Sacramento County Sports Digest

Kahlef Hailassie, who played high school ball at Cosumnes Oaks, is poised to hear his name called in the upcoming NFL draft after a stellar college career as a defensive back at Western Kentucky.

In a field historically dominated by white men, the Sacramento Kings television team is composed entirely of people of color and women—one of few NBA markets to demonstrate this diversity at the announcers’ table.

The North Natomas skate park honors Tyre Nichols, who grew up in Sacramento. The 29-year-old Black man was severely injured during a Jan. 7 confrontation with police and died of his injuries Jan. 10.

Citrus Heights Vice Mayor Bret Daniels is hoping to gain enough support to oppose a youth tackle football ban.

For 45 years, The Sports Shop served the entire southern half of Sacramento County as the only sporting goods shop. Online retailers have reportedly made it too difficult to continue.

The new relationship between the Sacramento River Cats and Sacramento Kings was celebrated at the final game of the River Cats’ season with a ceremonial first pitch delivered by Major League Baseball’s home run king, Barry Bonds.

In its 34-year life span, the arena in North Natomas became part in Sacramento lore. The WNBA Sacramento Monarchs won a championship there, and the Kings were arguably the best team in the NBA during the 2001-2002 season.

Hundreds of Mesa Verde High School students, alumni and staff gathered Aug. 30, along with several Citrus Heights City Council members and school district board members, for the ground-breaking ceremony.

The city of Sacramento opened its first pump track and bike playground this week in Natomas. Vice Mayor Angelique Ashby was present for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new amenity is located at Regency Park.

Vail Resorts has targeted opening dates for Lake Tahoe ski areas. Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California plan to open Nov. 18, with Kirkwood Mountain Resort targeting Dec. 2. This winter is the 50th anniversary of operations at Northstar and Kirkwood.

Well known for his quick-witted commentary as an emcee and his Uncle Sam outfit, Adam Frick takes on a new role as the 2022 Grand Marshal when the event returns July 1, 2 and 3.

Sacramento could get a new $50 million youth sports complex in Meadowview, Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced Wednesday morning during his youth-focused State of the City address.

Luke Johns, 22, of Folsom, won the prestigious Wild West Bass Trail Apex Spartan 580 on the Columbia River in Oregon on May 20.

No race is like it in California; the 53rd annual Carson City Motorsports Hangtown Motocross Classic is back at Prairie City State Recreation Park near Placerville from June 2 to June 4, with the pros racing on Saturday.

The Johnson Ranch Sports Club is set to open the largest pickleball facility in Northern California, a 24-court complex that will be established by converting existing tennis courts.

There are dozens of golf courses around the Lake Tahoe basin that offer breathtaking views and challenging play. Avid golfers and pros weigh in on their favorite holes, whether it be best views, unique features or fun game play.

The Natomas neighborhood now has a new water park and community center, after the grand opening event for the North Natomas Aquatic Complex. Amenities include a community center, water slides, a kids’ splash zone and several pools.

The Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District has announced a vacancy on its board of directors. The board is looking to appoint a new director who will serve until Dec. 1 unless elected to a two-year term in the November general election.

The owners of Sacramento Republic FC are in the advanced planning stages of building a soccer stadium in the downtown Railyards that would anchor a new housing and entertainment district.

The Sacramento Kings fans said one last goodbye to the “old barn” in Natomas. Thousands of people attended “Farewell to Arco Arena,” which is expected to be demolished in the coming months to make way for new development.

Sierra-at-Tahoe has announced plans to open for one weekend only, April 9-10, to celebrate 75 years of “history, cherished memories, good times and … tough times too.”

During the Elk Grove City Council meeting on Feb. 23, City Manager Jason Behrmann announced that litigation over concrete work at the city’s aquatic center was settled.

The Sacramento Kings want to bring fans back to the Arco Arena one last time before the building is demolished. The basketball team will hold a free farewell event on March 19.

Luis Medearis went from never having been on a snowboard to becoming a successful snowboard videographer living in Kings Beach. One of the few Black videographers in the industry, he’s hoping to use his success to inspire Black youth.

A new climate change analysis concludes that the Lake Tahoe area is already too warm to risk hosting the Winter Olympic Games. But others aren’t ready to give up. Jon Killoran, CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition, says the study is “another piece that would be taken into account. ... [I]t’s a matter of what people do about what those ramifications are, to either mitigate them or not.”

Former competitive snowboarder Carissa Bisnar quit her job overseeing the leadership department at Heavenly and Kirkwood mountain resorts because she wanted to figure out how to build and manufacture a snowboard designed for women’s biometrics.

Golden 1 Center has been named a top-rated venue globally for its high number of ticket sales throughout 2021.

The 38th annual California International Marathon kicked off this past weekend after a year-long hiatus due to COVID.

In partnership with the Sacramento Kings and Kaiser Permanente, Meadowview is now enjoying a brand-new basketball court at LeVar Burton Park.

In the 1930s, California got its first chairlift. Only the second in the country, it kicked off a nationwide boost of interest in alpine skiing.

Haylie Ferreira, a 23-year-old skater who is from Loomis and trained at Skatetown in Roseville, made her debut in Disney on Ice this fall. She is skating the role of Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.”

With little warning, more than 3,000 athletes who had traveled from all over to Sacramento received word that the storm was canceling the Oct. 24 Ironman competition.