Yours truly exhausted his supply of fingers and toes when he began counting his blessings on Thanksgiving Day. Thank God for your family, friends and all the benefits of living in the USA.

     Look around the world for a moment. You suddenly realize that those monthly electric, gas and water bills could be a lot worse. We live in air-conditioned comfort while many people search high and low for a clean glass of water to drink.

     Unhappy with the latest garbage collection rate increase?

     Don’t be. Many millions of folks dig through the garbage every day, hoping to find something edible so they can obtain enough nourishment to survive until the next day.

     Our nation provides us with freedom of religion. That often doesn’t seem to be appreciated much any more. In fact, the majority of the U.S. citizens don’t even bother to attend church.

     It brought to mind a news item on a Jackson TV station Tuesday night. The aldermen were initiating a move to have a 10 a.m. curfew for teenagers during the week. Get the kids home in time to study and get up the next morning for school.

     In direct opposition stood the ACLU. Children shouldn’t be forced to observe a curfew. They are free to make choices and free to get in trouble and become wards of the state.

     On and on, it goes.

     No prayer allowed in school. Folks shrugged their shoulders and  said OK.

     No Bible reading in school. Folks said OK.

     Don’t want to offend those other religious groups.

    

     CBS commentator Ben Stein, a devout Jew, responded to the latest secular revelation from the White House. Christmas trees now are known as Holiday trees.

     Stern wrote, “I am a Jew and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened . I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are, Christmas trees.

     “It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas”  to me.  I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters, celebrating this happy time of the year. It doesn’t matter to me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crib, it’s just fine with me, as is the Menorah, a few hundred yards away.

     “I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of being  pushed around, period.

     “I don’t know where the idea came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat.”

     Stein’s commentary leaves much to consider as we enter the “Christmas” season.  Many retail stores call it the “Holiday” season in an attempt to avoid offending someone.

     Remember. Jesus is the reason for the season!

    

     Meanwhile, Professor Hoopla B.S., submitted his latest list of prognostications on a cranberry stained napkin. Said he was in a hurry.

     Hoopla predicted the winners of eight games last week and achieved perfection. Miracles do happen.

     He’ll start this week’s abbreviated menu with a preview of some Friday night high school playoff games.

     Bogue Chitto at Stringer: Red Devils are brewing a Class 1A South State Championship  upset win over the previously unbeaten Bobcats. Stringer 34-28.

     Brookhaven Academy vs. Marshall Academy: The MAIS Class AA State Championship is on the line tonight when the Cougars battle the Patriots in a titanic struggle at Millsaps College. Cats prevail by a whisker. Brookhaven Academy 21-20.

     West Marion at Hazlehurst:      Unbeaten Indians must bring their A game to the Class 3A South State title test on Robert McDaniel Field. They’ll hand the West Marion Trojans their first defeat. Hazlehurst 26-20.

     Bassfield at East Marion: The South Class 2A title is up for grabs as the unbeaten (14-0) Yellowjackets claim their 15th win of the season. Bassfield 34-14.

     In other South playoff games, expect Brandon to edge Petal 20-14 in 6A, Pearl River Central to dump Pascagoula 39-30 in 5A and Quitman to clip Greene County 24-21 in 4A.

     Attempting to maintain his slim waistline, Hoopla drains a Sunkist Diet Orange before revealing the Egg Bowl winner.

     Mississippi State at Ole Miss: Pressure is on the Rebels as they seek to halt MSU’s 3-year dominance and secure a bowl invite in the process for first-year coach Hugh Freeze.  Ole Miss 24-21.

     Southern Miss at Memphis: This has been a frustrating, record-breaking, winless season for the once-proud Golden Eagles. Memphis 22-17.

 

     Contact sports editor Tom Goetz by Email: tgoetz@dailyleader.com