2008 Woodie Awards
Family, food and football
Joe Arleth
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: sports
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When I was younger, my favorite Holiday by a large margin was Christmas.
Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed Halloween, thanksgiving, and new years, but they held a distinct second place standing in my heart. I thought of those days the way I think about the Eagles, Flyers and Sixers. Of course I like them, but only as very good friends. My heart belongs to the Phillies.
Do I really have to explain the reasoning to you? Presents, music, no school, blinking lights, and snow... Christmas is a kid's paradise.
But the times change and personal feelings do as well. Christmas, though still fantastic, has taken a back seat these days to Thanksgiving. My allegiances have switched from presents to pie and from stockings to stuffing.
Nobody is more surprised by this change then myself. When you think about it, Thanksgiving appears to be the most over-rated of holidays. You don't get gifts. You don't get candy. There are no fireworks. No countdowns.
It is just a really big dinner that you get off of school and work for.
So why do I get more exited for thanksgiving than I do for any other day of the year? Well it's all due to the "three F's": family, food, and most importantly football.
Don't get me wrong, with being away at college for so long I now more than ever enjoy being around my family and pounding away at turkey and cranberries. Nothing can make you more grateful for thanksgiving then three months at the commons.
But for me the true magic of thanksgiving is found in football. I realize I sound like a complete jerk when I say that, but please hear me out.
From a strictly sports standpoint, I think thanksgiving is the most under--rated day of the year.
The NFL's football games played that day are a refreshing change of pace for me. Normally for big sports traditions there is tons of hype and pressure on the game. You have to hear endless predictions and analysis. Everyone has to pick who they think will win and then defend that position. It becomes work.
Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed Halloween, thanksgiving, and new years, but they held a distinct second place standing in my heart. I thought of those days the way I think about the Eagles, Flyers and Sixers. Of course I like them, but only as very good friends. My heart belongs to the Phillies.
Do I really have to explain the reasoning to you? Presents, music, no school, blinking lights, and snow... Christmas is a kid's paradise.
But the times change and personal feelings do as well. Christmas, though still fantastic, has taken a back seat these days to Thanksgiving. My allegiances have switched from presents to pie and from stockings to stuffing.
Nobody is more surprised by this change then myself. When you think about it, Thanksgiving appears to be the most over-rated of holidays. You don't get gifts. You don't get candy. There are no fireworks. No countdowns.
It is just a really big dinner that you get off of school and work for.
So why do I get more exited for thanksgiving than I do for any other day of the year? Well it's all due to the "three F's": family, food, and most importantly football.
Don't get me wrong, with being away at college for so long I now more than ever enjoy being around my family and pounding away at turkey and cranberries. Nothing can make you more grateful for thanksgiving then three months at the commons.
But for me the true magic of thanksgiving is found in football. I realize I sound like a complete jerk when I say that, but please hear me out.
From a strictly sports standpoint, I think thanksgiving is the most under--rated day of the year.
The NFL's football games played that day are a refreshing change of pace for me. Normally for big sports traditions there is tons of hype and pressure on the game. You have to hear endless predictions and analysis. Everyone has to pick who they think will win and then defend that position. It becomes work.