Happy Thanksgiving
Posted November 23, 2008, 7:51 PM ET

As we head into one of my favorite holidays, it's time that we pause and give thanks....

I'm thankful that my favorite football teams aren't coached by Charlie Weis. I can't think of a better fit than Weis and the Irish....it's so easy to root against them both, at the same time. By the way, nice effort by the Notre Dame fans, pelting their own team with snowballs during their choke job against lowly Syracuse.

I'm thankful that we should be able to witness a national title game between the SEC and the Big XII....even though I despise the BCS, this year the best teams from the best leagues should settle the championship on the field.

I'm thankful that the Carolina Panthers have given the fans reason to pay attention to big-time games in December. The last couple of seasons have felt empty, watching everybody else have fun in December and into the playoffs.

I'm thankful that the NASCAR post-season is over.

I'm thankful that the Bobcats' regular season is almost over.

I'm thankful that Oklahoma proved that Texas Tech is a pretender by beating the daylights out of that Mickey Mouse outfit out of Lubbock.

I'm thankful for coaching searches. It has been more entertaining trying to figure out the next coaches at Clemson and Tennessee than it has been watching those respective teams play this season. I've also enjoyed watching and listening to Butch Davis turn down every job opening in America.

I'm thankful that I haven't spent too much time watching college hoops....yet. The season starts too early, with too many meaningless games.

I'm thankful for Appalachian State's run for a fourth consecutive national title. A playoff system in college football? What an amazing concept.

I'm thankful for Ashley Judd....she is a helluva lot better to look at than Kentucky basketball.

I'm thankful that Brett Favre hasn't held the New York Jets hostage over his pending retirement announcement....but stay tuned.

I'm thankful for Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski...they will have us entertained as we get ready for those crazy nights this hoops season.

I'm thankful that I won't see Dale, Jr. complain about his crew until the boys get back at it in Daytona.

I'm thankful for Bobby Knight. I love watching him get sick to his stomach as Jay Bilas and Digger Phelps suck up to him with tugs, grins and fake laughs during another production on the College Basketball Gameday set.

I'm thankful for Jon Beason, the outstanding Panthers linebacker, who plays with passion and handles himself with class.

I'm thankful for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Dallas Morning News, Washington Post and Orlando Sentinel online sports pages.

I'm thankful that ESPN has acquired the BCS rights from Fox. Nobody does college football better than the Worldwide Leader.

I'm thankful the election is over.

I'm thankful that Michael Jordan is the Carolinas Citizen of the Year.

Happy Thanksgiving.