Happy Labor Day And The Top 10 Sportiest American Holidays

   One of the best things about being a sportswriter? Getting paid to go to games.

   One of the worst things about being a sportswriter? Working on holidays.

   Not that I'm complaining. I've got lots of media friends who are without full-time jobs, and there's nothing more stressful than trying to patch together a paycheck in this economic climate.

   I cherish my gigs, from blogger (DFWSportatorium) to pizza proprietor (Pizza Buzz) to TV yapper (NBC 5). Just, um, a little less on days like this, Labor Day.

   While friends are at the lake, having a pool party and just chllin' in the rain, I'll be slaving away today here in my lil' corner of the blogosphere, over at NBC 5's Blue Star Blog and with a couple of Pizza Buzz-related chores. Just as later this season when I'll - thanks to the Cowboys - "work" on Thanksgiving for the umpteeth consecutive year.

   Again, I'm not complaining (too loudly). The Cowboys are working today at Valley Ranch getting ready for the Giants, the Rangers are working this afternoon to hold off the A's in Oakland and tennis' U.S. Open is working to keep our attention despite no American men in the Round of 16 for the first time since '81. That's 1881.

   So put away the white shorts, fly your flag and celebrate the end of summer with my ranking of the sportiest holidays on our calendar ...

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   10. Halloween - The air turns crisp and the NBA balls starting bouncing.

   9. St. Patrick's Day - I've learned to enjoy drowning my March Madness bracket in vats of green beer.

   8. Christmas - Some innocuous Hawaii bowl game is the appetizer for delicious NBA showdowns.

   7. Memorial Day - NBA conference finals, baseball heats up and two of auto racing's biggest races.

   6. New Year's Day - No. 1 for years before the BCS came and diluted college football's bowl season.

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   5. Fourth of July - Non-stop baseball and, if we're lucky, a World Cup soccer game and an intriguing Wimbledon final.

   4. Super Bowl - Yes, thanks for noticing, it is indeed its own holiday.

   3. Labor Day - NFL's kickoff is in the air and marquee college football games accented by U.S. Open tennis and baseball pennant races.

   2. Father's Day - Nothing better than joining Pops in watching the pros struggle like hackers over 18 holes and six hours in the U.S. Open's final round.

   1. Thanksgiving - Football. Food. Family. More Food. Cowboys. More Food. Less Family. More Football. More Food.

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