As Andy Williams sings, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” It’s also time for me to present my wish list for the 2013 holiday season. I will begin win Peyton Manning. Peyton, you have almost all the accolades and honors a professional football player can acquire in their career, but there is one more I wish for you — another Super Bowl and championship ring. You have demonstrated that at age 37, you are playing better than you ever did, but another NFL championship would be your crowning achievement. And remember, even though you are now wearing Bronco orange and blue, you will always be an Indianapolis Colt at heart.
For the Indiana Pacers: I wish for you the continued success that being the NBA’s best team brings. You have brought excitement, honor, and pride back to Conseco Fieldhouse and the fans are all in love with you again. This is the best the city has felt about basketball since the Reggie days. I also wish for you all the continued lack of national media scrutiny that you have gotten since the season began. Let the talking heads at ESPN and elsewhere continue to consider the Pacers current success a fluke. Keep flying under the radar until the NBA championship playoff finals.
For Andrew Luck: I wish you an offensive line that can hold a block for you and receivers that can actually hold on to the ball when you throw it to them. Having to carry a whole team on your back is responsibility enough without having to put up with the poor execution of some of your talent-challenged teammates.
For the Indianapolis Colts: I wish you a season in which your most talented players stay healthy and on the field for all 16 games and the playoff run. I also wish a productive draft and some valuable free agent acquisitions for you.
For Indiana Fever Coach Lynn Dunn: I wish you continued success and good fortune. You are Indianapolis’ most talented and successful professional head coach and a true treasure for the Fever and the city.
For the Fever: Another run at the WNBA title, and for all basketball fans in the city to realize what a great team of players we have with the Fever. They have the most talented roster in the WNBA. The Fever always give the fans an exciting and fun show and they deserve our total support.
For the Warren Central Football Warriors: To the team members, all honor and congratulations on your success and all the best in your future endeavors. May you stay healthy and happy. To Warren Central High School —thanks and praise for the honor and recognition your school has brought to the east side of Indianapolis. Your teaching staff has put together an academic program that is the envy of the state and your coaching staff has put together a nationally-ranked high school football program that is respected throughout the nation. You make everyone proud. I wish you continued success in your outstanding academic program as well as your sports program.
For the Indianapolis Indians: My thanks for you giving the city a great family venue to enjoy professional baseball and for always giving us a great team to watch and root for. May the Vic continue to be the place to go for a relaxing summer evening of fun and excitement.
For the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: As you move toward the 100th running of the Indy 500 may you continue to give the fans the worlds most exciting and competitive race. May all of the races run at the West 16th Street facility be exciting, fun, and most of all, safe.
For Dario Franchitti and Ashley Judd: May you both find contentment and fulfillment in the next phase of your life together. May it be as successful as your racing and acting career have been.
For Mayor Ballard: Good luck with the cricket field. Here’s hoping it’s success justifies its cost, both financially and politically.
For all of those who donate their time and financial resources to youth sports activities: You represent the best of the city and there are not enough words to express our gratitude for what you do. I hope all of your dreams for the future are fulfilled.
For the city of Indianapolis: My hope is that all of the citizens of the city prosper and are safe, healthy, and secure. May it be understood that each one of us have something to bring to the table that can help the city to continue to grow. May all of our leaders have the strength, energy, and most of all the wisdom to lead us through the inevitable challenges that will be encountered in the coming years.
For my fellow columnists and the management of the Weekly View: My thanks for all of your shared creativity and hard work, you have helped to make the View the best community newspaper in Central Indiana. You have my respect and admiration and you make me proud to be even a small part of it. May you all continue to be fruitful, resourceful, and imaginative.
For myself: I wish myself the continued luck in being able to find something to write about each week. Frequently it’s a lot harder to do that than it may look.
For all of you reading this: I want to wish you the warmest of Holiday Seasons, the Merriest of Christmas’s, and the happiest and healthiest of New Years. As Tiny Tim said “God bless us , everyone!”
snicewanger@yahoo.com