKinleyville on Monday […]
HSU ROUNDUP — Lumberjack women top San Bernardino
The Humboldt State shot 60 percent from the field in a 107-62 victory over Cal State San Bernardino in women’s basketball at Lumberjack Arena on Saturday night. A pair of HSU players […]
Clutch Corsairs answer the call in ‘must-win game’
The Corsairs overcame a major hurdle in their drive towards a Golden Valley Conference championship in men’s basketball on Saturday, winning 83-77 at Butte College. In what head coach Ryan Bisio described […]
CR baseball drops two at Modesto
The Corsairs dropped two more games in baseball on Saturday, losing both ends of a doubleheader at Modesto to drop to 0-3 on the weekend road trip. The College of the Redwoods […]
CR men win at Butte, inch closer to GVC title
The College of the Redwoods men’s basketball team took a major step towards a conference title on Saturday, winning 83-77 at Butte College. The win lifts the Corsairs to 6-2 in the […]
Update on Dick Niclai schedule announced
By Ray Hamill — The Arcata Tigers could host a boys and girls Dick Niclai doubleheader in basketball on Monday, if the girls team wins at Del Norte on Saturday night. With […]
Dick Niclai tournament playoff schedules set
UPDATED – According to the league office on Saturday morning, the Arcata girls will host McKinleyville on Monday if they win at Del Norte By Ray Hamill — Let the playoffs begin. […]
Huskies close out strong, get set for Niclai
On Friday night, the Huskies closed out the Big 5 in much the same way they started it, pulling out a victory with another strong defensive performance. It has become their trademark […]
McKinleyville girls complete comeback, force three-way tie for third in Big 5
By Ray Hamill — The Panthers continued their late season surge with another big performance in girls basketball on Friday night, closing out the Big 5 with an emphatic 53-39 win over […]
A season for the ages for Fortuna girls basketball
The Fortuna girls are doing something right when it comes to basketball. On Friday night they capped a season for the ages with three wins at Arcata, with the varsity JV and […]
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP — The streak continues as SB girls close out L4 perfect again
The St. Bernard’s girls completed another perfect Little 4 campaign with a 57-40 win at South Fork on Friday night. The Crusaders, who clinched a seventh straight title last week, have not […]
Laney hands Corsairs first loss in baseball
The College of the Redwoods baseball team suffered its first loss of the new season on Friday, falling 5-2 at Laney. Chandler Jones took the loss on the mound, allowing three earned […]
St. Bernard’s boys riding high in state rankings
By Ray Hamill — Fresh off their undefeated Little 4 championship in boys basketball, the Crusaders are among the top-ranked Division-VI teams in California, according to MaxPreps.com. St. Bernard’s (14-7) is currently […]