A 1970's Christmas Day

A 1970s Christmas Morning: Sports, Family, and Memories That Last

There’s something about Christmas that pulls memories out of places we didn’t even know they were stored. A song on the radio. The smell of pine. The glow of a tree in a dark room. For those of us who grew up in the 1970s, Christmas wasn’t flashy or fast—but it was unforgettable.

If you’ve listened to our special Christmas episode of Old Guy Sports you can see that it is a love letter to that time. A time when excitement built slowly, catalogs were perused instead of websites, and the biggest thrill on Christmas morning wasn’t what something cost—but what you could do with it.

The Magic of a 1970s Christmas

Christmas in the 70s had a rhythm all its own. Homes were filled with relatives, laughter, and the soft crackle of old light strings warming the tree. Kids fell asleep knowing full well that sleep wasn’t going to come easily, and parents stayed up far too late assembling bicycles or setting up games by hand.

There was no scrolling, no streaming, no instant gratification. There was anticipation. There was wonder. And there was a feeling—hard to define, impossible to forget—that something special was happening.

Sports Gifts That Meant Something

• For sports-loving kids, Christmas morning meant possibility.

• A new glove that smelled like real leather.

• A football with laces that bit into your fingers.

• A basketball that bounced just right.

These weren’t collectibles. They weren’t meant to sit on a shelf. They were meant to be taken outside immediately—no matter the weather.

Electric football games buzzed and shook their way into living rooms across the country. Board games like Strat-O-Matic and All-Star Baseball spread across the floor, complete with charts, dice, and arguments about the rules. Dart boards found their way into basements, usually accompanied by at least one hole in the wall. And of course there was that “push rod” hockey game, that we could play for hours.

Bicycles were royalty. Sleds promised adventure. And memorabilia? That wasn’t a thing yet. Sports were meant to be played, not displayed.

After the Wrapping Paper Settled

Once the gifts were opened, Christmas Day truly began.

The TV hummed with whatever sports were available—NBA games, NFL matchups if the calendar cooperated, or highlights replayed throughout the day. Families drifted in and out of the living room, plates were filled, stories were repeated, and laughter echoed down hallways.

And then the kids went outside.

New bikes were ridden. New footballs were thrown. New sleds were tested. Gloves got wet, noses got cold, and nobody cared. When darkness fell, kids came back inside rosy-cheeked and tired, ready to figure out the rules to a new game or play one more round of electric football before bedtime.

The day felt long—in the best possible way.

The Part That Matters Most

As much as we celebrate the toys and games, it’s really about something deeper.

It’s about the people who made those Christmases special. The parents who worked hard, stayed up late, and made magic happen without ever asking for credit. The ones who are no longer here—but never truly gone.

Christmas has a way of reminding us of that absence. And it’s sad in many ways. But it also reminds us of how lucky we were to have those moments at all. The memories they gave us can never be replaced. They live on in stories, traditions, and the quiet moments when we feel them close again.

A Christmas Message from Old Guy Sports

Listen and enjoy the podcast. This episode is an invitation to slow down. To remember. To be thankful. To honor the past while appreciating the present.

Whether you grew up in the 1970s or simply love the idea of a simpler Christmas, we hope this episode feels like sitting in a warm living room, listening to stories from someone who remembers how it used to be—and smiles because of it.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for remembering.

And thank you for being part of Old Guy Sports.