The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Greg Hansen column: Opinion by Greg Hansen : Giving thanks for Vern Friedli, ESPN and rain in desert

Nov 27, 2008 (The Arizona Daily Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- DIS | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Thanksgiving, right? I'm thankful I do not go to work facing the issues awaiting Jim Livengood. He is compensated with a $345,000-a-year contract, or, about $1 for each of the 345,000 things that have gone wrong with his basketball and football programs.

I'm thankful for the BCS, but I'd much rather watch Utah play Boise State than Florida or Alabama -- or any team with all the money -- play some other rich guy.

I'm thankful for rain in the desert, anytime, and especially on Thanksgiving. Almost makes you think we're roughin' it here.

I'm thankful I didn't pay a $1,500 surcharge, per seat, for the down-low, up-close seats in Section 3 at McKale Center this year. It's like investing in the pay-telephone industry.

I'm thankful that Lute Olson's grandson and Russ Pennell's father have found employment on Arizona's basketball bench. But wouldn't you feel more confident if those spots were occupied by Jim Rosborough and Josh Pastner?

I'm thankful Amphi football coach Vern Friedli, 72, whose team qualified for the playoffs, hasn't lost his touch or declared war on the world at-large.

I'm thankful I don't have to drive Interstate 10 from here to Phoenix this weekend, especially with some lane-changing, pedal-pushing guy riding my bumper at 87 mph.

I'm thankful Chase Budinger is averaging 23.5 points per game, but it would be more comforting had he been aggressive enough against Santa Clara to attempt a single free throw in the 40 minutes he played.

I'm thankful that Mike Stoops loves his brother Mark, Arizona's defensive coordinator, and does not throw him to the wolves the way he did ex-UA offensive coordinator Mike Canales.

I'm thankful for the anonymous message-board posters who write "you should be fired, you idiot!" No one really believes 'em, do they?

I'm thankful I haven't been fired for being an idiot. Yet.

I'm thankful for ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNClassic, ESPNU, ESPNdeportes, ESPN360, ESPN.com and the ESPN radio network for allowing me to sleep 'til noon and still not miss any highlights of the latest Ball State football game.

I'm thankful that Jody Oehler, drive-time sports-talk czar on 1490-AM, has enough brass to tell it the way it is. Mike Gabrielson finally has a worthy successor.

I'm thankful the UA gave Frank Busch a raise for winning two NCAA swimming team championships last year, but for the life of me I can't figure out why the school is paying Mr. Mysterious, assistant basketball coach Mike Dunlap, three times what it pays Mr. Busch.

I'm thankful Oregon State beat USC and has the best chance of any Pac-10 team to play in the Rose Bowl. I was getting awfully tired of those Pete Carroll-is-a-genius stories.

I am thankful that the New Mexico Lobos have discovered that Sonny Dykes is fit to be a head coach, perhaps now and perhaps in Albuquerque. But if Sonny becomes a Lobo, who's going to order all those passes to Rob Gronkowski?

I'm thankful it is not my job to design a defense to stop Mr. Gronkowski.

I'm thankful for the Golf Channel. I am thankful it broadcasts "Learning Lessons from the Pros" and makes it look so easy to feather a 127-yard wedge shot from the deep rough, over water, next to a pin guarded by bunkers the size of Yuma. But I'm still going to put that $4 Titleist in my pocket and pull out an old Top-Flite when I attempt that shot.

I'm thankful every time I drive past Tucson Electric Park knowing I had nothing to do with putting it there.

I'm thankful that Jerryd Bayless is a 20-year-old millionaire, with a Web site devoted to him and a you-the-man posse. But wouldn't he be happier if he actually got to play in anything other than garbage time?

I'm thankful Channel 9 continues to trot out Dave Silver on the 10 o'clock sports news. He is neither into self-promotion nor on the lookout for the first stage out of Tucson. He is a Tucsonan, and there's a lot to say for that.

I'm thankful La Fiesta de los Vaqueros isn't going anywhere but here. Maybe, in lieu of spring training, we could hold the rodeo twice some year.

I'm thankful I'm not a fan of the Raiders, Fighting Irish, Wazzu, John Daly or the Phoenix Suns. Our beloved Steve Kerr is going to have some explaining to do soon.

I'm thankful there are 10 more weeks of the NFL season, including the playoffs. I won't have to make any real plans until Feb. 2.

I'm thankful that Russ Pennell had his lottery numbers come up: $500,000 to take on the baggage of the UA basketball program. For the burden that he is going to carry, that's cheap.

I'm thankful my paycheck does not ride on beating Arizona State on Dec. 6.

--Contact Greg Hansen at ghansen@azstarnet.com or 573-4362.

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