GOAZCATS.com - 10 Reasons to Give Thanks

November 26, 2009

Damien DeMarco
GOAZCATS.com Staff Writer

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I have put together a list of 10 things that I am grateful for:

1. Lute Olson - The program he built has been the source of pride for Arizona fans for over two decades. I wear my cardinal and navy proudly because of Lute Olson. I seriously doubt that I would have developed my passion for college basketball had I been raised somewhere like, I don't know, Tempe.

2. All the coaches that turned down the opportunity to coach the UA basketball team - I believe that Sean Miller is the absolute perfect fit for this program. More so than even John Calipari or Rick Pitino. Tim Floyd as head coach of the Wildcats would have been more than I could bear.

3. Nic Wise and Jamelle Horne - Many players stuck with Arizona despite all the turmoil and I am grateful for each. No one would have blamed them for leaving. But these two have endured the chaos that was Arizona basketball and have given the Wildcats a legitimate chance to extend their consecutive tournaments streak.

4. Sonny Dykes - For those of us who were tired of the UA football team being outscored by the UA softball team, Dykes has been a lifesaver. I am pretty sure that Mike Stoops feels the same way.

5. Boise State not being in the Pac-10 - I'm sorry. I honestly would not be able to watch the Wildcats play on the Smurf Turf. It is an abomination.

6. Adam Hall - Hopefully his decision to choose Arizona over powerhouse programs such as USC and Alabama will pave the way for more local studs to stay home (paging Ka'Deem Carey). For Tucsonans like me, it produces a sense of pride when hometown talent plays for the Wildcats. I look forward to watching Hall, Brooks Reed, and Jake Fischer represent the Old Pueblo on defense next season.

7. Phil Steele - What would I do without his college football previews? Hands down, the best college football magazine available. No contest.

8. DVR - The ability to watch and re-watch UA games drives my wife nuts, but I wonder how I ever lived without it.

9. Phil Knight - Specifically, I am glad that he graduated from Oregon. I could not imagine what the uniforms would look like if the Wildcats were Nike's guinea pigs. Would there be claws on the shoulder pads? Perhaps a tail on the backside of the pants? What about actual Wildcat fur on the jerseys?

10. Finally, I am grateful for all those in the military who risk their lives keeping me free, so I can do something as trivial as watch and write about sports.