Let us bow our heads in the huddle and give thanks to all of the awesomeness that is sport.
So many things to be thankful for… so little time.
Brian Reddoch is a CraveOnline reporter and rabid fan of all teams Seattle. You can follow him on Twitter @ReddReddoch or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook .
Photo Credit: Getty
Sports Thanksgiving
NCAA Football Rivalry Week (this weekend!)
Los Angeles’ freeway series of Trojans vs. Bruins is the most exciting in a decade. The Iron Bowl of Auburn vs Alabama is easily a top 5 most anticipated game this year. And Buckeyes vs. Wolverines is always fierce. From the Apple Cup in Washington to the Victory Bell in North Carolina, these are the games that compel us to watch. And, thank you to the kids who bust their butts on the field.
NFL’s New Wave of Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson. Andrew Luck. Colin Kaepernick . Robert Griffin III. Cam Newton.
Let us give thanks to them all. While we watch the legends like Manning and Brady finish their careers, it is heartwarming to see a new breed of gunslingers rise up and carry the banner for a new generation.
Holiday Games
NFL on Thanksgiving day. College rivalry weekend. NBA this upcoming Christmas. College football on New Year’s Day. I am thankful for the simple joy of eating appetizers while I wait for the holiday meal to be completed.
Open Air Hockey
I am thankful to the NHL who is expanding the outdoor Winter Classic to six games this upcoming January. Outdoor hockey is the best and now we get to experience Kings vs Ducks in Dodger Stadium to go along with games in Ann Arbor, Yankee Stadium, and Soldier Field.
Jurgen Klinsman
The US Men’s National Soccer team is in full recovery. They destroyed the CONCACAF division and will sail onto into the World Cup next year with an air of confidence. This is in thanks to the coach from Germany.
Danke , meister der taktik . Eine nation ist dankbar .
(Thank you, master tactician. A nation is thankful.)
Baseball Wild Card Playoff
I am thankful to the frumpy ol’ Bud Selig . Do or die final weekends followed by play-in games followed by one-game Wild Card series… yeah, that is how you make baseball exciting for the masses and old-school fans.
Yasiel Puig, Wil Myers & Jose Fernandez
Love him or loathe him, Puig has ignited passion around the league. Wil Myers may spell his name funny but he can flat out play. Jose Fernandez is one of the best sports human interest stories in a long while. Not only is a new crop of exciting players on the stage on the heels of Trout and Harper, they have all started their careers so young they will be around for a long, long time, ensuring great quality baseball for a long, long time. I didn’t even mention Wheeler, Cole, Miller, Marte , Martin, Boegarts , Harvey, etc etc etc. It is a great time for baseball.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.