Well, look at the calendar. It’s that time of year where many of us will gather with loved ones and friends, eat a whole bunch of food, watch a whole bunch of football, and perhaps mention before that really big meal what each of us are thankful for.
I’m thankful that I was able to witness an event that had eluded so many previous generations before: the Cubs winning the whole thing.
I’m thankful for having some semblance of a college football playoff. Perhaps one of these days, it can more closely resemble what takes place in the FCS.
I’m thankful for the relative peace in all four major professional sports when it comes to collective bargaining agreements; even though there are reports that the 21 years of labor peace in baseball could meet a quick end soon. Missing parts of a season, or a whole season for that matter, just sucks for all involved.
Speaking of baseball, I’m thankful for my local cable provider for at long last adding MLB Network.
I’m thankful for the ability to call sports for a living. It’s the main reason I took my current position almost a decade ago, and if that part of the job description were to vanish, I guarantee I would vanish from my employer.
I’m thankful for the athletic directors and coaches at the small schools and the big schools that I interact with in order to be able to broadcast these games. They certainly make my job easier.
I’m thankful for the young men and women who play these games. They give it their all mostly ever night; even those who may ride the bench for the majority of their tenures.
I’m thankful for the fellow broadcasters and those in the sports media industry that I’ve had the pleasure to meet and work alongside. Their contributions, however large or small they may be, have assisted in my growth to become a better broadcaster. I certainly look forward to meeting more of you, feel free to follow me on Twitter should you desire @jasonmetko.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to share thoughts and insights in this forum. As I’ve said before, writing has always been a much stronger skill for me than the spoken word.
And I’m thankful for you, the reader. There are a great many blogs and essays in the vast expanse that is “the internet”, and to have your eyes either gaze or skim through these sections means more than you can possibly know.
Happy Thanksgiving boys and girls, and be sure not to overcook the pumpkin pie. I’m speaking from personal experience.
-Metko
