Sports fans have many reasons to give thanks
We all have our own reasons to give thanks on this Thanksgiving.
Here are a few of mine.
Thanks for:
One final Twinkie.
The end of every Lovie Smith news conference.
The beginning of every Mike Tice news conference.
The end of every Illinois football season.
The beginning of every Illinois basketball season.
The end of every sports work stoppage.
The beginning of every sports season.
Hockey in Europe, hockey in Rosemont and classic hockey games on Comcast SportsNet.
Peace, love and understanding.
Inside-the-park home runs.
Knuckleballs.
Middle relievers.
Newspapers for as long as they survive.
Temporary insanity and spasms of sanity.
Big-screen TVs, bigger-screen TVs and biggest-screen TVs.
Recliners and couches.
A.J. Pierzynski’s mischief.
Apps ... whatever apps are.
One final Hostess CupCake.
Family, friends and football.
Being able to refer to some strokes as mild.
“The Big Bang Theory.”
First responders.
Quesadillas.
A juicy sex scandal involving a quarterback, Congressman or decorated general.
Weekends.
Any tomorrow because it’s never guaranteed.
Starlin Castro’s occasional awareness.
Soccer for soccer fans, though not for me.
Third-down conversions.
A multiparty political system even when none of the parties makes sense.
Q’s mustache being permanent.
The QB’s mustache being temporary.
“Do ... your ... job.”
Dale Sveum’s patience.
A Josh Fields baseball card.
“Monday Morning Football,” “Sunday Afternoon Football” and “Thursday Night Football.”
Spirits.
Joakim Noah’s passion for basketball, life and hair.
Backyards, front yards and especially ball yards.
One final Ho Ho.
Babies, birds and baseball.
Manti Te’o, Jordan Lynch and Venric Mark.
Medical science.
Danica Patrick’s seven-year itch.
Jigsaw puzzles, the Rubik’s Cube and the infield fly rule.
Toys for young and old.
The privilege of kicking around Carlos Marmol, Carlos Boozer and Carlos Carimi.
MeTV.
One winning ticket per decade at Arlington Park.
Homecoming parades for military personnel.
Girls, golf and God.
The right in America to worship yours, mine or none.
One final Sno Ball.
Paul Konerko’s batting average through May.
Every precious fan on any given day at Comiskey Park.
Every precious rebuilding program in any given generation at Wrigley Field.
Every precious cheap seat at any given stadium anytime anywhere.
The Zac Brown Band.
“Bond ,,, James Bond.”
The gift of tolerance.
Bench-clearing brawls.
Hippies from the ’60s still hanging groovy in their 60s.
Charity.
Turkey, cranberries and pumpkin pie.
Along with, of course, one final Ding Dong to make this a perfect Thanksgiving.
mimrem@dailyherald.com