Be thankful...even for your rivals

By: Curtis Kitchen, 810whb.com senior writer


KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Everyone has his or her list of things to be thankful for this holiday.  My list, of course, contains several sports items and one not, the first several much more important than the rest.

I give thanks to our active and veteran military men and women for a multitude of reasons too many to list here.  So, thank you to my little brother Jacob, who spent more than his fair share of time as a Marine.

I give thanks for an understanding family, especially for their ability to be supportive of my having to miss past get-togethers, outings, birthdays, celebrations and holidays because of my job.  Trust me, there have been a lot of those instances (don’t worry, Mom, this isn’t my begging out of this year’s feast).

I give thanks that a majority of AAU coaches are genuine – the ones like my brother, Cyle, who are in the game simply for their love of sport and teaching.  His desire and ability to dispel life lessons through the philosophy of a 1-3-1 at each KC Premiere practice session and game is something to witness. 

I give thanks for the administrative side of collegiate and pro sports, a path I once walked at Washburn University and a door recently opened for my youngest sibling, Dustin, a sophomore at McPherson College who has grown into a solid role within the sports information department.

I give thanks for each summer day I get to spend with my nieces and nephews that my brother, Joe, and his wife, Jackie, have given.  As magical as each visit to a professional stadium can be, nothing tops playing back-yard baseball with a group of future all-stars whose only idea of performance enhancers are cookies and milk.

As for some of those truly sports things from this past year I’ve been thankful for...

I am thankful for the opportunity to cover Bill Snyder.  I missed the Kansas State coach during his first tenure, and I had heard stories from veteran media members.  To witness the man in person, even from a media-badge’s distance away, has changed my approach to people for the better.

I am thankful Snyder’s Wildcats, and Paul Rhoades’ Iowa State Cyclones made the Big 12 North as messy as possible this football season.  At the beginning of the year, it looked like it wasn’t going to be all that scintillating, but man, what a ride the past two months was.

I am thankful that Allard Baird and others no longer with the Kansas City Royals took time way back when to stick it out with Zack Greinke.  Wow.

Also with the Royals, I’m thankful that, dare I say, first baseman Billy Butler also made following the Royals a lot easier through the final two months.  The kid was everything Alex Gordon was supposed to be.

While it stings, I am thankful that there is just one %#@!%# year left on Jose Guillen’s contract…worth $12 #!#@%# million.  Sigh…

I am thankful that the Kansas City Chiefs finally, FINALLY, realigned its power grid.  Another year of Carl and Herm might have blacked out the Chiefs’ relevance for good. 

I am thankful for Mike Anderson’s Missouri Tigers and the team’s unbelievably amazing run to the Elite 8 last March.  The Tigers, along with Blake Griffin and the Oklahoma Sooners, gave the Big 12 one-fourth of the remaining eight teams last year, and gave me plenty of ammo for people like Dick Vitale who are adamant the Big 10 is a better basketball conference (did you see Colorado against Gonzaga and Arizona, Dick…ah, I digress…)

Finally, I’m thankful for the University of Kansas football and basketball teams for showing proper manners while on campus.  I mean, they’re no Michigan State. 

Speaking of manners, remember them at the table when it is time to eat. There is nothing wrong with appreciating that family member sitting next to you who cheers for your rival – and showing that appreciation with a smile as you pass every plate you can…the other direction.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Curtis K.


Send your comments to curtiskitchen@810whb.com.  Also, follow him @curtiskitchen on Twitter for real-time reporting on game days and other sports news during the week!