Since gratitude is the appropriate theme of Thanksgiving weekend, permit me to mention a few things I'm thankful for in my world of sports.

I'm thankful for ...

• The privilege of looking forward to coming to work every day and genuinely enjoying what I do for a living. So few people have that.

•Meeting and getting to know Slippery Rock University football coach George Mihalik, as classy a person as I've met in sports.

• Having the opportunity of watching Billy Bair and Tim McNerney run with a football.

• Being able to annually reinforce my belief that sports at the high school level go a long way toward producing quality citizens and giving youngsters a competitive edge to succeed in life.

• Growing up as a sports fan in Pittsburgh, where I've been able to watch the Steelers win five Super Bowls, the Pirates win two World Series, the Penguins win two Stanley Cups and Pitt win a national football championship.

• Not growing up as a sports fan in Cleveland. For those who have, I feel for you.

• Having the chance to see Roberto Clemente play right field, Tony Gwynn swing a bat, Nolan Ryan pitch a ball and Lou Brock steal a base.

• Having a sports staff at the Butler Eagle that enjoys covering games as much as I do.

• Being there in person when Mario Lemieux scored a goal at even strength, shorthanded, on the power play, on a penalty shot and into an open net during the same game.

• Being there in person to watch the final 100-yard rushing game in the career of Jerome Bettis — a snowy 28-13 win over the Chicago Bears that jump-started the Steelers' run to a Super Bowl championship.

• Being there in person when Mike Schmidt hit his 500th career home run.

• Working in an area that has Planets, Gremlins and Golden Tornado as school nicknames instead of Lions, Tigers and Bears (oh my).

• Gaining an appreciation for the skills and dedication it takes to excel in soccer, wrestling, competitive cheerleading and gymnastics — sports I never would have come to know had I not entered this business.

• The hospitality and family atmosphere known as Lernerville Speedway.

• Watching the annual amputee golf tournament at Saxon Golf Course and learning that the only limitations we have in life are ones we place on ourselves.

• Being able to interview Hank Aaron one-on-one.

• Attending at least one baseball game during every year of Three Rivers Stadium's existence and being able to cover the final baseball game ever played there.

• Seeing games at Forbes Field and Pitt Stadium.

• Watching Randy Moss play in a West Virginia Class AAA high school football championship game.

• Having a wife willing to live our married life around my wacky schedule.

• Every complimentary food spread at sporting events I've covered over the years. I carry them with me wherever I go.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.