Spellman's Scorecard: The lists just keep on coming

The New Year is always a time when everyone and their brother publishes lists, lists and more lists.

Fortunately, I like lists.

So, I'm going to sprinkle in a few lists here but not delve into all the negative that 2012 has provided — both in sports and in real life. Let's keep it a little upbeat, OK?

But before we go on ... :A little quiz on the year that was just to test your midterm memory:1. Who were the 2011-12 Stanley Cup champions?2. Who won the British Open?3. Who is the reigning NFL MVP?4. Who won the Daytona 500?(Answers later.)2012: The very good:#376;Chuck Pagano#376;Adrian Peterson#376;Oscar Pistorius#376;I'll Have AnotherThings I'd like to see in 2013:#376;A repeat of last season by Alfonso Soriano.#376;More of those iPad music-centric commercials.#376;Phil Emery summoning his inner Jim Finks and drafting nothing but O-linemen.#376;One of those local police departments actually cracking a case on #8220;Criminal Minds.#8221;2012: The very good (locally):#376;Northern Illinois football#376;Brandon Marshall#376;The Ryder Cup#376;Alex Rios#376;Anthony RizzoBig sandwich day:Bears-Lions followed by Packers-Vikings followed by Cowboys-Redskins #8230; in the words of Homer Simpson, #8220;Bye-bye belt!#8221;BTW:Suddenly the Bears have become awfully yappy.What's up with that?Sunday could literally be a slugfest.Enough is enough:The NHL lockout just passed the 100-day mark, and the two sides haven't met in more than a week.Time to send in John McDonough and get this thing settled.Ready to be bowled over:New Year's Day is going to be something with NU playing in the morning and NIU in the evening.A big day that would've been even bigger with the Winter Classic live from the Big House sandwiched in between. A guy can dream, right?Things I know I'll see and hear in 2013 (whether I want to or not):#376;More adventures of angry toothbrush guy and his family.#376;The phrase #8220;The total package.#8221;#376;The never-ending Victory Auto Wreckers commercial. I don't remember a year in my life without it.41 and counting:I've said it before and I'll say it again: How great is it to see Bob Frisk's byline back in the Daily Herald?Good luck:To Hawthorne GM Jim Miller, who begins a new career in horse racing beginning in January.There's no doubt he'll do well.Interested in seeing in 2013:Attendance at the Cubs Convention now that they're neither cuddly nor borderline competitive.Quiz answers:1. L.A. Kings. 2. Ernie Els. 3. Aaron Rodgers. 4. Matt Kenseth.A final wish for 2013:That you have a healthy, happy and safe New Year!mspellman@dailyherald.com