In a wide world of sports punks, I am thankful that our kings and queens of tennis (Roger Federer, Justine Henin) and golf (Tiger Woods, Lorena Ochoa) are four of the classiest, least controversial and most thoroughly admirable athletes we have. –Mike Downey
I’m thankful for Alex Rodriguez, who is going behind the back of his agent, the wicked Scott Boras, in an attempt to re-sign with the Yankees. Unless, of course, Boras has orchestrated this whole production. In which case I’m thankful that Rodriguez likely will eclipse steroid king Barry Bonds as baseball’s home run king. Unless it turns out that A-Rod also has been using steroids all these years. OK, I’m thankful for Ernie Banks. –Rick Morrissey
A word of thanks to the Voice of Summer, Pat Hughes. One reason a lot of us love baseball is we grew up listening to Jack Quinlan, Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray tell us about it. Pat Hughes carries on that Hall of Fame tradition, from his meticulous descriptions of the uniforms to his exuberant play calls to his caring stewardship of his wiggy partner. –Dan McGrath
Thank you, NBA draft-eligibility rules. Now we get to watch Indiana’s Eric Gordon, UCLA’s Kevin Love and Memphis’ Derrick Rose star on the collegiate stage instead of unimpressive cameos on the professional stage. –Brian Hamilton
Thanks to NU’s women’s lacrosse team for reminding me about the good side of college sports by proving you can win national titles with athletes who are ferocious competitors and real students. –Philip Hersh
I’m thankful for the beleaguered sports fan whose loyalty is tested by his football team, tolerance by his basketball team, patience by his baseball teams and judgment by the likes of Michael Vick and Barry Bonds, and still hangs in for more. –Melissa Isaacson
A special thanks to former White Sox bullpen coach Art Kusnyer, whose humor is unmatched in baseball. Those who survive a retooling of the bullpen this winter would be wise to absorb his sage advice on baseball and life. –Mark Gonzales
Because the high school sports beat doesn’t afford the luxuries of college and pro sports, here’s a Thanksgiving appreciation for athletic directors around the area for their accommodation and cooperation. –Bob Sakamoto
I have completed four marathons, and they’re always grueling. But on Oct. 7, the Chicago Marathon was torturous. Thanks to all of the runners for inspiring me to sign up for the 2008 Chicago Marathon anyway–even if I don’t have the pleasure of covering them again. –Shannon Ryan
The true thanks go to you readers, because of whom we have jobs. Whether print or online, you readers (and listeners and viewers, depending upon the medium of the moment) are who we go to work for every day. –John Mullin
Thanks to the NFL for delaying, for at least one season, the implementation of the popular league proposal of an 18-game regular season. Surely Bears fans can understand and appreciate the sentiment. –David Haugh
I’m thankful for Barry Bonds, Nick Saban, Kelvin Sampson, Michael Vick and Stephon Marbury. They all remind me why I’m lucky to write about high schools, where coaches are accessible and athletes feel blessed to play. –Barry Temkin
Thank you athletes, coaches, teachers, athletic directors, dance troupes, cheerleaders, parent volunteers and, yes, even the sometimes cranky IHSA. You make Illinois preps a joy to cover. –Dave Surico
At the risk of sounding like a slobbering copy of John Madden, I’m so glad that Brett Favre is still around, doing what he’s doing, making a case as the greatest quarterback of all time. And look, there he is on television on Thanksgiving. Perfect. –Steve Rosenbloom
Is there any college coach who works harder–and is nicer–than DePaul’s Doug Bruno? Bruno is a true Chicagoan who has developed a nationally ranked women’s basketball team and provides help to anyone who asks. –Alan Sutton
While we, as sportswriters, give thanks all year for turkeys who make our headlines, on this day we gratefully pause to praise those who read past the headlines. For what is sports, and a sports story, without the millions who pour their passion into such an insignificant pursuit? — Dave van Dyck
Even when the plane is late, the deadlines are stressful and the media room food is something awful like Cream of Spam, we get to watch games, talk to athletes and then exercise one of our true loves–writing. How cool is that? — K.C. Johnson
Thanks to Jerry Reinsdorf and Kenny Williams for four more years of Mark Buehrle, the rare guy who doesn’t need to be told to check his ego at the door. The only thing that could have made it better? A long-term deal for his longtime running buddy, Jon Garland. –Phil Rogers
