The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Thanksgiving Edition

It's Thanksgiving day, and not really a time for much blogging.  I will shortly be leaving to pick up my father, but before I do, I wanted to wish a very happy Thanksgiving to all the members the A Sea of Blue community.  I am very thankful for all our members and readers, more than I can accurately express here.

Continuing with the subject of things I am thankful for, let me list a few of them:

• My faith, friends and family.  They are the foundation of all I hold dear.
• My countrymen and women.  This great experiment in a democratic republic continues to amaze me.
• The men in women in uniformed service who defend our country from without and within.  Thank you.
• Rich Brooks -- Brooks has helped restore my faith in the UK football program.
• The football team, for believing in themselves, and in their teammates.
• Duke University -- Without a foe to despise, life as a sports fan would be less fulfilling.
• Patrick Patterson -- Not only a great player, but a great person.
• The basketball team, for validating my faith in the program.
• John Calipari -- The Tubby Wars and the Gilispie Strangeness are now finally in the past.  The UK community has returned to sanity, and it is good.
• John Wall -- For being one of the best freshmen at UK I can remember, and for showing us what it is like to smile again during a basketball game.
• Randall Cobb -- For keeping his word that he gave to UK when offered a chance to attend the school he really wanted to play for.  Also, for being the kind of player that made some of the best teams in the land jealous of Kentucky football.
• Derrick Locke -- For redefining what determination looks like in the face of injury and lack of respect.
• Matthew Mitchell -- for finally bringing stability to the UK women's hoops program.
• Finally, to UK fans, for being the best fans any college team could have.

The news follows the jump.

• Stopping Cobb is Vols’ No. 1 priority | Vaught's Views
• Kentucky Downs Santa Barbara 68-54 to Extend Perfect Start - KENTUCKY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
• Kentucky Suffers Heartbreaking Five-Set Loss at Tennessee - KENTUCKY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
• Maui Invitational: (24) Vanderbilt 84 - Arizona 72 - Postgame - Anchor Of Gold
  SB Nation has a new Vanderbilt blog, Anchor of Gold. Great job by the Commodores taking care of the Arizona Wildcats. I don't care much for Arizona, and I was glad to see our SEC brethren hand them the loss they so richly deserve.
• " BBL: Cats escape Cancun, Cobb escapes Tennessee John Clay’s Sidelines
  John Clay's Big Blue Links
• Rush The Court " Blog Archive " ATB: Karl Hess Isn’t Invited to Our Thanksgiving Dinner Either
  The talent for this team to become something special is there, but it’s also painfully obvious that his Cats often rely on God-given abilities (especially on offense) rather than an actual understanding of strategy or the sets. Decisionmaking by some players, especially DeMarcus Cousins, is also troubling in their naivete and youthful indiscretion. For example, back to back horrendous decisions by Cousins late in the game to shoot a three (not his shot) and later to purposefully miss a FT attempt in a misguided attempt to get his own rebound only to foul Stanford in the process, exhibits these characteristics.
  
  This is exactly right. UK, as a team, needs desperately to grow up. Unfortunately, there is not magic potion to make that happen, just time and mistakes.
• UT looks for way to stop hometown star Cobb | theleafchronicle.com | The Leaf Chronicle
  Is Randall Cobb the Kentucky version of Chris Lofton? I think so.
• Sam Bowie Breaks Color Barrier at Country Club
• UK QB Fidler giving up final year of football | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
  Wow. Just like Michael Porter, except he doesn't have a wife and kid on the way (that I know of).
• Let UK seniors know why you are thankful for them | Vaught's Views
  Great post by Larry Vaught.
• Stanford vs. Kentucky - Recap - November 25, 2009 - College Basketball - SI.com