Season to give thanks

By Josh Griffin

With Thanksgiving just one week away, I thought I would take the opportunity to do something that I do not get to do nearly enough. The following is a brief list of things that I am thankful for, just as the holiday season approaches.

Presidential term limits; Fat Tire, Tullamore Dew and Greyhounds; Stateline, Nev.; Pittman for telling me my column is awful every week, and Charlie for telling me that it's not; December in Colorado; the lyric sheets for "Ditty" by Paperboy and "Let Down" by Radiohead; The Strokes; the screening of "Casino" on Starz for two straight weeks; the Spartan Daily; personal "mental health" days; and The Sports Guy.

ESPN.com; Pardon the Interruption; Monday Morning Quarterback; Biggie Smalls; re-runs of "Law and Order"; Zack from "Saved by the Bell" in "NYPD Blue"; Al Gore appearing on the "Letterman Show"; Torii Hunter's family tree; the Darius Miles-Quentin Richardson cross-country head pounding tribute; senior nights at The Hut; late night Ryan Auffenberg concerts; and the Condos.

The renaissance of the Sacramento Kings; the national champion women's soccer team; Tyrone Willingham; "The Tao of Steve"; Dusty Baker, and hopefully hitting coach Gene Stiles, on the North Side; Shawon Dunston; Gracie's World Series; the Puerto Rico Expos; Shaq's big toe; MarBear, Griff Sr. and family.

I am most thankful for all of the people who make my job easier: the Santa Clara athletic staff for their cooperation with the sports staff; my writers - Jack Ferdon, Brian Betz and staff writer Bruce Martinez; the production staff - Paolo Posadas and Katie Hansen - who don't get nearly the credit they all deserve, but are integral in producing the paper every week. Finally, thanks for reading, and happy holidays.