All of us should count our blessings everyday, but this time of year, we all put a little more thought into what we’re thankful for.  Family, friends, and turkey are the obvious choices.  Even though there are few things I like more than a plump, juicy bird on my table, I don’t know what I would do without sports.

So, to get you ready for the week ahead, I present to you 101 things that bring me happiness in the wonderful world of sports.

I am thankful for…

1. Football on Thanksgiving
2. Being able to watch Sportscenter on a loop every morning
3. Whoever invented fantasy football
4. Every time I see a game live
5. The NHL playoffs
6. An entire channel devoted to nothing but tennis
7. The voice of Mike Shannon on the Cardinals’ radio network
8. Rivalries in any sport
9. March madness
10. Winning the March madness office pool
11. A summer evening at the ballpark with a hotdog in one hand and a cold beer in the other
12. Throwback uniforms
13. Any sport in HD
14. College football’s overtime rules
15. Players who are willing to bunt and know how to do it
16. Those picture perfect azaleas at Amen Corner at Augusta
17. Olympic hockey
18. Cheerleaders
19. The Dallas Cowboys’ cheerleaders
20. Televised bass fishing tournaments
21. Playing ping-pong in the garage
22. Useless sports trivia
23. Bedlam (can’t wait til next week!)
24. High school football in small town Oklahoma
25. The NBA in OKC
26. Picking up my spares in bowling
27. Sports talk radio
28. True fans of anything
29. College football’s regular season
30. Wiffle ball home run derby on the 4^th of July
31. Classic sports movies
32. Drug testing
33. Whatever technology that allows me to get scores on my phone
34. Instant replay
35. Hail Mary’s
36. A pick six
37. OU/Texas weekend
38. Memories of street hockey with my brother
39. Media hospitality
40. Coaches who don’t speak in clichés
41. A Sampras/Agassi match in a grand slam final
42. The chance to kiss the Stanley Cup (maybe the greatest sports moment of my life)
43. Drives that bounce off trees and into the fairway
44. The fulfillment from coaching kids
45. Kids who listen
46. Shooting hoops with my dad
47. Bass Pro Shops
48. The World Cup
49. Collisions at home plate
50. College football fight songs and traditions
51. Historic arenas that still exist
52. Goal line stands
53. Every coach I’ve ever had
54. My slice backhand
55. British soccer announcers
56. The way the grass looks on the first day of Wimbledon
57. Buzzer beaters
58. The intensity of racquetball
59. First round byes
60. Rally caps
61. Getting up and down for par
62. Fighting in hockey
63. Pre-game flyovers by F-16’s
64. The swish sound of a perfect free throw
65. Jumbotrons
66. Fishing in farm ponds
67. Great glove saves
68. Super Bowl commercials
69. Sports bars
70. Rational, reasonable fans
71. Anyone working security at a sporting event
72. John McEnroe
73. Football played on real grass
74. The years spent waiting for a championship
75. Girls who love football
76. Girls who love hockey
77. Creative team nicknames (Wampus Cats, Banana Slugs, Ironheads, etc.)
78. Going to early church service when my team kicks off at noon
79. Sports memorabilia
80. Rookie cards
81. Ice cream in a mini baseball helmet
82. Don Cherry
83. 4^th quarter comebacks
84. Players loyal to one team
85. A well executed Gatorade shower
86. Microphones and cameras in locker rooms
87. Statistics
88. The chance to witness history
89. Hall of Fames
90. Sports debates
91. Roger Federer
92. Athletes who are role models (Albert Pujols, Drew Brees)
93. Classic soundbites (“Playoffs?” “We talkin’ bout practice.” “You play to win the game!”)
94. Tying on a brand new crankbait
95. Cable sports networks
96. The NFL Red Zone channel
97. The chance to birdie anywhere
98. David Feherty
99. Nerf football on a crisp fall day
100. Singing the national anthem
101. The brave men and women in uniform who allow me and sports fans across the country the freedom to go to games, gather around the TV with friends, and be the kind of fans that only exist in America.  Thank you to all of our veterans and soldiers who gave up so much, so we can have so much to be thankful for this week.  May God continue to bless you and your families this holiday season!

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