ELIDA’S #1! Villarreal wins Hooked on Hounds fan contest

By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

San Benito News photo by Francisco E. Jimenez San Benito Greyhounds fan Elida S. Villarreal (center) is seen with four generations of her family inside the Greyhound Sports Complex at San Benito High School on Friday. Villarreal was presented with a helmet donated by Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Spencer Gantt recognizing her victory in the San Benito News Hooked on Hounds fan contest.

San Benito News photo by Francisco E. Jimenez
San Benito Greyhounds fan Elida S. Villarreal (center) is seen with four generations of her family inside the Greyhound Sports Complex at San Benito High School on Friday. Villarreal was presented with a helmet donated by Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Spencer Gantt recognizing her victory in the San Benito News Hooked on Hounds fan contest.

The people have spoken.

A total of 32,835 votes were cast in the San Benito News Hooked on Hounds fan contest, and 16,574 of those votes went to Elida S. Villarreal, the winner of the first-ever contest deciding who the biggest San Benito Greyhounds fan is in town.

Villarreal, 92, was awarded a signed San Benito Greyhounds football helmet as well as the title of “Number One Greyhound Fan.”

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2013/08/31/elidas-1-villarreal-wins-hooked-on-hounds-fan-contest/

10 comments

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    • Leo Rodriguez on September 2, 2013 at 5:29 pm
    • Reply

    Point is well taken RB. But it is what it is. Hope no one brings up hanging chads ( oh how I despise those 2 words). And as Mr. Denny Crane (love the name) so eloquently pointed out, all nominees should have received the Greyhound helmet. Now can someone please award Ms. Villareall lifetime season passes. Geez!!!

    BTW, @ RS Garcia, you sir must also be a Staunt supporter to mention Elvira Rodriguez. As kids, we weren’t allowed to sir near her because, well you know why…. Loved her spirit…

      • S.R. Garcia on September 3, 2013 at 11:04 am
      • Reply

      Hahahaha…she was a character. I remember hearing her yells while we were in the huddle calling out the next play, we would just look at each other and get a big kick !! And of course we cannot forget Mr. Lupe Aguirre with the “downs” marker.

    • Reality Bites on September 2, 2013 at 1:00 pm
    • Reply

    #Can’t Wait For Election Day!!!!!!!!!!, don’t interpret “Total Voters: 32,835” as one voter equals one vote!!!!!

    I do agree with you that San Benito should have as much voter enthusiasm during local elections as exhibited in online polls.

    Not to take anything away from Ms. Elida S. Villareal, the declared winner as the #1 Hounds Fan. She had the most dedicated team to spend the endless non-stop hours logged on to the San Benito News web page to vote. She is without a doubt a devoted Greyhound fan, as are the rest of the people on the online ballot.

    The problem with depending or relying on this type of online poll and the one in the other local newspaper for selecting a “winner” in any type of online poll is the existence of a major flaw. I will not detail what the major flaw is but I am certain the two top vote recipients are fully aware of the flaw, hence the large of amount of votes.

    Suffice it to say, The line “Total Voters: 32,835” should actually read “Total Voters Votes: 32,835”.

    IMHO, all the nominees are Greyhound Winners”.

    So with the power vested in me by William Henry “Bill” Gates III with my MCSE Certification, I hereby declare Elida S. Villarreal, Ramiro Sauceda, the Greyhound Hair Club, Rick Chavez, Allen Doan (Bob), and Peter Galvan as “Numero Uno Hooked on Hounds Fanatic”

    This is not “sour grapes” as some will no doubt incorrectly interpret my comment.

    It is merely the reality of online polls; they are very “unscientific”, “undependable”, and “unfair” to “ALL” involved!

    1. I appreciate your humor. Take into consideration, however, that this was not a presidential election. We weren’t asking voters for I.D. and they could have obviously voted more than once. This is no secret.

      • Reform San Benito on September 2, 2013 at 2:21 pm
      • Reply

      I’d like to cast my vote for a young fan who inspires me with his love for all things Greyhounds — Marcus Lowery (and his mom). He’s the next generation of die-hard ‘Hounds fan. 60 years from now this very same editor will be conducting a similar poll that he’ll win.

  1. Coach Gantt ?Why is there more spirt in the stands stands instead of on the filed? We have a legend Greyhound Fan and a legend Greyhound athlete in Bobby Marrow . All we need now is a Legendary winning Coach.

    • Can't Wait For Election Day!!!!!!!!!! on September 1, 2013 at 8:40 pm
    • Reply

    Correction at ELECTION 2014!!!….

    • Can't Wait For Election Day!!!!!!!!!! on September 1, 2013 at 9:00 am
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    Wonder if voter turnout will be this high and popular!!!!!!.. at Election 2013.

    • Luis D. Gonzales, Jr. on August 31, 2013 at 11:46 am
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    Congratulations to Mrs. Villarreal. A true Greyhound fan. You are very deserving of this recognition. Go Hounds!

    • S.R. Garcia on August 31, 2013 at 10:14 am
    • Reply

    Wait to go Elida!! I remember her when I was playing back in the mid 60’s. It was Elida, my mom Marta Perez and who can forget Elvira Rodriguez…and of course one can not leave out La senora Huerta and her son Horacio….heck, there have been so many many outstanding Hound fans!!! How time flies…asi es.

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