(Besides Lloyd Carr)

It’s Thanksgiving today (if you didn’t know), so I am doing my obligatory Thanksgiving post. What am I thankful for? Why am I thankful for it? Find out in… WHAT I’M THANKFUL FOR: Thanksgiving Edition!

1.) Kenny Lofton - Today being Thanksgiving, it only seems right to put an Indian at #1. Midway through the season, the Indians were starting to struggle a little. Detroit was ahead of them at the time, and they started to add to their lead. Then, the Indians traded for Lofton, and like Squanto who helped the pilgrims survive their early winters in Plymouth, Lofton helped turn the Tribe around with his .283 batting average (4th on the team).

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2.) Ricky Williams - Now that he’s reinstated, maybe he’ll turn around the Dolphins like Lofton? Maybe not. Ricky says, “We’re just taking it one day at a time.” Translation: “I might, at any moment, bolt Miami for Jamaica.”

3.) Roger Goodell - Whether strengthening America’s influence overseas, letting America’s cities burn in the process, or having his nation-building efforts overseas fall flat, Goodell always has some kind of power-grabbing tricks up his sleave. Suspending Pacman for the entire season? Epic. Fining Cowboys QB coach Wade Wilson $100,000 for using HGH to alleviate symptoms from diabetes? Not so epic.

4.) That I’m Not a Mangino - His wife has probably been working since Monday to get their family’s Thanksgiving meal prepared. And even then, I’m not sure there would be enough to go around.

But, kudos on your great football season, Mangino. Earlier this season, I had to put “Kansas Football Coach” in parenthesees when referring to you. Now, you’re the most popular coach in the game. Keep up winning (but not against Oklahoma), and you might earn yourself an NFL job, preferably with the New York Jets, where there would be the two Mangeniuses (just one, really) coaching.

(A little histroy on Mangino: This is his sixth year coaching, all with Kansas, and he has only had two winning seasons prior. Mangino’s Wikipedia Page)

5.) Phil Jackson’s Dirty Mouth - Just about a week ago, he replied to a question about the Lakers allowing penetration with, “We call this a Brokeback game…” Then he apologized by saying, “I would like to apologize to any Texans, cowboys, or horses I may have offended.”

6.) LeBron and His 30 Points Per Game - Well, the Cavs are 5-6, 3rd place in their division, but one of the main reasons they do have 5 wins is LeBron James. LeBron is averaging 29.6 points per game this season. The Cavs only have three other players in double digits. Their fifth best scorer? Devin Brown, a five year veteran who has played for five different teams. Forget “Where are they now?” For Devin Brown, the question is “Who is he, now?”

7.) Priest Holmes - More of a career accomplishment award. From me and all other fantasy football geeks who ever owned you, thank you, Priest Holmes. Holmes announced his retirement yesterday, after reinjuring his neck. I had the priviledge of owning Priest (and therfore owning my opponents) in 2003 when he broke the single-season touchdown record. I remember that game like it was yesterday… Sitting in front of my computer all day, watching the live scoring page, I was mesmerized by his beautiful numbers. People say he has beautiful running form, but I’ve never seen it.