Syracuse Orange: Players we’d love to have over for Thanksgiving dinner

To all of my fellow Syracuse Orange fans out there, I’m wishing you a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. My mom and other family members prepare delicious food. I’m not much of a cook, but I help out in other ways, mainly washing the dishes when our hearty meal is over.

What I love about Thanksgiving is that it reminds me of all the people in my life to whom I’m thankful, including my son Kethan, my parents, my twin brother, my other siblings, my nieces and nephews, my close friends, and of course all of you Syracuse Orange fanatics out there.

I’m looking forward to being with those who I love, having some tasty eats, indulging in a few beers, watching some sports, and laughing a lot. I hope this holiday brings you much joy, too.

To that end, I have some current and former Syracuse Orange players who I’d like to have over for Thanksgiving dinner.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, and it’s not in any particular order, but these are some of the ‘Cuse student-athletes, and a couple of coaches as well, with whom I’d love to share Thanksgiving while chatting their heads off about Syracuse Orange sports.

Kiyan and Carmelo Anthony
I just want to tell Melo how much I appreciate all that he’s done for ‘Cuse, and I want to give Kiyan my favorite restaurant options in Syracuse, in case he does end up playing for the Orange down the line.

Brandon Triche
The winningest player in Syracuse men’s basketball history, and he did so in a relatively quiet way.

John Wallace
The ‘Cuse is in the house, OMG. That run in the spring of 1996…

Lawrence Moten
Pure poetry. The all-time leading scorer in men’s hoops.

Tyus Battle
One of my favorite all-time Syracuse basketball players. That upset over third-seeded Michigan State in the 2018 NCAA Tournament – the best.

Hakim Warrick
The block. Enough said.

Joey Spallina
This young man is gonna end up a legend for Syracuse Orange men’s lacrosse.

Meaghan Tyrrell
One of the GOATs in Syracuse Orange women’s lacrosse.

Justyn Knight
A ‘Cuse legend in cross-cross and track & field, he was a national champion during his time on the Hill.

Marek Dolezaj
The ultimate fan favorite. I’ll have pizza available for him, even on Thanksgiving, because why not?

C. J. Fair
Another one of my favorite Syracuse men’s basketball players ever. He’s also from Baltimore, and I grew up nearby.

Tiana Mangakahia
No explanation is needed. Orange Nation loves her.

Dyaisha Fair
The fifth-year guard for Syracuse Orange women’s basketball is so, so good. She’s an All-American candidate this season.

Sean Tucker
#PL34SED. And #PL44SED.

Donovan McNabb
One of the best ever to play for Syracuse football, and his time with the Orange overlapped with my four years as a student at Syracuse University. We had some pretty good teams in the late 1990s.

Don McPherson
The top-flight former Syracuse football quarterback won the 1987 Heisman Trophy, regardless of what the official records say.

Buddy and Jimmy Boeheim, together with Mike, Casey and Ryan Powell
That would be fun.

Wesley Johnson
Most importantly, Wes just seems like a good dude, a nice human being. He was Big East Conference player of the year and a first-team All-American when Syracuse basketball went 30-5 overall in that magical, yet heartbreaking, 2009-10 season.

Sherman Douglas and Derrick Coleman
GOATs.

Eric Devendorf
I just love what he does for the Central New York community these days, and I’ve told him that numerous times on social media.

Kris Joseph
He was the leading scorer for that ‘Cuse 2011-12 squad that went 30-1 in the regular season and 34-3 overall.

Art Monk
A star for Syracuse football and a legendary wide receiver in the pros.

Trevor Cooney
Hopefully, he’ll bring all of his brothers, including Terry, Gerry, Tyler and…

Gary Gait and Kayla Treanor
I’d love to talk turkey, and other topics, with the head coaches of Syracuse Orange men’s and women’s lacrosse.

Adrian Autry
Such a fan of Coach Red.

Felisha Legette-Jack
I just think she’s remarkable.

Jim Boeheim
He’ll always be near and dear to my heart, given that I’m an old-school guy, yearning for Syracuse basketball to be back in the Big East. I wonder if Coach B likes turkey parm as much as he appears to enjoy chicken parm.

Happy Thanksgiving, ‘Cuse family!