IN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, ALL DESERVE TO BE MERRY.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore

This is a merry Christmas for all of life's second stringers. They go about their business quietly, but their impact is deafening.

So merry Christmas to the parents whose children sit at the end of the bench. Their sons and daughters don't play much, but they're still at every game, they work their shifts in the snack bar, coordinate the car pools to practice and bake brownies for the fund-raisers.

It's easy to do all these things when your kid is the star. It takes a different sort of commitment when the playing time is measured in seconds, not minutes. . . .

Merry Christmas to all the walk-on coaches who leave work early each day so they can make practice on time. The pay is lousy, the sacrifice great. They do it because they care, and that's the best reason of all. . . .

This is a holiday wish to all the groundskeepers and custodians, the ones who tend to the fields and gymnasiums around town. And a special tip of the cap to those gracious custodians who stick around until all the reporters have filed their stories late at night. Thanks for keeping the lights on; the first round is on me. . . .

Happy holidays to the lonely, some of whom will spend Christmas in solitude this year. This is a terrible time to be by yourself, so take comfort that somewhere, there is a star shining brightly just for you. . . .

Merry Christmas to all the kids who sit in the back of class, the ones who know the answers but are too shy to raise their hands. I promise one day your confidence will equal your intelligence. . . .

Merry Christmas to the last kid chosen for the playground basketball game. May the only shot you take be the game-winner. . . .

Best wishes to the friend who can forgive and forget when we mess up. Anybody can forgive, it takes a true friend to forget and move on. . . .

Merry Christmas to the Bell-Jeff High boys' basketball team, which has endured three devastating tragedies recently, but carried on gallantly. Your performance through adversity is inspiring. . . .

Happy holidays to the teachers who make us try harder, rather then settle for less than our best. . . .

This is a merry Christmas to the staff members of after-school programs, parks and recreation departments, the YMCA and the Boys' and Girls' Club. It's nice to know our kids have a safe and fun place to go after school when both parents are working. . . .

Merry Christmas to the cops and fire fighters who will work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hopefully the turkey will still be warm when you get home. . . .

Happy holidays to the referees and umpires who officiate youth sports games. You give your time for little or no pay, put up with loudmouths and boorish coaches and rarely get the credit you deserve. May all your calls be on the money. . . .

Merry Christmas to the athletes who understand their obligation as role models, and act accordingly. And thanks to those who simply hand the football to the referee after a touchdown, run to the other end of the court after a slam dunk or circle the bases with grace after a home run. To some, this is boring, but just remember that there is class in unpretentiousness. . . .

Warm wishes to the kids who rarely get in the game, yet show up to every practice, care just as much and work just as hard as the first stringers. . . .

This is a merry Christmas for all the people we tend to overlook, but shouldn't.

Happy holidays to all.