I will never forget my first November in Texas. It was 1990. My wife and I had moved here from Michigan the previous February. Where we’re from, the weather is terrible in November. Typically not wintry, but it is always cloudy, rainy and cold. So imagine my delight as I sat on the sidelines of the Arlington Lamar practice field experiencing a bright, beautiful day with temperatures in the middle 70s. I was there to cover yet another playoff run by the late, great Eddy Peach and the Vikings. And I remember like it was yesterday thinking, “Wow, this feels like summer in Michigan.”
If you are having any difficulty remembering those things for which you should be thankful, let’s start there! The weather here is awesome this time of year. They have turkey trots, parades and tailgate parties in every big city in America this month, and no one has better weather for those activities than we do.
There is plenty more for which we can give thanks. Like the fact that Arlington is home to the best new baseball stadium in the world. More than two million fans came to Globe Life Field, to Arlington, to watch a baseball team that lost over 100 games. The team is still in rebuild mode, and they are headed in the right direction after tearing this thing down to the studs. But the two million fans is a testament to the vision of Rangers Ownership and Arlington Leadership. The exterior look has been lampooned on social media and various websites, but I have attended over 100 games there over the course of the past two years, and I have not encountered one person who disparaged the interior.
From its intimate layout, to the artistic design, to the air conditioning, fans love this place. If you have not seen the inside yet, take advantage of a tour or a holiday event and visit. It is all part of the Arlington Backyard, and the weather is perfect for backyard activities this time of year.
Speaking of the backyard, Loews has announced that we are getting a new pool. Actually, the pool will be part of a $550 million resort hotel that is now being built on the land that was a parking lot and a helipad. Jerry Jones will have the only helipad in the neighborhood, but the residents of Arlington will have a new source of entertainment, economic growth and employment. Mayor Jim Ross is understandably giddy about the addition to our community. “Arlington continues to build on our incredible economic momentum, “ Ross says. “It is another exciting example of our commitment to job creation and providing world-class amenities to our residents and visitors.”
There are 888 guest rooms being built to supplement what is already available at Live! by Loews, which means over one thousand families of fans can stay within walking distance of the games at Globe Life Field and AT&T Stadium.
Perhaps you have noticed that the guys who call AT&T home are having a pretty good year. The Cowboys are another reason to be thankful. They have assembled a team that may just bring back memories of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. With Dak Prescott healthy we figured the offense would be good, but who would have bet this defense would be as good as it has been? The Cowboys have made a commitment to the defense in the past couple of drafts, and Dan Quinn has coordinated like he once did with Seattle’s Legion of Boom.
The best thing about this team is how much they like each other. Team chemistry can be very elusive, and it appears this group has found the correct formula for success.
I know you all have so many reasons to give thanks, but these are just a few more to help you remember that we live in a great state, a great city at a great time. If none of the things I have suggested resonate with you, then do me a favor: Just step outside and realize that it is cloudy, rainy and cold in so many places – and perfect here.
