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JAY DAVIS: Teams I care about make me thankful


With the Thanksgiving Holiday fast approaching, I got to thinking about what I am thankful for. And as a sports writer and all-around sports junkie, specifically what am I thankful for in my sports world.
There are four teams I follow root for with conviction. One, of course, is the Mobridge-Pollock Tigers. Then there are the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball, the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League and the Oklahoma Sooners of NCAA FBS football.
All of the teams I love to cheer for are having or have just had wonderful seasons.
The Lady Tiger volleyball team just finished sixth in state. They provided the Bridge City with plenty to be proud of. Not just in the way they played on the court, but in the way they carried themselves on and off the court. I’m sure the girls wish they could have pulled off at least one more win over the weekend, but played quite well all three days. Coaches can’t teach height and the Lady Tigers were the shortest team out there this weekend, but they played tall and earned a big win over Milbank on Friday.
The Tiger football team, while just 3-6 on the season, gave us a team that grew and grew under first-year head coach Danny Merkel. The boys provided us all with a thrill in the playoffs, making Groton Area earn every inch before topping the Tigers by six points in Groton in the postseason.
As I write of accomplishments, I realize the Tigers and Lady Tigers create more a sense of pride than a thankful feeling. I am proud of their accomplishments. I am thankful that we have a young men and young women in this community who are worthy of shared pride. I’m sure there are many towns across the country and around the world where people cannot be thankful for who their next generation will be. We raise them right around here. I am thankful for that.
As for the Cubs, Vikings and Sooners, well that’s easy; I am thankful that they are all valid. That cannot always be said.
The Cubs are at the beginning of what could be the most important run in the team’s history. After winning 97 games and making the NL championship series this year, the future is now in Chicago. The Cubs have a dugout full of young superstars in the making. It could be, but I’m not taking this for granted, that the more than century-old drought may soon be over. If there is a World Series title hanging at Wrigley Field soon, I will be eternally grateful and thankful.
The Vikings are just now becoming relevant. They are busy trying to become a very good football team. They are good now, but good is not the intended goal. Sunday’s loss to the Packers showed the Vikings, and their fans, that the team is not where it intends to be.  But they are getting there. It’s nice to be able to bring up the Vikings and not have to follow with, “yeah, but.”
The Oklahoma Sooners were the first team I ever cheered for. They have been my favorite college team since I was a wee tot. They have given me many great seasons and a handful of championships. But things have been stagnant for a couple years. Not so this year. If the Sooners can pull off a big win in the Bedlam game at Oklahoma State this weekend, they will be in the discussion for earning a spot in the final four.
I guess it is easy to be thankful for a lot in my little sports world.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and may your teams win every time they are not playing against my teams.

 

 

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