Being that Thanksgiving is today, I decided this column would be about things I am thankful for.
First off, I have always enjoyed Thanksgiving.
The food, football and spending the day with family and friends are my best memories of Thanksgiving.
So, with turkey and stuffing just hours away, I felt it was no better time than to talk about what I am grateful for when it comes to the world of sports.
- That it is only 134 days until they tee it up at The Masters.
- We don’t have to sit through an NHL lockout this season.
- The Red Wings move to the Eastern Conference this season and renewing Original 6 rivalries with Toronto, Montreal, Boston and the New York Rangers.
- Even though it has lost its luster over the last few years – watching the Michigan and Ohio State game and thinking back to the days that this game always decided who was going to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.
- Being able to watch maybe the best wide receiver ever Calvin Johnson every Sunday.
- Having the best hitter of our generation Miguel Cabrera batting third for the Detroit Tigers.
- Watching Justin Verlander every time he takes the mound.
- That the Detroit Pistons are not very good and thus giving me another reason to not watch the NBA.
- That the Lions will not make the playoffs and sparing us a first-round thumping.
- That the Jim Schwartz era will soon be over in Detroit.
- Tom Izzo and his No. 1 ranked Michigan State Spartan basketball team.
- Mark Dantonio and his 10-1 Michigan State Spartan football team.
- The Big Ten Championship football game where we will see just how good Michigan State really is when they face Ohio State.
- That Little Brother once again whipped up on Big Brother this season.
- That the Muskegon area will once again be represented this weekend at Ford Field as both Muskegon and Muskegon Catholic Central play for state championships.
- Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in less than three months.
- That they still allow fighting in hockey.
- Being able to watch some of the best young hockey talent in the country right here in Muskegon with the Lumberjacks.
- Watching one of the best NASCAR drivers in history – Jimmie Johnson.
- The Super Bowl being played outdoors in February in New York City.
- Phil Mickelson and his one swing away from disaster way of playing golf.
- David Feherty announcing golf on CBS.
- Being able to cover high school playoff football games this season.
- Listening to Vin Scully call a Dodgers game all by himself.
- I got to see the greatest hockey player in history Wayne Gretzky play in person.
- Seeing Steve Yzerman hoist the Stanley Cup three times.
- Being able to watch Jack Nicklaus in his prime.
- Watching arguably the best running back to ever play – Barry Sanders.
- Listening to Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey on my transistor radio in bed during baseball season.
- Seeing the Michigan State Spartan basketball team win the National Championship in person in 2000.
- When Barry Melrose is on SportsCenter.
- The Detroit Pistons in the Bad Boys days.
- Watching Larry Bird battle Magic Johnson in the NBA finals.
- Downtown Freddie Brown of the old Seattle Supersonics.
So, there you have my list of the things I am thankful for in the world of sports.
Let me know what (or who) in the sporting world you are thankful for this year.
And please spend some wonderful time with family and friends, enjoy some football, and know that this is one of the greatest times of the year.
Happy Thanksgiving!
