Dear Santa:

I realize that it’s a little late in the game to be making requests of you; after all, you’re a very busy elf this time of year. That said, I would like to make the following requests for myself and others.

Here we go.

♦ For an early Christmas present, please let there be an end to the high school debate in Anderson. The time has come for a decision and please, Mr. Claus, let that decision come in the next 24 hours so we can move on and begin the next phase, begrudging acceptance.

♦ Can you arrange for an end to this notion of resting key players in the NFL once a team has won its division and homefield advantage?

I’m serious here, Colts fans. Case in point 2005 and 2007: The Colts had everything wrapped up by the time December rolled around and rested everybody for the final few games of the season. What happened in the playoffs each time? Colts lose.

In 2006, the Colts had to play all 16 games straight up and what happened? Won the Super Bowl. Is history telling anyone anything here?

♦ Can you arrange for someone to take Milton Bradley off the Chicago Cubs’ hands? I don’t know what the Cubs did to deserve that proverbial piece of coal in their stocking, but come on! Isn’t a century between World Series titles enough?

♦ When you stop at my niece’s home on Christmas Eve, please don’t eat all the cookies. She gets a little miffed when people do that.

♦ Maybe a little snow for the big day? Not as much as my dad asked for in 1978, but just enough to make things look like the postcards. That would be nice.

♦ If it’s possible, could you arrange for college football to have a playoff system?

Obviously, if the federal government is going to get involved, then this is going to get worse before it gets better. My thinking is that you can fix this mess just a wee bit faster based on the whole going-around-the-world-in-one-night thing.

♦ Is it possible to get some more storytellers in this world? Good ones. Because those are in short supply and the world needs good storytellers.

♦ Two words: Snickerdoodle cookies. You know what I’m saying, Big Man?

♦ A work ethic for Randy Moss. Talent can only get you so far in this world. Sooner or later your talent will meet talent that has work ethic and uses it and then your talent won’t be enough.