LITTLE ROCK — Here’s 25 things I’m thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.
1. Family. Always first and foremost. When we get together this afternoon there will be a lot of teasing and story telling, but all of it is with good humor and love.
2. For my friends, of which I have many and am truly blessed to know each and every one of them.
3. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette management team who led us through some tough times.
4. That we live in a country where we are free to worship as we choose.
5. That the Dallas Cowboys are on television this afternoon.
6. That the Iron Bowl is on Friday, and Donald McDonald and Rob Jolly have invited me to watch the UALR game from a suite with a TV. That’s a win-win.
7. That the Razorbacks host LSU in Little Rock on Saturday. It is a long drive to Baton Rouge and back.
8. That Ryan Mallett came back this season. This season has flown by because the Razorbacks are fun to watch.
9. D.J. Williams, an outstanding athlete who is the poster boy for the term student-athlete. His mom Vicky did a great job of raising him and his two sisters.
10. For the sports department at the Democrat-Gazette. No one knows how hard the staff works, many times into the wee hours of the morning.
11. For Shawn Arnell, Richard “The Recruiting Guy’ Davenport, Bill Ingram and Ross McDaniel, who along with yours truly have a great time on Shawn and Wally on the Arkansas Radio Network.
12. That my long time friend Tommy Smith is on the road to recovery. He’s still a great radio personality without being The Outlaw.
13. That Bobby Petrino told the Atlanta Falcons adios amigos and came toArkansas. He’s the first head coach in Razorbacks history who likes to pass as much or more than run.
14. That Jeff Long gave Razorbacks basketball coach John Pelphrey another year and another chance to make the NCAA Tournament, which is the benchmark of success in college basketball these days.
15. That UALR’s athletic department was able to land an NCAA women’s basketball tournament weekend. That is the kind of forward thinking we need in central Arkansas.
16. That there are only two more times to vote in the Harris Poll this season. Maybe this sports reporter puts too much time in on it, but objectivity has alwaysbeen the goal.
17. That Arkansas doesn’t have a board of trustee member whose failed bank allegedly gave debit cards to athletes. It is one thing to have a renegade booster, it is something completely different if that booster is on the board.
18. That Ed Daniel offered to smoke my turkey. Daniel is a CPA/attorney, but he could be a pro when it comes to smoking food.
19. For Dr. Steve Cathey, who will do surgery on my back next week.
20. For David Bazzell for all he does with the Little Rock Touchdown Club, and Bobby Vint for his hard work with the Tip Off Club.
21. For Kirk Montgomery, assistant managingeditor/design and graphics (and a huge Alabama fan) and Stacy Hawkins, deputy managing editor/production, who are often sounding boards for what appears in this space.
22. That Joe Kleine’s family no longer tries to fry a turkey.
23. Cliff Lee’s generous gift to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, an incredible healing facility.
24. That my six-year-old, paid-for, car runs great.
25. For Governor Beebe, who works for the people and not just his party.
Sports, Pages 25 on 11/25/2010