It’s a few days before Christmas and Santa gave me permission to distribute some of his presents to coaches and administrators in the Bethlehem, Catasauqua, Northampton and Whitehall schools with whom I am regularly in contact.

If I missed anyone, I apologize, and it’s a further sign of my aging process. Also with my move down south, it may take a little longer for the presents to arrive, and they aren’t all in monetary value as we usually expect.

Bethlehem head coach Kyle Haas: An extra dose of patience and some reindeer dust he can use later on his team, as Haas begins to make his mark and establish a new identity for the Golden Hawks.

Catasauqua head boys basketball coach Eric Snyder: He also gets an extra dose of patience as well as fortitude dealing with a young and inexperienced club. With some extra time due to his retirement from his longtime guidance position at the school, Santa has to use his powers to arrange a Tuesday at Potts’ in Northampton for hot dogs. I guess I have to treat because of his 30th year in coaching. Snyder truly is one of Catty’s noblemen.

Catasauqua head baseball coach Steve Bradley: Another guy whose contributions to kids’ lives often gets overlooked. A mystical push to think about retiring from his teaching career at Liberty High School, and spending more time at his home in Myrtle Beach. He can use a chunk of his pension to help me open up a cheesesteak/hot dog joint in South Carolina.

Catasauqua assistant athletic director Dave Troxell: My list of the hot dog and cheesesteak places east of Catasauqua toward Easton and Phillipsburg. “Trox” deserves a few more ounces of determination and fortitude to keep doing his good deeds for many people across the Lehigh Valley. He is another nobleman and a Roughie for life.

Catasauqua athletic director Tom Moll: An ottoman to the recliner he received from Santa last year to relax for being one of the busiest in his profession with his regular and district duties.

Catasauqua head football coach Travis Brett: A healthy and further motivated football team from his team that had the most wins by a Catty team since 2013. Brett, one of the good guys, has the bulk of his team back, and they can make a league and district run with his refurbished stadium.

Catasauqua head cross country/track coach Kyle Rusnock: Some divine intervention to help him keep his optimistic and upbeat outlook and some gas gift cards to help him with traveling to see his son’s successful hockey ventures across the northeast.

Catasauqua head girls’ soccer coach Kayla Cunningham: Some more invention to keep her enthusiastic and positive outlook about her team and some time to allow her to continue her own career.

Catasauqua head boys’ soccer coach Josh Inman: Another Catty coach who has an optimistic forecast about his program, and he needs to stay the course like his colleagues.

Catasauqua head field hockey coach Emily Marley: Some magic reindeer dust on the team’s sticks to help them produce more offense. Marley had her team doing the right things, but they had trouble finding the net.

Catasauqua head softball coach Paige Kogelman: She needs to find a little bit more of the magic from her playing days and bottle it for her team that continues to point north on the win meter.

Catasauqua head wrestling coach Joe Russo: A healthy and sickness-free season to help place his team among the elite in the Lehigh Valley.

Catasauqua head volleyball coach Jordan DeMasi: More recognition for her program and some more players as well - for the arguably the least known sport in the program.

Northampton head boys basketball coach Coy Stampone: The long-awaited district title he deserves, and some enjoyable moments down the stretch on and off the floor, as he is in his final year of teaching. Coy is also at the top of the good guy list in the Lehigh Valley, and I have valued our long friendship.

Northampton head girls’ basketball coach Jeff Jacksits: Another district run and title should be in the offing for Jacksits as well as three starting seniors, who have logged significant minutes as freshmen. May Santa keep his good demeanor.

Northampton head baseball coach Mick Sugra: Not Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, but a Call to Arms for his pitching staff and some reindeer dust on his team’s bats, as the K-Kids look to get back in the always-contested EPC race.

Northampton athletic director Shaun Murray: A Lazy Boy recliner similar to Moll’s last year and some hot cocoa due to a busy year dealing with the program’s share of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Whitehall head cross country Mike Lelko: Some reindeer dust for his runners to help increase his their times, and a hearty Santa pat on the back for his tireless efforts to keep his team in the EPC hunt.

Whitehall head football coach Matt Senneca: He also needs a recliner after an up and down year battling through some COVID issues, but Senneca will have his Zephyrs back on track.

Sports writer Keith Groller: My cheesesteak and hot dog East list as well as best wishes in the twilight of his fabled career. I appreciate our 35-plus year relationship inside and outside the newspaper world.

Lehigh Valley Press editors Scott Pagel and Mike Haines, and Times News sports editor and sports writer Emmett McCall and Rod Heckman: The gifts of frankincense, muir, and incense to allow me to continue to make my impact on their newspapers. I truly am grateful for our relationships inside and outside the papers.

And a final Christmas and holiday wish to all of the coaches and athletes I have spoken with over this past year for their cooperation and patience with me.

Have a blessed and merry Christmas and a prosperous 2022 on the courts and fields!