Claibs gives thanks for 2011

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“font-family: Verdana;”>As another Thanksgiving is here, maybe it’s

not the most important thing to be first in line for Black

Friday. Never sure what the connotation insinuated, but I always

was thought “black” was a good thing. “In the black” financially

bodes well, as well as you all who don the color as it makes you

look smaller during the holiday season.

As I look at

this day of Thanksgiving I am certainly thankful. I have a great

family that has supported me in all my endeavors professionally and

personally, and even if the outcome was not favorable there was

always an attitude of “get them next time.” For that, I am

thankful.

For all you

parents out there, you know that being one is not easy. You set out

to give them everything you did not have and make your own parents

proud of you, and lo and behold kids act like, what else, kids. I

am fortunate. They had a mother who was there for them as well when

I was not, as the world of sports has strange work hours. I am

thankful for a good mother who was there to help raise two

wonderful daughters. Yes, I am thankful.

I have been in

this business of media for thirty years and have enjoyed 99 percent

of it. The people are fun to be around, as I can name the ones who

are not on one hand. Yes, I have met the greats, Hall of Famers and

the Who’s Who, the ones I have come to appreciate are the ones who

do their thing. The list is long and to give it up would certainly

offend some who I may have forgotten for one of those “sometimers”

reasons, but I will give you the ones who come off the top of my

head.

The year 2011

was an interesting one for me. Radio stations changing rights was

somewhat of a crossroads for me for the first time in my

career. While some knew what the outcome would be, I did not. For

those who did, or at least thought they did by their positive

support, I am thankful that you hung in there. For those who were

my friends then, to be one now has even greater

meaning.

I have been

fortunate to be in an era of people who have helped shape me by

their actions in this business. To the late Morris Henderson,

Richard “Onion” Horton, Charlie Tuna, Demetrious Johnson, Maurice

Drummond, Art Holiday, Brian Burwell, Earl Austin Jr., Maurice

Scott, Rene Knott and my man Telly Hughes who continues to make me

proud, I am thankful to this small fraternity of men who have made

sacrifices to make it better for the next generation. Man, I am

thankful.

Donald M. Suggs

has not only been a outstanding publisher of the vehicle of the

truth we call The St. Louis American, he has been a friend

and mentor. We can always have healthy discussions about three

things: sports, politics and whatever the blank that needs to be

filled. I am thankful for his dedication as we all should

be.

As for the

teams here in St. Louis, I have a lot to be thankful for as the

Cardinals brought St. Louis together when no one saw it coming. The

parade could still be going as far as I am concerned.

Then you have

the Rams. I really root for them despite my predictions. I like

Steve Spagnuolo and his family. They have been good for St. Louis,

and I hope some day he gets some help and better

players.

I am thankful

for the St. Louis Blues. I am a hockey man from the beginning and

from the days when they actually competed and had sound management

and ownership. I cannot wait for the day when that returns. In the

meantime I wish the best for the general manger, coach and players,

as they are only ones who are legit here.

Then there is

Saint Louis University. I have a real place for them in my heart,

as I met one of my best friends in life in Bob Ramsey while doing

games some 26 years ago. Gone are the days of Grawer, Bonner,

Douglas and Gray. Enter Rick Majerus and company. As some of you

may know, the coach and I were not on the best of terms when he

first got here. After a chat or two, I want nothing but the best

for him and his kids. With winning, there will be more college

graduates thanks to him, and that is what I care about more. It

has been a tough hard road that the Bills have walked and maybe

this is the year.

On the women’s

side, Coach Shimmy Gray-Miller has done wonders with little. If

she can keep more kids at home, her fortunes would be better. I am

thankful for her as she is the life of any room she walks

in.

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As for the

readers of this column, I am truly thankful as you have been kind

enough to support it with your comments in the supermarket or

wherever we cross paths. Some of you have even given me fodder for

some of my writings when I had nothing before managing editor Chris

King’s deadlines that at times seem to have the weight of only a

Supreme Court stay of execution.

In all, it has

been a year that I have a lot to be thankful for, with a few more

weeks to go.

Claibs gives thanks for 2011

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