updated 4:22 p.m. ET Nov. 25, 2008

Thursday is the time for everyone to take one day out of their lives and give thanks (by overeating, of course). Those within the world of sports are no exception — playing games for millions of dollars, winning championships and establishing new world records gives many plenty for which to be thankful. Or, simply put, you could be Marko Jaric, who has the good fortune to be engaged to supermodel Adriana Lima.

However, on this day to give thanks, who in the sports world might not be so willing? Who had a year they would rather forget? Be it a dejected fan base or a quarterback who struggles with simple rules, there were plenty who have little to give thanks for in 2008.

Another year of high-hopes headed into the playoffs, only to have the same, soul-crushing result — welcome to the cyclical life of a Chicago Cubs fan.

The Cubs had the best record in the National League, won the Central Division by 7 1/2 games and seemed poised to make a World Series run. But alas, once again, they disappointed, and couldn't muster one win against the Dodgers in the National League Division Series, leaving all Cubs fans to wonder, “If the cursed Red Sox and cross-town rival White Sox finally won, will it ever be our turn?”

It’s been 101 years since the last Cubs’ title, so the fans must be used to it by now, but it still doesn’t make the winters any easier. Feel free to go heavy on the gravy this Thursday — you deserve it.

Joining Cubs fans at the Thanksgiving dinner this year is Donovan McNabb, who, despite being a five-time Pro-Bowl quarterback, the 2004 NFC Offensive Player of the Year, and the first quarterback to take the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 24 years, has little to be thankful for this year.

His Eagles are 5-5-1 and probably won't be in the playoffs. McNabb also tarnished his legacy this season, forever linking himself to the fact that he didn't know NFL games could end in ties, and adamantly proclaiming such in a press conference.

To follow that up, McNabb was benched at halftime Sunday against the Ravens, and rumors are flying that this could be his last year in Philadelphia. And if he should lose to the Cardinals on Thanksgiving? Get ready for some booing that will drown out what he heard on draft day.

But even McNabb at least has some success this year. The same cannot be said for Seattle sports fans. Do you root for teams from the Emerald City? Then congratulations, you have the least to be thankful for this year.

Your baseball team had high hopes, but finished with the worst record in the American League, and in the process became the first club to spend $100 million and still lose 100 games.

Your NFL team, who had won the division for four consecutive years, is 2-9 and will be without its longtime coach heading into next season.

The two college teams from your state in the Football Bowl Subdivision are a laughing stock (combined record: 2-21, including the only winless team in the country), and needed double-overtime just to determine which one was less bad Saturday (it was Washington State, the team that has lost their games by an average of nearly 40 points).

Then the real dagger: The NBA team that you had supported for years, the only Seattle team to ever win a league title, was hijacked, and taken to Oklahoma City.

And — just to top it off — it's cloudy in Seattle an average of 226 days a year.

We’ll save the drumstick for you.

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