Athletic Report
February 22, 2001

NEIL RAY WINS GREEN MONSTER
PROVIDED BY VALLEY FURNITURE
PORTALES, NM — For four years, Neil Ray and his father have regularly attended Eastern New Mexico University basketball games at Greyhound Arena. On many occasions, the entire Ray family has been on hand, giving support to the Greyhounds and the Zias against all opponents, especially those from the Lone Star Conference.

On Tuesday (Feb. 20), as ENMU played its arch rivals from West Texas A&M University, Neil, an 8th grader at Portales Junior High School, not only cheered, but won. His name was chosen to take home the dark green love seat that served as the “Green Monster” at ENMU home games this season.

The piece of furniture that accompanied Neil and his father, Mark, as they left the arena, was not an ugly, warn-out couch like the old Green Monster that “retired” after the 1999-00 season. Instead, the new love seat was clean, attractive and comfortable. It was donated by Valley Furniture to serve as a courtside seat at ENMU home games, then leave the arena with a lucky fan at the end of the season. Neil Ray was the lucky fan.

“They were pretty excited about it,” Kathy Ray, Neil’s mom, said. “He (Neil) came running through the door (after the game) with the green armchair cover, saying ‘I won, I won’.”

Neil’s name was drawn from among all fans previously selected to sit on the Green Monster this season. Fans at each home game registered for a chance to sit on the love seat, where they would receive a close-up view of the game, enjoy pizza and drink soda. All of the individual game winners were entered into Tuesday’s drawing.

It was at a game a couple of weeks ago that Neil’s name was chosen to sit on the Green Monster. He was then entered into the drawing for the love seat. “We really enjoyed it,” Neil said about relaxing on the Green Monster, “because you get a little bit closer to the action. It’s fun.”

Fun was an important goal when Valley Furniture decided to donate the love seat. Another factor was the desire to provide a piece of furniture that everyone would want to add to their home. “It was important that whoever took this (the love seat) home, was proud of it.” Scott Davis, Sales Manager at Valley Furniture said. “We wanted them to think it was a great addition to their home.”

Once the Ray’s returned home with their prize, a decision had to be made regarding where to put the love seat. At first, Neil hoped it would fit in his room.

“He got the tape measure out and was measuring his room” Kathy said. “We decided to move it upstairs and put it in our computer room, which I think is going to be used as a study. And it (the love seat) is a great color because it’s pretty much our decor at home”

For Neil, being the winner of the Green Monster brought gradually increasing fame in the City of Portales. He said several fellow PJHS students mentioned his good luck at school the next day.

And later that day, did he have friends dropping by the house to see the Green Monster? “I’ve had a few already . . . after I got my homework done.,” Neil said.

Now that the Green Monster is a part of the Ray household, Valley Furniture must search out a new love seat or couch to take its place at Greyhound Arena, in a promotion both ENMU and the furniture store hope to continue.

It will be at least a couple of months before Davis spots just the right living room piece to place courtside at each home game during the 2001-02 season. It will be “probably something similar (to this year’s Green Monster),” Davis said. “I’ll actually purchase the Green Monster at market in April.”

The concept of Valley Furniture sponsoring the Green Monster was suggested by Rosie Stallman, ENMU Director of Athletics, and by Chuck Abbott, ENMU Bench Club Board member. Valley Furniture was already involved as a corporate sponsor of ENMU Athletics when the decision was made by the store to provide a new Green Monster for the 2000-01 season.

When it came time to give away the new love seat at halftime of the men’s basketball game against West Texas, Neil was hoping his name would be drawn. He had a feeling he might be the new owner when the initials of the winner (N.R.) were announced. Then it was official, and Neil had a special gift to bring home.

Winning the Green Monster was an added bonus to seeing the Greyhounds and the Zias play throughout the past four seasons, as Neil and Mark have attended football and basketball games. Kathy also attends basketball games, but prefers volleyball during the fall season.

“Me and my dad have been going (to ENMU games) quite a bit. We’ve been going the last four years. We’ve made almost every game. We really like seeing them play,” Neil said.