Add sports to your list of things to be thankful for

Every year around Thanksgiving, I like to look back on what I’m thankful for.

The sports world in 2012 has been something to give thanks for.

It started with the Oregon Ducks winning their first Rose Bowl in 95 years, beating the Wisconsin Badgers 45-38, highlighted by a record-setting De’Anthony Thomas touchdown run that set the field on fire.

I’m thankful for the chance to watch my 49ers get farther in the NFL playoffs than they had in 15 years. Although coming up short of a Super Bowl appearance, they blew away expectations before the season began.

The silver lining to their unfortunate defeat in the NFC championship game was the fact the New York Giants team they lost to wound up as NFL champions after defeating the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

March would come and bring the “madness” that all sports fans love, as brackets were frantically filled, everyone becoming an analyst of college basketball for the annual 68-team tournament.

I always end up getting sucked into the hype of March Madness, and freak out when an upset is on the verge of taking one of my picks to make a deep run. I would like to thank Norfolk State and Lehigh for continuing that trend.

Norfolk beat Missouri in first-round play, while Lehigh stunned powerhouse Duke. Both 15 seeds, defeating 2 seeds: How rare is that? Before this year, it had happened only four times in tournament history.

As the madness continued, the upsets slowed, surprise teams were bounced and, in the end, the Kentucky Wildcats, lead by their head coach John Calipari, would defeat the Kansas Jayhawks in a title game featuring the two winningest programs in Division 1 history, giving Kentucky its eighth title in school history.

I’m thankful for being able to watch, from beginning to end, what many consider the greatest rookie season in MLB history. Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim took the baseball world by storm the minute he stepped up to the plate.

Whether it be his iconic home run-robbing catch in Baltimore, or that he was the youngest player to join the 30-30 club (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in one year), Trout was magnificent. He wound up winning a Silver Slugger Award, the first MLB rookie with 30 home runs, 45 stolen bases, and 125 runs in one season, and was unanimously voted Rookie of the Year in the American League.

At 21 years old, I’m thankful that LeBron James was able to overcome all the hate, scrutiny and overwhelming criticism and win his third MVP award, proving himself as the world’s best player. He wasn’t finished, though. James led the Miami Heat out of a 2-1 series deficit against the Indiana Pacers and out of a 3-2 hole against the Boston Celtics, and then to victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA finals, earning his first championship ring in nine seasons. I’m thankful to have watched one of, if not the greatest, group of basketball players assembled ever flat-out dominate and win gold in the 2012 London Olympics.

I’m thankful, as a California native, that a West Coast team won the World Series after the San Francisco Giants beat the Detroit Tigers in a convincing four-game sweep, their second MLB title in three years.

It’s been a great year to be a sports fan, and the year isn’t over yet.

With more due from the NBA, NFL and college football, I’m excited for whatever will close out 2012.