Growing up in Texas one of the first things we learned was that football is the greatest sport on Earth. We started playing it at five years old and ended up playing all the way through PeeWee, junior high, freshman, JV and ultimately varsity football. It’s a right of passage for boys growing up in the Lone Star State. In Texas, there are some things that go together perfectly. Friday nights and high school football, sweet tea and barbecue, and Thanksgiving and the Dallas Cowboys.
For as long as I can remember the fourth Thursday in November has always been known as the day our entire family gets together to share some laughs, great food, a backyard football game and then it’s time to gather around the television to watch the NFL. Good, bad, or otherwise, the Dallas Cowboys have been a mainstay on turkey day. They have had some epic games against some of their biggest foes!
Anyone remember when the Cowboys current head coach, Jason Garrett, stepped in for an injured Troy Aikman against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers and engineered five second half scoring drives to win on Thanksgiving?
How about the infamous snow bowl against the Miami Dolphins? The one where the Cowboys blocked a field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter only for Leon Lett to run down, slide into the ball and let the Dolphins recover and eventually kick the game winning field goal?
The point is, football is as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey and dressing or giblet gravy. Spending time with your family, laughing, joking, and taking in a game with those closest to you is what this holiday is all about. It’s about being thankful for everything you have, not to worry about all the things that you don’t. This is the time of year when you can reflect and appreciate everything you have in your life. And while you are at it, take in America’s game featuring America’s Team with those closest to you. At least you will have someone to laugh, cheer, and cry with regardless of the end result of the game. And when the game is over with, there is only one thing left to do.
Go back for seconds!