Giving Thanks: A Broad Look

A few things we're thankful for, sports and otherwise.

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"Damn right! I'm delightful!"

Little secret: we're not here the next few days. We'll be back Monday, to release another issue electronically to the world and start up "The Holidays According to Us," among other things. We realize Thanksgiving is Thursday and you may stumble across this page on Sunday, thus apparently dating it. Negative. These are things we're thankful for in the broadest sense. Because we endeavor to link sports back into other areas of society, this list isn't just sports-related. Are we grateful for the NFL playoffs starting in six weeks? Cue Tina Fey: "You betcha!" Doesn't mean we're gonna talk it up, though. Have fun and see if ya agree with anything.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: GOOGLE
Obvious, yes. The question now, honestly: is it the biggest development in all society in the past 50-100 years? Here is a very small look at why the answer may be "yes."

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: YOUTUBE
Also obvious. Main reason we love YouTube: stuff like this exists and can live for you whenever you want it. TimeTube is also cool. Go there and poke around.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: AL MICHAELS AND JOHN MADDEN
Not calling a Thanksgiving game this year, but will be calling the Super Bowl! Tight.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: RASHEED WALLACE
This is fil-fee. So is this. This story is old, but well-written. We think the Pistons' plane rides currently, with AI and Sheed, must be nothing short of epic.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: COUNTRY MUSIC
It's really good. Just try to watch this video and not be happy.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: LIL WAYNE'S BLOG
The dude is insightful about sports.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: THE TRACY JORDAN CHARACTER ON 30 ROCK
One of the funniest non-animated TV characters in years. This is also rather hysterical.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: MIKE LEACH
Woodshedding by Oklahoma aside, he makes this BCS mess a little more interesting.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE GETTING FUNNY AGAIN
Thank you, 2008 elections and Mark Wahlberg.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY
You think you understand how big "sports" has become in this century? Did you know that last century "sport" meant only two things: 1) entertainment and 2) hunting, shooting, or fishing? As the definitive record of the English language, the OED can explain to us just what kind of cultural signifcance sports has come tohave : Read this this to see how the word and all its phrases have evolved.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: INDIANA BASKETBALL
You've got to hit rock bottom before you can start moving up. With a squad of virtual unknowns staring down the barrel of one of college's toughest division schedules, these kids are going to be doing some serious learning. But we might actually get to witness how a powerhouse is built.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: TRUTH
Such as the kernels contained here.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: FIRSTSHOWING.NET
The site has news on films and casting decisions for movies that may not be released until 2014. If you like flicks (in this economy, who doesn't?), it's a must-read.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: EW.COM
Fact of the matter is, almost every website likes to rank things and make lists, but Entertainment Weekly's site does it almost better than anyone.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: CELEBRITY-ATHLETE PAIRINGS
It allows us to make videos like this and write things like this, both of which apparently register high on Google (everything's coming full circle!)

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: JIMMY KIMMEL
He's very funny, which is something to always want around. But have you heard about his house? We also find Sarah Silverman adorable, so that's a positive as well.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: JIM CALHOUN
Battle-tested coach has a legit squad this year. He also used to own a bar in Hartford that many ESPN'ers spent football Sundays at.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR: THE BIG EAST CONFERENCE IN BASKETBALL
Uh, by the first week of December, half of the conference might be in the national Top 25.

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