What I’m Thankful For This Thanksgiving

I know that it sounds cliché, but I really do have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I’m thankful for my family and my friends (believe it or not, I have a few here and there). Without them, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today.

My parents are great, and they’ve successfully molded me into a huge fan of the Indians — and all other Cleveland sports teams. I know that they probably aren’t interested in listening to me and the never-ending cycle of sports facts that come out of my mouth, but I know that they care a lot about me.

Living in Pennsylvania, my friends don’t share the same enthusiasm towards Cleveland sports that I do, but I can always rely on them during tough times.

I’m thankful for everything that I have. I’m very lucky to be in the position that I am in, and I realize that I’m extremely fortunate. I have two parents who both love me (at least I’m pretty sure), and I live in a beautiful house in a nice town. I don’t have to worry about where my next meal will come from, and I always have clean and warm clothes to wear when I need them.

I’m thankful that I have the privilege of writing here at Wahoo’s on First. I’ll never forget the opportunity that our editor, Brian Heise, gave me in welcoming me onto the staff this past summer. I’ve gotten to know the writers here pretty well, and if you don’t read their work, you’re missing out on a lot. Every single writer here is knowledgeable and extremely talented at what they do, and I’m so grateful to be a part of that. At the end of the day, I get to write about baseball. That’s an awesome thing.

I’m thankful to be a baseball fan. I play baseball (though I’m not really good at it), and I’ve come to appreciate the game a lot. There’s not a thing about the game that I don’t love.

I’m thankful to be an Indians fan, and a Cleveland sports fan in general. It’s sad to know that none of the city’s sports teams have won a championship in my lifetime (my dad was born the year that Cleveland won its last title), but I continue to hold out hope that it will all change and that Cleveland will be raising a banner in the very near future.

Does anyone actually read these captions? (Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports)

I know that this might sound like a stretch, but I actually think that I’ve become a better person because of the fact that I’m a Cleveland sports fan.

You’ll never confuse me with a bandwagon fan, and dealing with the adversity that only a Cleveland fan will understand has made me a more disciplined individual. It’s too easy to jump on board of another team’s bandwagon and pretend that I’ve been a fan the whole time, but I haven’t. I’ve chosen to stick with the city of Cleveland, and the city’s next championship will be even more rewarding as a result.

The fans in Cleveland are terrific, and you’ll never find a more loyal group of people.

I’m thankful that the Indians are providing hope to the city (one that truly deserves every bit of it). This Indians team has a terrific future ahead of it and is run by an incredible group of executives. GM Chris Antonetti and company have the club on the right path, and you can be sure that they aren’t satisfied with last season’s quick exit from the playoffs. It was exciting to get a taste of the glitz and glamor of the postseason, but next year the Indians will return even hungrier than before. You can bet on that.

Finally, I’m thankful for all of you. I’d like to personally thank the readers of Wahoo’s on First. You’re the driving force behind what we do, and it’s great to know that we have such passionate fans. That really means a lot.

So eat some turkey, watch some football, and enjoy this Thanksgiving with your family and friends!