A lot for this guy to be thankful for this holiday season

Ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow will be a great day – one of my favorite days of the year.

For starters, my Cowboys will beat the pasting out of RGIII and will inch closer to the New York Giants for first place in the NFC East.

Don’t sleep on my Cowboys – our schedule makes us more than capable of making a push.

But while that takes place, I will be stuffing my face full of an assortment of my favorite foods.

This dude over here plans to negotiate his way through turkey, rice dressing, sweet potatoes and pie tomorrow – multiple servings of each.

I fully expect to walk out of this day 10-15 pounds heavier. I plan to be as round as a blimp by nighttime – too swollen to move. It will be magnificent.

Jokes aside, this past year has been a truly awesome year for sports in the Tri-parish area – one of the best in my career here.

Talking with some of my friends in the industry, I’ve realized something – I’m blessed to work around the people I work around.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are some things this sportswriter is thankful for during this holiday season.

The first thing I am thankful for are the coaches I’ve been blessed with throughout this area.

Prior to arriving back in the Tri-parish area, I was at LSU for four and a half years. I wouldn’t trade my social experiences in Baton Rouge for anything in the world – I had a blast.

Just take a peek at my Facebook page. While there, one can clearly see that I had my share of good-natured, clean fun.

But while I personally had a blast, my journalistic experiences weren’t always the best. Coaches at LSU have nothing to gain and everything to lose when reporters are around.

That’s because the Tigers will be popular whether I get my story done or not.

Because of that power they hold, a sort of negative energy is always present when the media is walking around – especially within the football team.

Working in an environment where everyone gets nervous when you’re around is no fun at all for a personable person like myself.

Truth be told, I sincerely considered changing my major as a sophomore because I didn’t like making people uncomfortable everywhere I turned.

I’m glad I didn’t because I now know the grass truly was greener on the other side.

Since returning home, I’ve been welcomed with open arms by a slew of gracious coaches spanning all of our local sports.

All of our area’s coaches have been more than gracious to me in my time here – some have become close personal friends.

These men and women understand that I am just doing a job – a job that sometimes requires me asking a tough question or two to give information to readers.

That’s something the LSU folks couldn’t seem to fully grasp with their purple and gold sunglasses.

Sure, I may not always agree with all of the calls you guys make in every game. Heck, I’m sure you all don’t agree with every paragraph I put in print.

But I truly am thankful for the working relationship we share because I know how miserable things can be when that isn’t in place!

Then, of course, there are the players – I am very, very thankful for the players.

Being a 25-year-old, I still consider myself to be “young and cool”.

As the days go by and a few more hairs on my hair and chin turn grey, I realize that I am not “young and cool,” but am instead old and lame.

But being around these kids really keeps your spirit in a good place – I truly enjoy working with our local players.

The first reason is because of the environment.

It’s impossible to not laugh when you’re in a high school locker room. The immaturity surrounding you is truly hilarious.

In the past three years, I’ve heard more bad jokes than I’d previously heard in my entire life.

I also am better in tune with what the “cool” songs on the radio are and I know that bad really means good and that if I am called sick, it means that I am very popular.

The players in our area are talented, fun to be around and absolutely ridiculous – in the best way imaginable.

I truly have a blast being around that bunch of clowns on a day-to-day basis. Again, I use the word clown loosely and with a lot of love!

Last, but not least, I’m thankful for the fans of all schools within the Tri-parishes. Without you, my job would be completely irrelevant and unimportant.

In my lifetime, I have seen our community unite and come together in the name of sports – time and time again.

It was magical the first time I saw it happen as a child. It’s magical each time I see it now as an adult.

There is no place in Louisiana that has more passionate fans than our area – no place.

We love hard and support our own more than any other people out there.

Sometimes that’s a bad thing, but most of the time, it’s a great thing – it’s something I truly enjoy being around.

The fans I’ve encountered have also been willing to help me anytime I may have needed assistance.

Sure, some may want a photo or two taken of their son or daughter on the playing field.

But that’s understandable – we’re always willing to negotiate around here.

I don’t want to ramble and I’m not one to be sappy, but I truly am thankful to be in the situation that I am in.

Many others in my profession aren’t this lucky.

I’m surely thankful that I am one of the lucky few.

Now, buzz off until next week.

I have lots of turkey to navigate through.