Keys: Be grateful for what we've got

• By PERRYN KEYS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jun 30, 2009 - Page: 1C

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Where I live, the temperature is rounding 95 and headed for 100.

Where I live, weekends and cookouts are a package deal.

Where I live, fireworks stands are already up and running. What does it all mean?

It means, more than anything, that the Fourth of July is almost here, and I’m an American. And I’m grateful for that.

In this lovely land, we are blessed with a fantastic blend of sports. We pass them down, from one generation to the next, like heirlooms and power tools.

We forget that sometimes. But right about now, when it’s hot and humid and there’s not much going on (Wimbledon doesn’t count), we tend to forget how lucky we are.

We sometimes take our sports for granted. Really, they’re a miraculous thing.

Me? I’m trying to remember all the reasons we’re lucky in America.

So remember this:

• I’m grateful for the curveball, the fastball and the straight change. For decades, people from all over the world have come here, perfected them, made millions of dollars for it and carved out a better life because of it. Where else can they do that?
• I’m grateful to Michael Jordan. He was an arrogant, selfish jerk who alienated teammates, coaches and general managers. He was also 6 feet, 6 inches  of grace and greatness in Nikes.

Thank you, Michael, for 13 amazing years. I’ll forget about those last two with the Wizards.

• I’m grateful for Bobby Knight. An American original.
• I’m grateful to the late, great Eddie Robinson. He and I went to the same high school (albeit at very, very different times), and when I was a teenager, I knew who he was. But I didn’t really know. I’m glad I learned.
• I’m grateful for football movies.

You can wax poetically about “Field of Dreams” and “Pride of the Yankees” until you’ve got a set of seams growing on your forehead.