SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Much like the message plastered all over the turkey fryer -- the one warning not to overheat the cooking oil, for fear flames will turn big bird into a toasty serving of hot wings -- the Jazz received fair notice.
That, though, is when the Jazz began to get their act together.Not that they even want to.Tomorrow is our day of thanksgiving. It's a national observance first proclaimed by George Washington. In our journey across the centuries from a few tiny settlements to a prosperous and powerful nation, Americans have always been a grateful people, and we are this year as well. We're grateful for our beautiful land. We're grateful for a harvest big enough to feed us all, plus much of the world. We're grateful for our freedom. We're grateful for our families, and we're grateful for life itself.In fact, it gets even better. Later today Flyer and Fryer will be on a plane to Disneyland--[laughter] where they're going to achieve further celebrity as the honorary grand marshal of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.They weren't quite the same team," Sloan added, "with those guys in that kind of shape."Just back from a trip to Asia, Bush and his wife Laura will spend the holiday at Camp David before another international trip early next week to the Baltics and the Middle East.So what did the Jazz go and go and do on Thanksgiving Eve?Artest played 36 minutes, but was slowed by a bad back."We can't keep expecting to get lucky," coach Jerry Sloan. "I mean, (Kings starting point guard Mike) Bibby went out of the ballgame, and (starting small forward Ron) Artest was hurting.The typical American consumes more than 13 pounds of turkey a year, with a good serving of it coming at Thanksgiving.We're here in the Rose Garden. This is a place where Barney likes to hang out. Barney is my dog. And he likes to chase a soccer ball here. He came out a little early, as did Flyer, and instead of chasing the soccer ball, he chased the bird. [Laughter] And it kind of made the turkey nervous. See, the turkey was already nervous to begin with. Nobody has told him yet about the pardon I'm about to give him. [Laughter]At one point, Bush moved in for a closer look at Flyer, a well- behaved bird raised in Missouri. He petted the turkey's head and back before inviting a couple dozen Girl Scouts to come up and join him.The popular pardon ceremony dates to the days of President Harry Truman in 1947.Boozer followed with an Okur-fed dunk, and the Kings did not threaten again -- leaving Harpring, for one, to wonder just how long the Jazz can keep this up.So on Thanksgiving Day, we gather with loved ones and we lift our hearts toward heaven in humility and gratitude. As we count our blessings, Americans also share our blessings. We're a generous country. We're filled with caring citizens who reach out to others, people who've heard the universal call to love a neighbor as we want to be loved ourself. On Thanksgiving and every day of the year, Americans live out of a spirit of compassion and care, and I thank you for that. It's the spirit that moves men and women to be mentors to the young, to be scout leaders, to be helpers of the elderly, to be comforters of the lonely and those who are left out.The name of the National Thanksgiving Turkey has been chosen by online voting at the White House web site. By the decision of the voters, this turkey is going to be called Flyer. And there's always a backup bird, just in case the guest of honor can't perform his duties, and the backup bird's name is Fryer. [Laughter] Probably better to be called Flyer than Fryer.NOTE: The President spoke at 10:22 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Mike Briggs, chairman, and Alice L. Johnson, president, National Turkey Federation.Boozer finished with a game-high 32 points on 14-of-20 shooting from the field and pulled down 13 rebounds for his 10th double- double in 12 games this season, while Williams added another double- double with 20 points and 13 assists.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals urged Bush to send the pardoned turkeys to an animal sanctuary, where "they will get the exercise and socialization that they need to live longer, happier lives."And now to the ceremonial task of the day. Why don't we have a look at Flyer? There you go. I think Flyer heard Barney barking over there. [Laughter] It's a fine looking bird, isn't it? Flyer is probably wondering where he's going to wind up tomorrow. He's probably thinking he's going to end up on somebody's table. Well, I'm happy to report that he and Fryer both have many tomorrows ahead of them. This morning I am grateful--I am granting a full Presidential pardon so they can live out their lives as safe as can be.Bibby was accidentally kneed in the thigh by Boozer while driving to the basket, and hobbled to the locker room with just more than a minute remaining in the opening half.After coming back from 16 to beat both Toronto on Monday night and Phoenix last Saturday night, though, they added one more night to their growing list of down-but-not-out hits.The first family's menu for Thanksgiving includes free-range roasted turkey, cornbread dressing, zucchini gratin, whipped maple sweet potatoes, basil chive red potato mash and pumpkin pie.
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com
Author: Tim Buckley Deseret Morning News
No comments:
Post a Comment