By TOM WILLIAMS

This is that time of year when people focus on gifts and giving. And this is the month that most of those gifts are distributed.

The sports community is active this December. So, let us take a few moments of your time to offer the annual wish list.

These are the gifts that should be given during this holiday season. Some are in fun, others somewhat serious. A few are even repeat gifts from previous lists that may keep showing up until they materialize. And there are even a few wishes that are contradictory.

Strangely, even though they are offered purely for enjoyment, some of them do actually work out. For example, in recent years the wishes included Frank Vogel in the NBA finals, a NJ Sportscaster of the Year Award for Mike Frankel, Matt Szczur an All-American selection, the South Jersey win record for Paul Rodio, Chris Curran a starting spot with Ursinus, a turf field at Carey Stadium for Mike Lenhardt, George McNally a school in the Northeast for Lauren, a spot in the South Jersey Hall of Fame for Coach Joe Fussner and a 21-team CAL Basketball Tournament for Mike McGarry.

They all happened after appearing on the gift list.

Wonder which ones will come true this year? Regardless, hope you enjoy them.

PAUL SACCO: a chance to develop the young players at Atlantic Tech as they enter the varsity football scene.

DAVE TALARICO: World Series tickets at Camden Yards didn’t materialize this year, so how about Super Bowl tickets to watch the Ravens.

MIKE WILLISCROFT: World Series championship No. 28.

AL EMENHEISER: a trip to Miami to see Georgia in the Orange Bowl against Florida State.

FRANK RIGGITANO: a step out of retirement to become the Eagles offensive coordinator.

CHUCK SMITH: he has received a lot already but lets add a turf field for the Mustang Corral.

LEON HART: tenders from DiOrio’s.

DAVE PFEIFER: The Pfeifer Indoor Track in Absecon.

AARON BOGUSHEFSKY: career win No. 200.

FRANK BASILE: dinner at the diner (an out of state diner, so his son can fly him there).

MATT SZCZUR: his painting of Lance Bailey hanging in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

RILEY GUNNELS (the grandfather): see Al Emenheiser, above.

RILEY GUNNELS (the grandson): success in college when he takes off the red shirt.

JOHN HUFF: lifetime membership in Trout National Golf Club.

JIM GINN: a few more video cameras.

MATT PURDUE: improvement on his remarkable 144-3 cross country record.

ANTWAINE CAMPO: a New York Times best-seller.

TRISH HENRY: a rack for basketballs.

CAPE-ATLANTIC ADs: press box elevators.

TORI VLIET: continued soccer success at Valdosta.

WALT TUCKER: NASCAR’s Tucker 200 in Millville.

JOE REPETTI: another remarkable season at Muhlenberg.

LARRY DiGIOVANNI: The Larry Brown Award.

ANDREW BRISTOL: World Series championship No. 28.

ANASTASIA & GENE: a home closer to home.

GANNON BRADY: first round draft pick by the Yankees.

KEVIN SMITH: a little schedule relief in 2024.

JIM QUINN: a healthy year.

MATT ULMER: indoor football in the WJFL.

BRUCE BEAVER: his own meatball restaurant.

JOE FUSSNER: nine days in a week.

KAREN BRUNO: more heart-thumping wins.

DR. MATT JAMISION: a new video camera (its a long story!).

PAUL GUENTHER: a job as Eagles defensive coordinator.

WILL MORRIS: his own scoreboard repair company.

HANNAH CAPPELLETTI: 100 threes.

The NFL officials: decide clearly what constitutes pass interference.

JACK BRESLIN: his comic character, Chip, picked up by Disney+.

DYLAN SCHLATTER: 1,000 points.

TORI RHODES: continued happiness in Virginia.

MIKE TROUT: a shot at some post-season action.

GUY GARGAN: outdoor high school swim meets.

YOGI HILTNER: decades more of his dedication to local sports.

DEAN MICHALSKI: a bay-front home in Ocean City.

JON MOYER: the kind of great football at Lafayette that he played in Ocean City.

FRED DALZELL: see John Huff, above.

JOE LaROSA: a healthy year.

MIKE FRANKEL: his own sports network.

DAN TOWN: a pain-free year.

PAUL BARUFFI: lots more golf.

TONY BLUM: the Giants in the Super Bowl, Knicks in the NBA finals and Mets in the World Series.

AL SACCO: World Series championship No. 28.

TIM COOK: another All-American.

DOUG STASUK: his own channel on Sirius XM.

CHALIE McLAUGHLIN: a fishing trip with Frank Campo.

TRISTAN BISIGNARO: a dozen varsity letters over the next decade.

BUDDY TARBOTTON: another great season with Brian.

DASHAWN HENDRICKS: his own morning sports talk show.

BOBBY BARR: a postseason rally by the Chiefs.

DOUG COLMAN: a return to high school football.

KORI SEGICH: a healthy season.

GINNI SZCZEPANSKI: a vacation home in Oregon.

MATT JAMISON: a network sportscasting gig.

DAVE WEINBERG: another Sportswriter of the Year award.

BUD RINCK: a lightning-fast electric car.

WALKER BAILEY: a healthy season.

PAUL RODIO: win number 1,040.

HARRY SACHS: a day at the track with Aaron Rodgers.

FRANK CAMPO: see Chalie McLaughlin, above.

NUNCIE SACCO: a posthumous place in the Mainland Regional Sports Hall of Fame.

KENNY SMITH: more 1500-yard seasons.

RICH TOLSON: a world tour.

JOHN LEON: his next book made into a movie starring Jim Gaffigan.

GREG DONAHUE: an enjoyable retirement from officiating.

RON MORETTI: delivery from Illiano’s.

BILL SHALLCROSS: an Emmy Award.

STEVE PARKER: a grand slam home run in Florida.

JOHN BRUNO: a perfect December.

SAVANNA ROLLS: unlimited mac & cheese.

MIKE PELLEGRINO: lots of banners.

TIM WATSON: an NCAA championship by the Irish.

MIKE McGARRY: a sports-free weekend in August so he can attend yet another Bruce Springsteen concert.

TONY SURACE: his own NIL.

JACK HOAG: Three more good college seasons after his success as a freshman.

MIKE GILL: the Phillies play-by-play gig.

JAY GILLIAN: The Carey Stadium of his dreams.

TOM & LESLIE JAMISON: a suite on the 50 yard line at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on December 29th.

DANIELLE DONOGHUE: a head coaching position.

GEORGE McNALLY: A lifetime supply of Dr. Pepper.

BRIAN CUNNIFF: Boy/Girl South Jersey Group 1 championships for the Warriors.

DAVE DeWEESE: a relaxing retirement after his highly successful coaching career.

MIKE CAPPELLETTI: continued respect for his talents as a teacher and coach.

And the people who helped TIPOFF WEEKEND succeed: A great holiday for Jay, Bill & John at Sixth Street Pizza & Grill; Herb Snyder and his staff, including Jack, Jeff, Santiago and others; Amber, Savanna, Aliyah & Lexi; Mike Galante at DiOrios; Chef Bruce; John Bruno and Ryan Gill; Leon & Theresa Hart; Dennis Smith & Mike Frankel; Harry Sachs, Buddy Treen & Frank Basile; George McNally & Tom Peterson; and the highly versatile Joe Fussner.

TO THE REST OF YOU: have a very happy holiday season and hope 2024 can be full of more great high school sports moments.