Opinion Corner: Giving thanks to sports

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The great thing about Thanksgiving Day is the reflection.

It’s a day when a person looks at and is humbled by the events of his or her life and gives thanks.

It’s followed with today, Black Friday. A day when half the country decides to crush each other at the mall for stuff, which can be argued is just more stuff to be thankful for next year.

It’s really up to the individual on how it’s perceived.

Should we feel bad to acquire more stuff — even stuff we don’t need — or should we be thankful that we can go out and get more stuff in the first place?

I don’t have the answer to that.

At any rate, as I’m writing this on Thanksgiving Day, I’d like to pass on a few things in the wide world of sports that I’m thankful for this season.

— I’m thankful that Kevin Love is back in the mix for the Timberwolves. When he made his return on Wednesday night against Denver all was right with the world.

Love was draining treys, pulling down boards and the Wolves eventually blew it. I’m thankful for normalcy.

— I’m thankful that North Dakota hockey fans have stayed true to the best hockey program in the country, as millionaires in the NHL fight over table scraps and deny the rest of us a sport we used to support. I’m thankful we have the right to support it again, or not, when it returns.

We’ll always have the Sioux. That was its name when I walked across the stage and took hold of my diploma from that university, and I’m thankful I can say that.

— I’m thankful Jimmie Johnson didn’t win the Sprint Cup again this year, in a sport that touts being fair and square but somehow lacks more and more parity each and every year.

Super owners have become a problem in that sport. I’d like to see owners limited to just two cars, and I’d also like to see some sort of cap on team spending like other professional sports. You want fair? You want to really know who the good drivers are and who ain’t? That would do it.

Remember Alan Kulwicki, the one-man-band, car owner/driver/wrench that won it all? Wouldn’t it be awesome if NASCAR was still like that?

I’m thankful for racing, and the state of Wisconsin. It gave us Kulwicki and Danica Patrick.

— I’m thankful for Adrian Peterson. His season to this point has been one of the most inspiring performances I’ve ever witnessed, and because of him the Vikings and their fans still have hope as the team heads into a crucial stretch of division games before the playoffs.

I’m thankful for the Packers and the Bears. Without rivals nobody would care.

— I’m thankful for Scott Diamond. He’s currently the only starting pitcher the Twins have, and if anyone tells you different they’re delusional.

I’m thankful the owners of the Twins have money, and I’m hopeful they’ll spend some of it on an athlete who won’t be possibly remembered as the biggest bust in professional sports history.

For crying out loud, go get a pitcher already! What are you waiting for, Christmas?

But I’m thankful the Twins have a 6-foot-5 Swiss Army Knife that can DH when his tummy is well, catch when he’s had enough sleep, and play first base in between Head & Shoulders commercials.

But seriously, I’m thankful Joe Mauer’s career isn’t over yet. He still has time to inspire me. I hope he’s been watching Adrian, a guy who knows what the face of a franchise looks like because he sees it every day in the mirror.

— I’m thankful for the remote control. When Kenny Chesney takes a whack at crooning during halftime on Thanksgiving Day, a sports writer who is writing a column somewhere can turn the noise down.

Boy, this has started to slide downhill. The Twins have soured my mood and I momentarily forgot it’s the holidays.

My apologies to the reader, and Joe.

Here’s to hoping everyone has a safe and memorable holiday season, and always remember to give thanks, sports related or not. The reasons are all around you.

Sun sports writer Michael Savaloja can be reached at (701) 952-8461 or by email at msavaloja@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, holiday