When it comes to sports in our area, there are plenty of things to be thankful about on this Thanksgiving.
Sure, we all want our favorite high school, college and professional teams to win, but at least we have sports to cheer for and provide added enthusiasm and entertainment.
I’m thankful that we have an NFL team in St. Louis. The Rams haven’t been very good since the “Greatest Show on Turf” days, but at least we have a team to follow and complain about.
It would be brutal if St. Louis lost an NFL team for the second time. I don’t think it will happen, at least I really hope it doesn’t.
The Rams are good for St. Louis. They need to stay here.
I’d be even more thankful if the Rams built a new open-air stadium at the old Chrysler site in Fenton.
While that’s not completely out of the question, I’m not going to hold my breath.
I’m thankful that my favorite baseball team is the St. Louis Cardinals.
We’ve had some great games and memories over the last two seasons, much less the 100 plus years the team has been in existence.
The Cardinals have won 11 World Series, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to the New York Yankees, and 18 NL pennants.
I’d be even more thankful if the Cardinals can find someone to play shortstop and second base not only next season, but for years beyond.
I’m thankful that the St. Louis Blues appear to be a team on the rise with promising talent and new ownership in the mix.
Of course, I’d be even more thankful if this ridiculous lockout would end.
The NHL is going to take a beating from fans and media if the season is canceled. They better figure out a way to resolve this situation soon.
I’m thankful that we have access to SEC football less than two hours away in Columbia.
The SEC is the best college football conference in the country. It likely will win the national championship for the sixth straight year this season.
I’d be even more thankful if Missouri was more competitive in the SEC. It’s only the first season, but there’s a long way to go for the Tigers.
Texas A&M, Missouri’s opponent this Saturday, has made its presence known immediately, and has done it with a new head coach and a new starting quarterback nicknamed “Johnny Football.”
Mizzou needs to spend less time on creating new uniforms and more time on recruiting better talent.
By the way, the Big 10 Conference will take Maryland and Rutgers, but not Missouri? That’s odd.
I’m thankful that college basketball in our area is pretty good.
Mizzou and Saint Louis both should be NCAA Tournament teams. Missouri State is on the rise.
I’d be even more thankful if the Tigers don’t have to face Norfolk State in the first round of the NCAA Tourney and if the Billikens get injured point guard Kwamain Mitchell back soon.
I’m thankful that we have the Turkey Tournament taking place this week.
We have Franklin County taking on St. Louis County in all four first-round games Wednesday and Thursday.
I’d be even more thankful if Franklin County goes 4-0 in first-round games, or at least 3-1. I’d also be thankful if the Turkey Tournament goes back to 16 teams in the near future.
We’re always happy to have the St. Louis County teams involved. There are a lot of good teams in the tournament. St. Clair is not your typical No. 8 seed. The Bulldogs have some talent.
With a number of new tournaments popping up every year, getting to 16 teams won’t be easy, but you never know.
I’m thankful that we have the high school football state championship games taking place at the Edward Jones Dome Friday and Saturday.
I’m thankful that a GAC school, Francis Howell, is playing for the Class 6 championship.
I’d be even more thankful if St. Louis can win a couple of state championships. The best bets are Kirkwood in Class 5 and John Burroughs in Class 3.
I’d also be more thankful if anyone in Class 4 can give Webb City a game. I don’t think the Cardinals would mind playing a tight, competitive contest.
Watching Helias at St. Clair’s jamboree, I thought the Crusaders were the best team there, which included St. Clair and Rock Bridge.
Can Helias upset Webb City? Probably not. But maybe the Crusaders will keep the margin under two touchdowns, which is something no team has done against the Cardinals all season.
Finally, I’m thankful that we still have winter and spring sports to look forward to for the school year.
We’re going to have some good teams that certainly will be heard from for the remainder of 2012 and into 2013.
I’d be even more thankful if some of our area teams bring home a few championships along the way.
