Some thanks to give out…

I know, I know. You thought I left forever. Well, I didn’t. I just got out of the groove with a change in work, a change in overall paradigm, and a life where most of my free time has gone to my puppy. So, with the holidays upon us, let’s get the itch back by writing some thoughts. You will be seeing a podcast coming next hopefully, with a regular mixture of written and verbal submissions moving forward. I will get back in the groove in 2022 for sure worst case.

Let’s keep it simple today. Here are some things I give thanks for recently before the holiday weekend.

1. I am thankful to be able to turn the TV on any time this week and catch some college hoops. Love Feast Week.
2. On Tuesday, the latest college football playoff standings were released. Cincinnati was in the top 4. Before we expand this whole thing in the coming years, let’s get one Group of 5 in there IF they check all of the boxes. We can argue about the comparison with the Power 5 one-loss teams until 2022, but the bottom line is THIS. IF there was ever a time to do this, IF there was ever a team that checked all of the boxes, then THIS is that time. Thank you, voters, for throwing them in the mix for the moment. Now, realize that it will be very hard for you to explain how they got in this week, and somehow fell out if they close out the season with wins. But, in the meantime, well done. And, I am not saying Cincy will hang with the big boys, but I AM saying they deserve a shot this particular year.
3. Last night, Gonzaga smoked UCLA. This was a replay of the fantastic Final Four game from last year, with some new contributors from the Zags side, and the usual suspects from the UCLA side. It is early, so let’s not judge too much. But, wouldn’t you think it would be the newly formed Zags who would have the early gelling problems? So, let’s give thanks to another year of the Zags destroying everyone and us somehow trying to find a reason to pick against them. Few needs to close the deal with one of these teams soon, folks. Until then, Mark Few would like to give thanks to another ridiculous team to play around with.
4. The Rays give thanks that they landed Wander Franco as a prospect, and Wander gives thanks for the fact that the low-paying, over-achieving Rays somehow forked over a 12-year contract.
5. We give thanks that the Titans gave Adrian Peterson a shot on their roster when Derrick Henry went down. True, A.P. will still probably be playing for some NFL team 20 years from now when we all are older, but at least this year’s attempt came through strong. He is now cut as of this week, all.
6. Many NBA teams sarcastically give thanks today. The Warriors are back and destroying teams left and right, and somehow have a probably future HOF’er about to JOIN them, as Klay is now practicing. Ugghhh.
7. This is the last year that the Clemens-Sosa-Bonds steroid debate will happen in the same sentence as the Hall of Fame. This is their last year of eligibility. After this, they can’t make it. You can be on either side of the debate and still be right, and that is ok. Here is where I personally stand. If there is a time for punishment, then isn’t 9 years about that time limit? And, wasn’t pretty much everyone doing it back then? And isn’t it better they do drugs that make them better, rather than the recreational ones rampant in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s? And, in two of their cases, weren’t they already good enough BEFORE the drugs to be in the HOF? I say you put in Clemens and Bonds this year, arguably the best pitcher and hitter of all-time. Leave out Sosa. Put in Schilling also and get past his socialized problematic world views. We give thanks this debate will finally reach a yes or no.
8. Taysom Hill has a contract that pays him a lot for being the backup at every position seemingly on the offensive side, and much more if he ends up at the starting QB position. I am not sure how this odd contract doesn’t make him want to plan a conspiracy with every possible starting QB they bring in, but he will eat well this holiday.
9. We give thanks for the grandson of the coach and star player from the university we all love to hate getting into some DWI trouble.
10. We also give thanks that LeBron showed he can be suspended too. That age thing is making him a little cranky.
11. The Eli-Peyton MNF-cast was cool and different, but I think I would be thankful for less guests and more football at some point.
12. I give thanks for Big Ben keeping the Steelers in the playoff hunt with obviously NO plan for a replacement for the old guy. That wink from Tomlin to Rodgers better have some truth behind it.
13. The Broncos are thankful that every spot in their offense, after the Patrick and Sutton signings, is locked (no pun intended, I promise) in with scary skilled players, except for that all-important QB position. Did Vic wink at Rodgers too?
14. I give thanks for two players who jettisoned my Steelers and have had problems. AB never ceases to amaze us with odd wrongdoings, like by having a fake vaccination card in this case, and Mr. Bell can’t even keep a spot on the arch-enemy that is decimated by RB injuries.
15. Bryce Harper is winning MVP’s, but still can’t get the Phillies in the playoffs. Seems perfect for a selfish guy like that. Meanwhile, in L.A., the OTHER best player in the league (Ohtani after the Trout run) just won the MVP, and now we need to get them BOTH in the playoffs to be truly thankful.
16. Teddy Bridgewater is a scrappy, seasoned, journeyman QB. He is the LAST guy you would expect to run away from a tackle when there was a turnover. But, let’s give thanks to THAT tape for making jokes easier.
17. I give thanks to the fact that I win other bets. For the life of me, I can’t win a bet on or against Tom Brady or Alabama football, and I am not sure why I keep trying.
18. We are all thankful that the Ohio State-Michigan game finally means something real again, even if we are trying to decipher how exactly Michigan will stop OSU’s offense.
19. We are all thankful to the USA’s court system, which allows for suing. Gruden said some obviously bad things, yet still will sue the NFL as he felt targeted. Just fade away, man. Better for us all…
20. I am the opposite of thankful to players who force themselves out of teams and end up on better teams. How OBJ let a dad tweet dissing Baker turn into him being on the contending Rams moving forward is beyond me.
21. I am very thankful that no team has caved on Deshaun Watson yet.
22. Although I am not a Broncos fan, I think all Broncos fans would thank Von Miller for all of his well-spent time here in Denver.
23. MPJ is thankful to the Nuggets for paying him crazy amounts of money, when all mental and physical signs indicated he was still a 23-year old question mark and gamble with a long history of back problems.
24. We would all love to say thanks to the Florida football team who somehow lost barely to Bama and then threw the rest of their season. They must play “Where Have All the Good Times Gone” by Van Halen in the locker room. So odd of tumble.
25. I give thanks to Ben Simmons, who decided not to play, got fined, figured out if he said it was mental that he still would be paid, and then decided to NOT accept the mental health help. That dude is out there hanging out with Kyrie Irving, talking about vaccination conspiracies and flat planets.
26. I am thankful for NIL. Sad that Reggie Bush thinks he would be suddenly off the hook, but it is refreshing that college athletes can get paid in some way. At least Reggie still has his sudden influx of commercials.
27. I think that most fans are glad the Astros didn’t win the World Series without their trash can tricks.
28. Although I still am sort of confused on how the Braves nickname is still allowed, yet the Indians had to change theirs.
29. Roger Goodell is thankful for most things in life, as his salary got released as being $128 million in the last TWO years.
30. I am thankful for the Seattle Kraken, which might be the best nickname in all of sports.
31. I am thankful for pretty much any event that Bill Walton or Dick Vitale are associated with. Congrats on your fast comeback, Dickie V. And I assume Bill is either at Dead and Co. or Dead and Friends right now.
32. Go see Dune and be thankful. It was well done, and the long running time just flew by. Lots of Star Wars comparisons could be made in the best way.
33. All possible new head coaches are thankful. There are some pretty incredible destination landing spots open right now in college football.
34. I am NOT thankful that Eric Bienemy does not have a head coaching job yet. Absolutely ridiculous.
35. I think most watchers of Ted Lasso are thankful someone invented it. Best show in a while, and just makes you all warm and fuzzy inside.
36. I am thankful for all of the shows out there, but there are just too many. I can’t keep up. In the Dark, Nine Perfect Strangers, See, Only Murderers in the Building, Dexter, Billions, You, etc.
37. I am NOT thankful Top Gun 2 still hasn’t been released.
38. I am thankful for Grammy nominations, so I can continue to wonder what the difference is between album, song, and record without actually looking it up.
39. We previously gave thanks that The Hoodie might have another down season, but now his Brady-like rookie is running the table, and our Patriot-less postseasons are suddenly already on the verge of being done again.
40. Denver is thankful that we have kicked in the indoor mask mandate again (happened today), because we all would be so sorry to see COVID go away for good.
41. The Steelers and Lions tied, and my thanks is to to the multiple athletes paid millions of dollars annually who didn’t know the overtime rules and expected them to go to another quarter.
42. Speaking of the Lions, let’s all give thanks that they cut that deal in the 1930’s to be on each Thanksgiving (I read the history of Thanksgiving Day football yesterday). It was easier on the eyes when Barry suited up, and this year is another painful year of watching a team that may or may not be pursuing that #1 draft pick. Barry was the greatest and worth tuning in, and these Lions are pretty much…not. Even Calvin Johnson gave us some reasons to tune in. But, we will anyway, since it is the traditional NFL game going on for the holiday with our family. But, if they ARE going to win a game this year, it probably would be a Thanksgiving Day game against the roller coaster Bears. Give me the Lions to finally win one. Then, the Cowboys, and then the Bills.
43. I am thankful for my family, my wife’s family, at least one of my two cats, my dog Jovie, my health, mac and cheese, the fact that I realized that red marinara sauce in eggs is fantastic, that Lake Tahoe was worth finally going to, that Meow Wolf has been opened in Denver, that Dr. Dre is playing the Super Bowl even if that is my break time in the game, that my wife and I finally dressed up as Princess Bride for Halloween, the town of Aspen, etc. (just family stuff and things on my list, people…don’t overthink my choices).

You think the above is a list, you should see the amount of items I didn’t write about. Let’s just get the itch back slowly. Baby steps to the elevator. Have a great holiday weekend.