Time to dig through the Santa Sack for some last-minute stocking stuffers:

. For the City of Bangor, artificial turf for Cameron Stadium. Think of the possibilities with a refurbished stadium. State-of-the-art facilities for the local kids and state championship games aplenty in all kinds of sports – because with turf, it’s not just a football field.

. For fledgling high school football programs, and traditional programs struggling with low numbers, the determination to stay with it. Friday Night Lights isn’t just about Texas, it’s about bringing communities together one night a week during the fall in small-town Maine, too.

. For junior high school athletic administrators, a paint scraper to remove the 3-point arc from all of your basketball courts. Kids should learn how to shoot before being left to launch fast-break 3-pointers from the waist. Heck, this old man would get rid of it from high school gyms, too, if I could.

. For all high schools, a wrestling team. As a basketball junkie with no background on the mat, I find it to be the toughest, most intense sport around. Yet it’s also all-inclusive, with room for the smallest and largest of athletes in school, as well as a slowly growing number of females.

. For Dexter High senior Jeremiah Barkac, bidding to complete his schoolboy wrestling career undefeated against Maine competition, a few more matches. Opposing teams often go out of their way to avoid meeting him on the mat, gladly giving up forfeit points. I wouldn’t want to face the kid either, but there’s a lesson to be learned in not avoiding challenges.

. For the Boston Red Sox, a good health insurance policy for J.D. Drew. He isn’t even signed yet, and the oft-injured outfielder already has shoulder issues. Seventy million dollars over five years, for 115 games a year? Even the Kool-Aid drinkers will come to question that one.

. For Boston Celtics fans, the patience to hang in for one more year with a roster of players just about to complete their college-age years in the School of (NBA) Hard Knocks. In Al Jefferson I see Jermaine O’Neal, in Gerald Green I see Tracy McGrady. And I haven’t had any Kool-Aid yet today.

. For Bill Belichick, the humility to understand you can’t win a Super Bowl with Arena Bowl-quality receivers on your roster. It was sheer arrogance to think you could spread defenses this season with a bunch of Reche Caldwells and Doug Gabriels, no matter how good Tom Brady is. A Super Bowl opportunity wasted.

. For the Husson College football program, a conference affiliation, the final step in program building. And, oh yeah, a game against Maine Maritime Academy is a rivalry waiting to happen and would be another breath of fresh air for football at all levels in Eastern Maine. You could even play the game on the artificial turf at Cameron Stadium.

. For the University of Maine men’s hockey program, a more compact schedule. Admittedly I’m not a hockey guy, but do you really need to play countable games on the first weekend of October? I’m still trying to wring another summer day or two out of the season, and I’m surely not thinking winter.

. For University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove, someone on the staff specifically charged with addressing the kicking game. It’s not a new problem, but this year proved you can have the best defense in America, but without a kicking game the whole product can be rendered virtually mediocre.

. And lastly, for all this holiday season, the love of family, the best of health and the spirit of optimism. Merry Christmas!

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net