It is time for my 23rd Annual Sports Fan’s Letter to Santa Claus, even if it’s a little late.

Dear Santa Claus,

It was an election year, and with that, I think you may have brought us a few early Christmas gifts, so let me begin by saying thank you.

It was another good sports year for me personally. I went to Major League Baseball games at three stadiums I had never visited before, bringing my total to 15. It was such a blessing to travel to Phoenix in June to visit friends and while there get to see my first ever Arizona Diamondbacks game. Then in August, I was able to go to San Francisco with my friend Brent to see two Giants games and one Oakland A’s game. Watching Oakland play at the Coliseum, as you know, has been a life-long dream of mine.

Thank you for bringing such a great coach to the ORU women’s basketball team a couple years ago. Coach Kelsi Musick sure has that team playing well and a very exciting brand of basketball. Please bring them a Summit League title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

For the ORU men’s basketball team, well, they just need to get over the hump, and the hump being, win in the Summit League portion of the schedule and do well at the Summit League Tournament. They don’t quite have the team that will get them back to the NCAA Tournament soon, but hopefully that isn’t too far down the road. Please bring them three top recruits that will help get them there.

For the University of Tulsa football team, well, let’s just say it’s a good thing you started delivering presents to H.A. Chapman Stadium early. Considering the way things have gone the past two seasons; I was afraid they’d only get coal. You already brought them an early present with the hiring of new head coach Tre Lamb. Now, I ask that you bring them a winning season in 2025 and a trip to a bowl game.

Please give the Oklahoma Sooners (the only team in the state to be bowl eligible this season) a win over Navy in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 27 at 11:00 a.m. CST on ESPN). With the departure of Jackson Arnold, please bring the Sooners a capable quarterback who will want to play there for many years to come.

For the OSU Cowboys football team, bring head coach Mike Gundy a big dose of humility and gratefulness. This “I’m a man, I can take it,” persona has got real old and not only has it rubbed school administrators the wrong way but now also the fans. Not that he deserves it, but the Cowboys fans do, bring them a winning season and a trip to a bowl game in 2025.

The Tulsa Oilers hockey team is playing really good hockey right now, so this might be the year you make good on a promise to bring the team the ECHL Championship. Head coach Rob Murray and team owner Andy Scurto deserve a deep run in the ECHL Playoffs and even a championship ring. The Oilers haven’t won a title since winning the CHL Championship in 1993. They are doing many things right and have done a great job engaging the community. Their fans deserve to see the team be successful.

For the Tulsa Drillers, I ask that you bring them another trip to the Texas League Championship series. With the promotion of manager Scott Hennessy to Triple-A Oklahoma City, please bring the Drillers a new manager as nice and community oriented as Hennessy has been.

Santa, you answered my request last year by giving the Buffalo Bills a nice turn around season. Come on ol’ wise rotund one, can you please bring the Bills not just a little run in the playoffs, but a Super Bowl Championship?

Have you seen how well the Oklahoma City Thunder have been playing? Could this be the year you bring the local NBA team a championship title? We would really appreciate that very much. This is our only major league sports franchise, and we’d really like to see them be successful.

As I bring this letter to a close, dear Santa, I ask again this year, that you please bring an end to the wars in Ukraine and in Israel and protect our military members all around the globe.

We are thankful for sports, as entertainment, as something to rally around, and as something that unites us, but we must never forget what people in other parts of the world are struggling with.

Thank you, Santa, for reading my letter each year, and whether I receive everything on the list or not, know that I still respect and love you. Isn’t that what we should expect from everyone? Don’t forget Donner is due for a vet visit and Rudolph needs to take his electrolytes. Keep warm and take your echinacea. Greet Mrs. Claus and tell her the gloves were a perfect fit.

Sincerely, your friend,

Jeff Brucculeri

TULSA BEACON WEEKEND

Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national level guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. My guest this week on the “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show will be former KTUL Ch. 8 news anchor Kristin Dickerson. She and her husband, Peter, will talk about their religious pilgrimage. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.