Let’s Give Thanks
With Turkey Day a week away, I started thinking about all the things in my life that I should be thankful for this year. Of course the usual items that I take for granted, such as family and friends, came up first, along with numerous other reasons to be thankful this holiday season. It also got me thinking of what certain people in sports should be thankful for this year. So, here’s a little thankful list I created.
Kobe Bryant
After finishing last season with an overall record of 34-48 and missing the playoffs, you better believe that Kobe is thankful to see the Zen Master Phil Jackson on the sidelines again. While they’re still a far cry from the three-peat team a couple years ago, the Lakers at least look to be a respectable team this year, making Jack a happy season ticket holder.
Pete Carroll
That big sigh of relief you heard last year when Heisman’s winner Matt Leinart declared that he was going to come back for a fifth year was probably his coach, Carroll. But even if Leinart had gone to the NFL, Pete would still be thankful for arguably the best offense in history of college football, which includes another Heisman hopeful Reggie Bush. Leinart and Bush on the same team? Let me get on the sidelines, we’ll win three championships too.
Geoff Blum
This year’s World Series had plenty of exciting moments, but none bigger or more spectacular than Geoff Blum’s game-winning, two-out solo home run in the top of the 14th inning in game three. Blum, an Astro earlier in the season, came off the bench and won the longest game in World Series history in what was probably the most ironic situation in World Series history against the same team he played for earlier in the season, helping the White Sox win their first championship since 1917. Talk about good fortune.
The NHL
Did anyone really miss them? Well, the NHL may have taken last year off and people might have been concerned about what would happen if or when they ever came back, but I will say that the NHL has come back with a vengeance. This year hockey can be thankful that people are actually paying attention to it, and that it has better ratings than, say, poker.
Terrell Owens
How can someone who’s currently serving a four game suspension and may not be able to play the rest of the season be thankful? Easy. Every publicity tactic T.O. has tried this year has worked. He’s been the most talked about football player since that Giants quarterback was on the Bachelor. Sure they’ve probably all backfired on him. He didn’t get his contract extension. In fact, he doesn’t have a contract anymore, and he’s not even able to play. At least he still has his health.
So, when you gather around the table on Nov. 24th, remember that we all have something to be thankful for; Christmas vacation is just a few weeks away!