We are still a few hours from Christmas, but some of us have received presents already.
If you wore your Keaney Blue to the Ryan Center on Dec. 7, you went home celebrating URI’s 69-63 victory over Providence College. What a gift! The Rams improved to 9-0 and continued the program’s best start in 76 years. That’s three-quarters of a century. And after victories over Central Connecticut and Temple, they entered the holiday break with an 11-1 record. Amazing!
If you wore your Brown hoodie to the Pizzitola Center three nights later, you cheered yourself hoarse as your Bears handed URI its first loss of the season, an 84-80 thriller before a packed house. Talk about a surprise package!
And what about the tower of treats the URI football team gave us? The best record and most victories in a season in program history, 11-3; a share of the Coastal Athletic Association championship with Richmond, the first piece of hardware Rhody received since 1985; a spot in the FCS playoffs; a first-round victory over Central Connecticut State; multiple All-CAA recognitions, and a coach of the year nod to Jim Fleming.
The men’s soccer team at Providence College gave us a cool present: a spot in the Big East final — Georgetown won, 2-1 — and an NCAA Tournament bid. The Friars beat Bucknell but lost to No. 7 Clemson, 2-0 in the second round.
Let’s remember an unexpected present: Rhode Island FC’s charge in its inaugural season to the final game of the United Soccer League Championship! Colorado Springs won, 3-0, but it did not diminish RIFC’s accomplishment in the top minor league of soccer in the U.S.
And a gem from Boston Globe veteran Kevin Paul DuPont, a senior staff writer and columnist best known for his decades of excellent hockey coverage. He gave his readers on Dec. 12 a long feature on Arthur Medeiros of Bristol. Medeiros survived the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He is 104 now and still golfs three days a week at Montaup in Portsmouth.
Gifts to give
But the holidays are not just about receiving — they also are a time of giving.
If I had an electric sleigh — climate change, green energy, you know? — and a big duffle bag, I’d deliver these Christmas presents to deserving recipients.
To URI football coach Jim Fleming, a do-over of the 17-10 loss to Mercer in the second round of the FCS playoffs. This time QB Hunter Helms won’t throw a Pick Six, punt returner Shawn Harris won’t be called for an invalid fair catch, wiping out his 87-yard touchdown return, and Marquis Buchanan won’t have a 46-yard touchdown reception called back because of an ineligible receiver downfield.
For URI basketball coach Archie Miller, a midwinter run like the 11-1 start to this season.
For Brown football coach James Perry, a decent defense to go along with his better-than-average offense.
For West Warwick’s sprinting sisters Xenia and Lisa Raye, injury-free indoor and outdoor seasons and another state championship or two. For Xenia, a rewarding career at the University of Georgia, starting in 2025. And for Lisa, a strong senior year on her way to Athens in 2026. Each has committed to the Bulldogs.
For officials at the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, a better solution to the co-op issue than the eight-school combine — Burrillville, Cumberland, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Ponaganset, Bay View, Woonsocket and St. Raphael — playing girls hockey as the Northern Rhode Island Yeti.
For Tom Brun, proprietor of the Indoor Tennis Court in East Providence, many successful seasons ahead for the second-oldest indoor tennis facility in the U.S. The Blanding Avenue building opened in 1914. Wood rafters that support the glass roof still block lobs as they must have when Bill Tilden practiced there a century ago.
For Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, an offensive line and receivers who can get open — and catch the ball.
For RIFC, a completed Stadium at Tidewater Landing in Pawtucket to launch the 2025 season, another trip to the USL final and a championship.
For the Boston Celtics, a healthy roster come the playoffs and a run to Banner No. 19.
For Brown basketball star Keno Lilly, Jr., an Ivy League title and berth in the NCAA Tournament.
For URI hoops standout Sebastian Thomas, a splashy end to a career that took him from Bishop Hendricken to URI for two years, Albany for one season and back to URI for his finale.
For Providence College basketball star Bryce Hopkins, a strong surgically repaired left knee to take him and the Friars back to the Big Dance next spring.
For the Red Sox, pitching, pitching, more pitching. Oh, and a right-handed bat.
For Patriots owner Robert Kraft, the willpower to demand an explanation for the collapse of the defense and puzzling play calling on offense. Also, the ability to accept he might have to shake up his coaching staff and spend lots of money to improve his roster.
For the New York Mets management, an injury-free Juan Soto for 15 years and $765 million.
A story to warm your heart this winter
I’ll end this Christmas present to you with a story of Rhode Islanders opening their hearts and wallets for the family of URI football star Marquis Buchanan.
On Nov. 16, while Marquis, Rhody’s leading receiver, was helping the Rams to a 20-17 victory over Albany, fire heavily damaged his mother’s apartment in the Washington Park neighborhood of Providence. Charlotte Buchanan was at Meade Stadium when she got the call. Fire had damaged a previous residence in 2013, and this was like a replay.
“Mom kind of froze. Then it hit her,” Charlotte’s daughter, Leondra Williams, told me last week. “She ran to get her keys, walked three steps and started crying.”
The blaze, possibly caused by a wind-whipped brush fire that jumped a fence, caused considerable smoke and water damage. The Buchanan family — Charlotte and her children Matthew, Marquis and Stephanie — would have to move, another blow in a year that started with the death of Charlotte’s mother and included her car being hit several times.
“We had just won a game. I was having a good game. Then fire. It was a shock,” Marquis said when we spoke Dec. 20.
Leondra sprang into action. She organized a GoFundMe appeal to help her mom with rent, security deposit and furnishings for a new apartment. She set a goal of $50,000 and pleaded for help. Rhode Island responde. Charlotte is active in the recovery community, and her kids practically grew up in the city’s Davey Lopes Recreation Center, where Marquis still works part-time. Neighbors and friends contributed about $3,500, clothing and other items.
In Kingston, a URI coach heard about the fire and approached Marquis.
“URI knows how much my mom means to Marquis. My mom means everything to Marquis. If she’s not okay, he’s not okay,” Leondra said.
URI coaches spread the word: One of our own needs help. The Athletics Department and the Alumni Association kicked into gear. Donations poured in — $5. $10. $20. $50. $100. Gift cards. An offer to cover a hotel stay. Another offer to pick up additional expenses.
‘One morning I woke up, and we had about $5,000. By the end of the day it was around $30,000,” Leondra said. “The support from URI was unbelievable. It was incredible. My mom cried every day for a week.”
Five days after the fire, Leondra provided this online update.
“Wow! The love and support that you all have shown my mom and siblings is amazing and we truly cannot thank you enough!,” she wrote. “My mom has been able to secure a new apartment and they will be moving soon! Because of all the generosity that you all have shown, they will be able to start over without a worry of how to afford it. We all appreciate you all more than you could ever imagine!”
Donations continued and swelled the account. A week after the fire, Marquis and the Rams played the regular season finale at Bryant. Officials there helped by posting a QR code on the scoreboard at the half so fans could participate.
Leondra wrote another update.
“I truly have no words. You guys are amazing. Because of you all, my mom has been able to find an apartment for her, Matt, Marquis and Steph. We are beyond grateful and thankful for your generous donations as they are able to start with a clean slate and replace all that they’ve lost and then some.”
Marquis is a very private person. The outpouring of support moved him.
“We didn’t know what to expect. It was a special feeling,” he said.
A feeling that figured in his decision to remain at URI and not enter the transfer portal. He has two years of eligibility left.
“It was definitely a factor,” he said. “It wouldn’t have felt right to do that.”
About two weeks after the fire, Leondra halted the fundraiser. Contributions from 463 individuals ranged from $5 to $1,500. Former URI players, current coaches, staff, longtime supporters of URI football, a few politicians, quite a few anonymous donors, friends and neighbors had stepped up to help a family in need.
Thanks to them all, Charlotte Buchanan and her children have moved to another apartment in Providence. Her son Marquis is staying at URI and is “excited to get going next year.”
The GoFundMe final total: $51,098.
Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah! Happy Holidays!
