I'm Thankful For...

     Ah, Thanksgiving. My absolute favorite, unparalleled, tantamount holiday of the entire year. Throughout the year, I am angry, disappointed, depressed at times, cynical, and a smart ass. However, on this one glorious day of the year, all of that is forgiven; and I get to eat A LOT. So, that being said, and because I don't do it most of the other 364 days of the year, I give to you my list of people I am thankful for year-round, but only think to publicly discuss it about once a year... kind of like my tax return check...

I am thankful for, but in no particular order other than that's how they popped into my head:


1. My Wife: Jenny and I are unrecognizable to each other from where we started, and, as a wise, jail- time serving craftswoman says, "That's a good thing." I don't know what I'd do without her
listening to me bitch and moan about everything. She's a great mom and wife and I couldn't be more proud of her. Every day I am thankful for her... even when she beats me at Scrabble.






2. My Son: Cameron is absolutely, bar-none, the most amazing thing
I have ever been a part of. He is smart, funny,
and as handsome as, well, we all know who his dad is... He
makes me smile by just being Cameron. I am the luckiest dad
in the world. (One day, he'll get me for this picture!)

                                                                                                                             3. Papaw and Granny: Where would I be without them? Maybe even more importantly, who would I be? They are there for everything that I have ever asked of them. Everything from borrowing tools and showing me how to run an outlet to the breaker box to taking Cameron to experience things like feeding fish, always making sure that we "have everything we need," and being the two most dependable people I have ever known. I love you both.

4. Mom & Dad: I don't get to speak to either of them as much as I'd like or as much as I should. I love them both. Always supportive in the classroom and on the field, I was allowed and encouraged to be whatever I wanted; I tried to be everything. I want Cameron to have the same opportunities, both academics and athletics. Along the way, I somewhere developed a sense of humor that I will attribute to them both. But only because they say I'm their combination of smart-ass: Mom's smarts and Dad's wit. :) I'll take em both!





5. My Friends: I'm talking about those people who, instead of coming to bail you out of jail, would be sitting right there beside you in jail. My list is short. That's mostly my fault. I'm kind of an asshole and make it hard to be around long enough to become true friends with. You know who you are, and to save you the embarassment, I won't put your picture or even mention why Jim and Delisa Davis, Jason Streun, Paul Anderson, Alice Smith, Trudi and Jeremy Brack are not listed.

6. My Other Family:  Paul and Rhonda Jolley, Ryan and Becky Howe, Stephanie and Preston Armstrong. You guys have all become such an intricate part of my life. I can't tell you how blessed I am to have each of you to call family. I love my outlaws, err, inlaws and couldn't have asked for a better group of people to be associated with. I have always been made to feel like I am part of the family, right from the beginning. After what is creeping up on 5 years (eek!) of knowing you all, I have been able to see that this is just who you are. I am so appreciative of each of you because of who you are: Papa, the only other-guy-in-the-house-I talk-to with all those women around. Nana, the best wordsmith I have ever met. Steph, the always there to lend an ear sis. Becky, the life of the party as soon as she speaks! Ryan, the best damned river-floatin' drinkin' partner you could ask for. And Preston... what can I say about the guy who says everything about himself... I love you, man. Staying out til all hours for a game release or XBOX session, just chillin and talking about life, or just trying to change brake lights at 1 in the morning with no clue at all what we're doing; you are a beast, my friend.


I am thankful for these people year-round. I hope they know it. Partly because it's true, but mostly because I probably won't think to say it again until next year. BRING ON THE FOOD!

NBA: Greedy Sons o' Bitches

Fuck you, NBA. I'm not a die-hard NBA fan. I could care less, actually, about 99% of the time. However, instead of actually doing your damned jobs and PLAYING a GAME, you are haggling about not getting enough money?! Seriously? Somewhere in your tiny, steroid-fertilized, egotistical, "we deserve to get paid" heads, you decided you didn't get paid enough? You play 82 to 90 games a YEAR. Divide that into the $5.15 MILLION the average, not great, average, player earns, and you receive about $55,722 PER GAME!

Why the hell would you feel that we would remotely have any sympathy for you assholes? You make my ANNUAL salary and a half for 60 minutes of work...

The last time the NBA went through a labor stoppage, the fans' collective hearts were breaking [insert sarcasm HERE] over statements from Patrick Ewing like,"We might make a lot of money but, we also spend a lot of money." Really, jackass? We didn't realize that.

Players are upset because the NBA is trying to implement a system to keep them financially viable. The NBA front office stance is that just because another year has gone by, doesn't mean you should get paid more money. Sometimes the market can't hold a certain inflation level. If you want to see the end result of continuing to spend money that you don't have, just ask America how her credit rating is these days. Players are complaining because they think that owners could raise prices of gates and merchandise to supplement new, higher contracts for players.

Let's not place all of the blame on the players. After all, who is it that charges $54 for a nosebleed seat at an NBA game? Who is it that allowed players to sign unrealistic and unfounded contracts in the first place? Again, I refuse to feel pain for someone who OWNS a team and has let it run amok on them.

I hope this season gets cancelled. Players don't get paid if there is no season. Owners lose money. Many fans will lose interest in the players and become apathetic to the NBA. Players who go overseas: Break a leg... and an arm, and your liver. The only question worth asking at this point is, "Who's playing hockey tonight?"

p.s. Remembering all of the times that Patrick Ewing choked when it counted, reminded me of these memories:

THIS is what you get paid for?