SITTING IN THE CHEAP SEATS: What I’m thankful for

I admit it, Every Thanksgiving I steal the following idea from the great Furman Bisher. I began reading his Thanksgiving column when I was 7, when at that time he wrote for just The Atlanta Journal, and I took his idea and ran with it when I started Score Atlanta five years ago. So for the fifth straight year, here is what I am thankful for.

I’m thankful for all the teachers in the world, the fact that their salaries hardly come close to compensating them for what they give to our children.

I’m thankful for a daughter who recently told a bigger high school basketball player “bring it on” after she was told by that other athlete that “I’m going to take you down.”

I’m thankful for another daughter (49 seconds older) whose hands are almost as quick as some NBA point guards but always finds time to hug her ol’ dad.

I’m thankful to be in a sports town that this week will host one of the biggest college football games ever and even more thankful that I wore the jersey for one season for one of those teams (Alabama).

I’m thankful for the published diary I wrote on that team that still sits prominently on a shelf in my basement and is still a hit when we have parties.

I’m thankful for those cold and rainy days when I don’t feel like getting out of bed but find my way into work.

I’m thankful for $1 umbrellas.

I’m thankful that I grew up listening to baseball games on AM radio and not watching them on an internet screen.

I’m thankful for the parent at a restaurant that reprimands his or her kid and doesn’t let them ruin everyone else’s dinner.

I’m thankful for a cold glass of sweet iced tea with a wedge of lemon on a hot Atlanta summer afternoon.

I’m thankful for a wife who has put up with me for more than 21 years.

I’m thankful for the leaf blower and the fact that my rake has sat unused in the garage for now almost 10 years.

I’m thankful for what appears to be the end of telemarketers and the “Do Not Call” list.

I’m thankful for a Saturday night dinner out with the wife, talking about what we love the most: our three kids.

I’m thankful for parents that don’t say “I told you so” and in-laws that do the same.

I’m thankful for driving my big red truck and the weird looks I get at red lights when they see who is driving it.

I’m thankful for high school football on Friday nights and the sounds of those rifling drums.

I’m thankful for the invention of satellite radio and the fact that I don’t have to listen to a bunch of babbling when I don’t want to.

I’m thankful for a son whose grades are as important as his athletics.

I’m thankful for the fact that we have been able to stay in business for five years, and all the great people that have helped keep us alive.

And finally, I’m thankful for all those great columns Bisher wrote for the AJC before retiring after 59 years here, and thankful that he is still writing and can be read at http://furmanbisher.wordpress.com.

FROM ME TO YOU …
Score Atlanta is about to come up on its fifth anniversary and both myself and the entire Score staff want to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and beginning of another special holiday season.
Rosenberg can be reached at ijrosenberg@scoreatl.com and 404-256-1572. He can be heard on Sundays on 790 The Zone during the Falcons games. He will be taking Thanksgiving weekend off but will be back on the air on Dec. 6 from 1-4 p.m. Also, remember to check out Score’s new high school website at Gaprepnews.com.