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Giving Thanks

I’m thankful for a lot of things – things that I and probably a lot of other people take for granted. Everyone in the United States usually takes this day to give thanks for what life, fate, the Almighty and other respective deities have provided them over the course of the last year. Of course, every blogger tends to do this type of post at one point or another but I thought I’d throw in my own personal list of things I am thankful for…

I’m thankful for hockey in Tampa Bay. Nay sayers will continue to say it won’t last or it won’t work out in the end…. They were also saying we were the epitome of what was wrong with Hockey during our losing days of the late 1990’s (they were saying the same thing about Ottawa, though, during their losing days at the begining of the franchises current tenure in Ottawa). I think this region has proven it will support hockey, the question is when will hockey support us?

I’m thankful for the end of the lockout.

I’m thankful Tim Taylor stopped talking lockout politics and started scoring goals again.

I’m thankful Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis are still members fo the Lightning…

…And I’m thankful that the Salary Cap gives a whole new dimension to the Hot Stove of the NHL.

I’m thankful that I’ve been proven full of it for my pessimism over the Bucs. I’ll still say I doubt they’ll make it far if they reach the playoffs… (but then again, why mess with success? If I start singing the Bucs praises instead of being a pessimist, I might jinx’em!)

I’m thankful I’m not spending Thanksgiving Day in a hospital bed like I did in 2003…

…and thankful I don’t have to watch a Karl Rove orchestrated photo opportunity of the President in Iraq, dominating the news. If there’s so much progress in Iraq, why isn’t he over there boosting the troops morale?

I’m also very thankful for the men and women who serve in the U.S Armed Forces, guarding the country I call home, and they fact they are willing to put their lives on the line to defend the citizens of these United States. No verbal thanks really shows just how appreciative I am of this….

I’m thankful that Stu Sternberg has taken control of the Devil Rays in part because of the uncertainty that is to come… And in part because it actually looks like he’s trying to right the ship with the community and with the on-field product.

I’m thankful for cups — how many athletes (specifically hockey players) careers would have been ended without that piece of hardened plastic?

I’m thankful for the NHL getting off ESPN… Though I worry about the low quality of OLN’s broadcasts.

I’m thankful for guys like Eric McErlain, James Mirtle, Tom Benjamin, David M. Singer, Mike Chen, PJ Swenson, Lyle Richardson, Jes Golbez, Jason Kirk and the other hockey bloggers out ther that entertain, inform and sometimes infurate me with their posts. It keeps things fun…

And While I’m thanking fellow bloggers, where would I be without local support from Tommy Duncan, Ski, David Bloom, Tiny and at-distance support from Gary Perez?

I’m thankful for the longest reign of a Stanley Cup Champion without a title defense — even with the malignant atmosphere that was present during the year off from hockey.

I’m thankful for the Zamboni… Eat your heart out, General Motors.

I’m thankful for Kerry Fraser… Just kidding.

I’m thankful that the area around the St. Petersburg Times Forum is bieng developed. I’m also thankful IO am not one of the confused people that think the St. Petersburg Times Forum is in St. Petersburg.

I’m thankful that I haven’t been given a cease and desist order from Palace Sports and Entertainment yet…

I’m thankful for penalty box — where for two minutes, any given player can go through a plethora of emotions, find zen or possibly the tooth he lost on his last shift…

I’m thankful for good liquor, good friends, good music, great sports, a twisted sense of humor, cynicism, idealism, pomposity, arrogance and ignorance on my part… and I’m most thankful that people actually come to this site and read what I have to say.

I hope everyone has a great holiday.

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