Sports community city has given us reason to give thanks

It is always time to be grateful for who and what we have in life.

But, this seems to be an especially good week to take some inventory.

As a sports community, we can all be grateful to attend games and events at the Caesars Superdome. The Dome is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. And, it belongs to us.

In the late ’60s, there was such an uproar over the stadium’s projected $80 million price tag. That number doubled, but it was pennies compared to what the building has done for our city and state.

Each December, it is a treat to watch high school football players from around the state walk in, cameras in hand, and record their first trot onto the playing surface.

In April, the Dome never looked better as it hosted the NCAA men’s Final Four. The Superdome should give all of us a sense of pride and accomplishment.

We should be grateful for our amazing Saints fans. In a tough, tough year, they were as loud as ever on Sunday, helping the Saints defeat the Super Bowl champion Rams.

We should be grateful for the 2022 Tulane football team. That team is the picture of perseverance, as it aimed, in one season, to go from double-digit losses to double-digit wins.

We should be grateful that Brian Kelly and Jayden Daniels got in the transfer portal and came to LSU.

We should be grateful that Frank Scelfo coaches the Southeastern Lions and Tim Rebowe coaches the Nicholls Colonels. Two Louisianians have led their schools to multiple FCS playoff appearances.

We should be grateful for Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado. In the NBA, where players are rested routinely, Alvarado brings a special energy every time he steps on the floor.

When Alvarado does something special in a game (a common occurrence), Pelicans fans go crazy. Jose Alvarado is a Puerto Rican, born in New York City. But, he and his game scream personality. He is one of us.

We should be grateful for our high school  coaches. Just think about how many young people these coaches influence in one day?

At a recent event in Thibodaux, hundreds packed the gym at E.D. White Catholic High School to honor former football coach Pat Szush. Szush, 91 years young, was sharp as ever.

His players said he never used foul language, always had a plan and preached discipline and preparation.

As two reporters walked out of the gym that day, they could testify that this football coach had lived an extraordinary life, and it had very little to do with winning two state championships.

This week, I think about all the amazing people I have had the honor to meet, and I can only arrive at one conclusion.

And, it may run counter to what you might hear every day.

The greatest days are ahead of us.

Ed Daniels is sports director at ABC26 WGNO.