As cheesy as it may be, I feel the need to say thanks to those who have made being a sports fan and sports blogger fun this year. Without further ado ...

Thanks to Appalachian State. We realize you probably couldn't beat Michigan today, but we sincerely thank your underdoggedness and for making Wolverines fans less arrogant for at least a few weeks of a football season.



Thanks to Lou Holtz. His Pep Talks have made our Thursday evenings this fall and I'm still perplexed as to how the old man pulled off this newspaper stunt.

Thanks to Amanda Cicchini. We've only known each other for a short time, but it's been splendid. I look forward to following the 'Eers soccer program for another season.



Thanks to Mike Gundy. For starters, his rant was truly top notch and remains entertaining. But secondly I've never seen anyone who's brought out the best in 40+ year old men with too much time on their hands trying to mimic him. Bravo.

 

Thanks to Phillip Wellman. He entertained for weeks on end. Thank you, sir. 



Thanks to Mike Bacsik. He made the Barry Bonds endless 756* ordeal much more tolerable.

Thanks to Kige Ramsey, YouTube Sports. Daily enlightening.
 


Thanks to Maurice Jones-Drew.  I just love the way he plays and appreciate the smaller details of football.  See below:















Thanks to Allison Stokke, of course. I've never had such an appreciation for the finer details of pole vault. Sorry for all that "unwanted" attention, though.



Thanks to Trinity (TX) Football. For making us appreciate collegiate athletics at any level and for executing the best ever lateral finish, mostly due to the fact no one's knee was down for two seconds.



Thanks to Natalie Gulbis. Because you're hot and a female golfer, something that generally doesn't belong in the same sentence.



Thanks to Eric Maynor. I still haven't forgotten your floater to beat Duke last March and making the Madness so much more tolerable without the Dukies.
 


Thanks to Notre Dame and Charlie Weis. I've never enjoyed a college football team's demise so much.

Thanks to Jon Wilner. Your lack of rational thinking each Sunday morning when submitting your rankings has delivered more entertainment than FrankTV ever could. Honestly, you should turn your ballot into a stand up routine ... I bet TBS would give it a shot.

Lastly, and with all sincerity, thank you to Bill Belichick. We need evil geniuses who are far too superior at their craft than the rest of the sport. They're too much fun to hate.

I've clearly left many people off this list so please share who you'd like to offer thanks to in the sports world.