Thursday's Hot Clicks: Ten Things I'm Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Since it's Thanksgiving, I'm going to stray from the usual Hot Clicks format and present 10 Things I'm Thankful For this holiday season. Please eat heavily and

Since it's Thanksgiving, I'm going to stray from the usual Hot Clicks format and present 10 Things I'm Thankful For this holiday season. Please eat heavily and drive safely. 

1. Minor League Theme Nights and The Accompanying Jerseys

The owners of minor league sports teams have a tough job attracting fans to see mostly anonymous athletes. The solution: theme nights. And judging by some of the themes from this past year, anything is fair game. Among my favorites were 'Win a Used Car Night' (Rock Round Express), 'Speed-Dating Night' (Albuquerque Isotopes​) and 'Peanut Allergy Awareness Night' (Louisville Bats). Some theme nights even incorporate a custom jersey, and those are among the best ones, too.

Bakersfield Condors, Gettysburg Address Jerseys

Durham Bulls, Star Wars Night

Fresno Grizzlies, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Night

2. Creative College Students

Whether dressing up for games, making cheesy tribute videos or creating funny signs, college students bring a level of fun and levity not often seen in pro sports.

Missouri fans :: Icon Sportswire

Ole Miss fans :: Jason Parkhurst/SI

All About That State, Mississippi State

Harvard-Yale Trash Talk

#GameDaySigns Week 13: http://t.co/TbHRlLqBLn pic.twitter.com/ttoJXU31Hz

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 22, 2014

3. Taiwanese Animation

To be honest, I'm not sure when this started or if the animators are actually Taiwanese. But any time something interesting or noteworthy happens in the world of sports, there is a Taiwanese animation video not far behind. The group TomoNews are behind all these and they are not just contained to sports. Here are a few of my favorites.

NFL bans goalpost dunk celebration

Kevin Love traded to Cavs

Luis Suarez bites opponent during World Cup

4. On-Field Microphones

I love announcers as much as the next guy (see Jeff Van Gundy item below) but being able to hear the actual sounds of the game gives viewers a whole different perspective. 

Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning

Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan

NHL Trash Talk Compilation

Home Plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt at World Series

5. Christina Applegate (and other Throwback LLODs)

Although most visit Hot Clicks for my clever writing and funny anecdotes, some actually come just to look at the Lovely Ladies of the Day. Every Thursday afternoon, I pay tribute to a hottie from my youth with a Throwback LLOD. This is my favorite item of the week and what receives the most feedback from you. Here's a quick tribute to some babes from yesteryear.

Christina Applegate

Tiffani Thiessen

Nicole Eggert and Pam Anderson

Alyssa Milano

Julius and Turquoise Erving :: Lane Stewart

Jim Kelly :: Lane Stewart

Larry Bird :: Lane Stewart

Mario Lemieux :: Lane Stewart/SI

Magic Johnson :: Lane Stewart

7. Jeff Van Gundy

Sports broadcasting is a tough gig. Everyone is a critic and few are good enough to receive universal praise. But I barely, if ever, hear a bad word about Jeff Van Gundy, who's been calling NBA games for ESPN/ABC since 2007. And he's not afraid to rant.

Anti-flopping rant

Lots of college hoops pics today. Here's the great Jeff Van Gundy (and his hair) playing for @NazarethCollege pic.twitter.com/0wMKAXUFJm

— SI Vault (@si_vault) March 14, 2014

21-year-old Dominique Wilkins turns down the boom box in his UGA dorm room: pic.twitter.com/fgfyNC4qrq

— SI Vault (@si_vault) November 12, 2014

@si_vault Man, where do y'all find these photos? LOL Man I was young!

— Dominique Wilkins 🏀 (@DWilkins21) November 13, 2014

Simply can't say enough good things about this 1964 pic of Tommy Heinsohn at Faneuil Hall: pic.twitter.com/HmcNmSlTcP

— SI Vault (@si_vault) November 25, 2013

On the archive SI cover photo: "I spent the whole day taking pictures around Boston, then he calls me and says 'I have to do it again.'"

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) November 30, 2013

Hey @GaryPayton_20 explain what's going on with these white spandex please: pic.twitter.com/b4359eI2

— SI Vault (@si_vault) March 26, 2012

@si_vault hold on first how old are u and have u ever played any kind of college ball

— GARY PAYTON (@GaryPayton) March 26, 2012

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