MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 22, 2000

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, a day for us to sit down and count ourblessings. And as the sports world sits down to enjoy their dinners, hereare some things they can be thankful for.

Saints fans, for an amazing season so far. Aside from the seven wins, thisteam has been a joy to watch. Few Saints squads in the past have been asmuch a team or as resilient to adversity. The team could easily have quitafter losing Ricky Williams and then Jeff Blake on Sunday but it didn’t.

Credit should go to the players, Jim Haslett and his staff, general managerRandy Mueller and the entire organization. And especially to owner TomBenson, who took a big chance last January in cleaning house and has seenit pay off more than could ever have been expected.

LSU fans, for a return of the magic of Tiger Stadium. Forget UAB. TheTennessee, Mississippi State and Alabama games were as good as it gets.

And Tiger fans can be thankful for a team that plays for 60 minutes and isin the hunt for a major bowl game this season.

The LSU football team and the SEC, for the Jumbotron during the Alabamagame. It saved a lot of embarrassment for the league.

Tulane fans, for a Green Wave team that didn’t quit after a loss to Army.

The Green Wave rallied to win three straight games at the end of theseason, clinching a third winning season in four years. And even if Tulanedoes not get a bowl big, at least the Green Wave has built momentum goinginto next season.

College football fans in the state, for coaches like Haslett, Nick Saban,Chris Scelfo, Pete Richardson and Doug Williams, ones who get the mostout of their players.

LSU basketball fans, for a team and coach that made the 1999-2000season a memorable one. LSU and ULL baseball fans, for a College World Series to remember.

LSU baseball fans and state baseball fans in general, for Skip Bertman.

Five national championships in 10 years says it all. But what Bertman hasdone for the state goes beyond saying.

Major League baseball, for fans who have returned to the sport in recordnumbers. The fans are back. Don’t give them a reason to leave again.

Baseball fans, for another season with memorable moments. And for CalRipken Jr. Enjoy him while you can. Golf, for Tiger Woods. Interest in the sport, already on the rise,skyrocketed thanks to him. The NBA, for Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers who helped revive interest inthe league.

Sports in general, for athletes like Rulon Gardner, Misty Hyman, EstherKim, Kay Poe and Ian Thorpe. They were athletes who taught us all aboutourselves and what it takes to be a true champion.

For fans of pro sports in the country, a year without a single laborstoppage.

Local high school fans, another year of championships and championathletes. These youngsters are playing for fun and the love of the game.

And for coaches who strive to do the best for their players.

And state sportsmen and sportswomen, for a truly sportsman’s paradise.

Take time to enjoy the natural beauty of the state. And supportlegislation, politicians and conservation efforts that strive to make suresuch beauty is still available for years to come.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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