I would like to thank the many people who come up to me each week and comment on this column. I am so grateful the Tribune asked me to write this when Chuck Anderson retired. This week I am looking back at Christmas Eve editions from the past. Have a Merry Christmas to all of our faithful readers.

50 years ago: 1968

•In his 13th season in the NFL, quarterback Earl Morrall of the Baltimore Colts won the Jim Thorpe trophy as the outstanding player in the National Football League.

•After being trounced by the Lew Alcinder led UCLA Bruins in men’s college basketball 90-51, the Minnesota Gophers bounced back to defeat San Diego State 73-60 on a West Coast swing. Al Nuness led the Gophers with 21 points.

•It was announced that Minnesota Pipers basketball coach Jim Harding was taking a six-week leave from the team that was in the American Basketball Association. Former Minneapolis Laker star and General Manager of the Pipers, Vern Mikkelsen, was named the interim coach.

25 years ago: 1993

•Annie Gulbrandson, Tarah Hoiseth, Shelly Rocklin and Nicole Strand of the Albert Lea figure skating club were preparing for the 13th annual Omaha Winterfestival Invitational to be held in January.

•The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission took only 15 minutes to push the Met Center, former home of the Minnesota North Stars, into the state’s sports history when it was announced events would no longer be held there. Commission Chair Henry Savelkoul of Albert Lea noted he thought the land was prime for a hotel or discount retail development.

•Lunder-Round Prairie was in first place in the Brotherhood Dartball League with an 11-1 record after defeating Mansfield 3-0. Conger-Bear Lake was a close second at 9-3.

10 years ago: 2008

•The Minnesota Wild defeated the Carolina Panthers, 3-2. Marian Gaborik, Cal Clutterbuck and Stephane Veilleux scored for the Wild.

•The Albert Lea Tigers wrestling team defeated Rochester Mayo, 57-18. Tyler Nelson, Trey Hable, Cory Hansen and Dalton Westerlund won by falls for the Tigers.

•The San Antonio Spurs handed the Minnesota Timberwolves their 13th consecutive loss by the score of 99-93. Tony Parker led the way with 36 points for the Spurs.

Going on now

•Michael Savelkoul, son of Don and Julie Savelkoul of Albert Lea, is a forward for the New Ulm Steel in the North American 3 Hockey League. In his first 21 games, the 2018 graduate of Albert Lea High School has four goals and 12 assists.