Why Sports Fans Are Thankful

If you are reading this right now, a few things are probably true.

You're probably a sports nut, the kind of person who is just as pumped for the football on Thanksgiving as you are for the turkey. And you probably follow these games more closely than any of your friends; you're the go-to guy/girl for sports info. Luckily for people like you and I, sports is our getaway, and what a fine place it is to escape to.

With that said, we at the 'House (and one guest appearance) compiled a list of the "Things to Be Thankful for in the Sports World". This is obviously highly personal and subjective territory, but if you're a true fan, how can you view it any other way?

"John Smoltz and the Atlanta Braves. Smoltz is my favorite baseball player of all time, he's going to the Hall of Fame and will [hopefully] end his career as a Brave. The only reason he might not is that the Braves have been stinking up the joint the past few years (ever since I named my fantasy baseball teams 14&Counting, actually). But, despite their inability to continue to win the division over the past few years, they won a championship at the apex of my baseball loving childhood, and for that I'm thankful. I can't imagine having to grow up as a championship-less loser my entire sports rooting life. Or becoming like a Red Sox fan after it finally happened. Both thoughts are depressing."
--Will Brinson

"I'm thankful that NHL has a huge number of young stars that are oozing with so much talent that it might actually make the game relevant again, and more than an after thought in the national landscape. (Sid Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Patrick Kane ... I'm looking at you.)"
--Adam Gretz

"How Alexander Ovechkin shows his passion for hockey. His idea of a goal celebration is original in that it's completely spontaneous and usually involves his teammates and him together. The passion he has for hockey is ridiculously infectious. Watch a Washington Capitals game, and you'll be hooked. As much fun as it is to watch the superstars of various individual and team sports, not many of them are like Ovechkin. For whatever reason, his enthusiasm just comes across as genuine and is never questioned. It doesn't hurt that he's doing this in a newly-revitalized hockey town. Washington has been waiting for years to have a player they could latch on to. Quicker than anyone could have anticipated, Ovechkin has become that player. He carried that team to new heights last year, and the city came along for the ride. From the perspective of a Minnesota fan, there's no shortage of passion for the game. I watch it on TV, I attend games, I call games on the radio. But even as an outsider, it's impossible not to appreciate Ovechkin and what he's brought to the sport in such a short amount of time. You can talk Crosby until you're blue in the face, but I'll take Ovechkin any day of the week."
--Bruce Ciskie

"I'm thankful for Kris Jenkins, Brett Favre, and the other smart front office decisions the Jets have made over the past few years. For once, we have a nose tackle that actually embodies the position (all 350 pounds of him) instead of a pretending fat guy. And a quarterback that can rifle a pass instead of "noodle" it on a slant. That some pundits are even saying the Jets are the best AFC team is something I never thought I'd hear. This is a team that's built to win now, and in the future. We've come a long way from the days of Rich Kotite, New York."
--Thomas Herrera

"I'm thankful that Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech are proving that the triple option offense can still work in big-time college football."
--Mark Hasty

"I'm thankful for Martin Brodeur. He's a quiet icon in an era where the Internet and 24-hour media have turned over every last rock looking for subjects to worship and/or tear down. I was only eight years old when he made his pro debut, 10 when he took the Devils to the Conference Finals against the Rangers in '94. I don't remember life as a Devils fan before Brodeur. I've grown up with him. Through all the change that growing up entails, I knew one constant would be seeing Brodeur 70+ games a year, making unbelievable stops, tearing down records, winning Stanley Cups, saving the day. His dedication to the game and his team are remarkable; when Scott Gomez left to sign with the Rangers, Brodeur refused to speak to his old good friend again. He's accepted less money to stay in New Jersey. He's Cal Ripken and Michael Jordan combined. This will be the first full year since 1993 that Brodeur won't play in at least 65 games thanks to a biceps injury. He has two records left to break in very close shooting range -- most all-time wins and most all-time shutouts -- before he could rightfully call himself the best goaltender of all time, and those will probably have to wait until next year. I've long wondered what it would be like not having the security of Brodeur in net, and now I know -- it's pretty damn hollow. You don't know what you got 'til it's gone, indeed."
--Tom Mantzouranis

"I'm thankful for Bruce Lee, who, if he were still alive, would be turning 68 years old today. Everyone who loves mixed martial arts owes a debt of gratitude to Lee, who did more to make martial arts popular than any other person in history. Lee's embrace of all forms of fighting made him, in many respects, the original mixed martial artist. He'd love the fact that MMA's popularity is surging."
--Michael David Smith

"I'm thankful for Josh Hamilton's season. Far too often in sports teams and players like to claim that everyone gave up on them and that nobody believed they could succeed. Hamilton's the rare case where, for exceptionally good reason, it was actually true. That he came back, had the season he did and turned the Home Run Derby into something actually worth watching should give hope to anyone who find's themselves on the wrong side of one of life's bounces. I realize Hamilton made his own bed, but he didn't stay in it which is worthy of applause and I'm thankful for one of the more enjoyable sports stories of the year."
--Josh Alper

"For Fantasy Football."
--Matt Snyder

"That my son is 10 months old today and has been even more fun than I could possibly have imagined. That the Tennessee Titans drafted Chris Johnson in the first round even when I said they were complete and utter fools for making the decision. As a result the Titans are 10-1 and I'll be spending Thanksgiving Day watching them play in Detroit with my wife's family. That if my college team, the Tennessee Vols, were going to collapse while I was writing a book about them, at least I'd have a front row seat. That basketball season is here and Bruce Pearl is on my side. And, most importantly on this day of giving tremendous thanks, that amateur internet porn continues to grow in popularity. From the bottom of my heart, thank you girls, thank you each and every one."
--Clay Travis, Claynation

I'm thankful for John Daly, who has singlehandedly made golf interesting. Even though he hasn't had his PGA Tour card in more than two years, looks to be well over 400 pounds, and can't make it a week without something like this happening. If John McCain really wanted to win the election, he would've had Big John play the role of Joe the Plumber. Daly's much stronger on foreign policy and despite his history, I have yet to meet a person who doesn't like him (and he knows Kid Rock!). I can't imagine how popular he'd be if he were still any good at golf. -- Ryan Wilson

"And finally, for the blogosphere. Never in my life did I imagine that "catching a break" in the journalistic world would be writing daily online for millions of readers who have yearned for some other form of sports news. This world is full of creative websites from Kissing Suzy Kolber and Every Day Should be Saturday to Deadspin and Awful Announcing. This is a new voice, but it is a voice and it might have taken the Buzz Bissinger moment to make people realize this. Blogs are fun, exciting and different, similar to that goth girl you used to have a crush on in high school but would never admit it. If you are a serious breakfast guy, eat your cereal with your CNN. If you like things a little different, come enjoy your huevos rancheros with us bloggers."
--Shane Bacon

Got anything you're thankful for in sports? Spit it out in the comments. Happy Thanksgiving everyone, enjoy whatever food makes you happy.