George Ferguson: I always have a lot to be thankful for, and sports are a big part of it

Wow. Where has the last year gone? It’s amazing how time flies, but alas, its is Thanksgiving, and I for one am plenty thankful.

For starters, I'm thankful that, my family and my loved ones are healthy and safe. Right now, I know we can’t all say that, and I feel very blessed.

I’m thankful for my family, too. My wife, who puts up with an awful lot, and our three four-legged kids, I love my family.

Of course, this is the sports page though, so a Thanksgiving column wouldn’t be complete without giving those thanks, too.

And I gotta admit, it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t say I’m very thankful for what took place last weekend in Missoula. I’m not as deep into the hostility of the Cat-Griz rivalry anymore, and in fact, that part of it actually annoys the heck out of me. I know, I’m just no fun. But, I still don’t know if I could have handled a Grizzlies’ fifth straight loss in the Brawl of the Wild. So I'm giving thanks it didn’t happen.

Beyond that though, I’m just thankful, as always, that sports are in my life. A wise friend of mine told me the longer you go in this business, the less of a fan you’ll be. In other words, he told me I’d get jaded.

I won’t say he’s wrong. But I also don’t know if I’m jaded, either. I think I’m more just burnt out, and it’s true, I’m not the be-all-end-all superman of sports that I used to be. I guess he was right. But I still love what I do, and I still love what I have.

I’m thankful that I was given the ability to write, so that I could cover sports for a living. I’m also thankful I am a Blue Pony and have been able to coach at my alma mater for more than 19 years. In that regard, I’m so very lucky.

I’m also thankful I’m a Northern alumn, and a Griz alum. I’m thankful for both.

Yup, I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, as we all do. And sports are a big part of that. Now, is there certainly more to life? Of course there is, and every diehard sports fan needs that perspective once in a while. But, I don’t know where I’d be without sports either. So I’m definitely thankful they’re such a big part of my life.

So that’s what I’m thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.