Howard: The Tribute (2012-2025)

Howard Winchell Adams, marquess of Quail Run, first of his name and lover of treats, walks, and tummy rubs, died unexpectedly but peacefully on August 11, 2025, surrounded by his adoring parents. 

He was preceded in death by his brother, Leonard Attenborough Adams, viscount of Quail Run (a leopard gecko), and Prince Michael Adams, king of hop (an African water frog). He leaves behind his loving sister, Wilamena Windsor Adams, duchess of Quail Run (a northern map turtle).

Howard in January 2022

His parents believe Howard was born in 2012, making him 13 years old in 2025. They adopted him in June 2019 from the Animal Protection League in Anderson, Indiana. He made Indianapolis, Indiana, his home from 2019 until his death in 2025 from complications brought on by a collapsing trachea.

Howard leaves behind an enduring legacy of love and Greenies, many of which are hidden throughout the home in various places and are still being discovered buried in various nooks and crannies ranging from the couch to his unofficial second residence in the guest room daybed.

This was our introduction to Howard from the Anderson Animal Protection League in June 2019

The Chihuahua dachshund mix, known colloquially as a “Chiweenie” or “Mexican hot dog,” went by many names. A sampling: Howie, the Howitzer, Pupperoo, Pupper, Captain Wiggle-Butt, Spicy Little Chorizo, Howie-kins, Pumpkin Butt, Little Buddy, and Stinky Boy. 

Howard with Anne and me in Anderson on June 29, 2019, marked from that day forward as his birthday

He was especially fond of his mother, although he eventually accepted his father as a member of the pack and loved both his parents unconditionally. He spent his days going on walks, taking frequent naps, and enjoying too much people food, especially steak from Texas Roadhouse on Fridays.

Unflinchingly loyal and ever the protector, Howard kept his domain safe from all intruders, be they DoorDashers, pizza delivery personnel, UPS men/women, neighbors, or family members who simply dropped by to say hello. He had little tolerance for interlopers in his home or neighborhood and was especially selective when it came to other dogs who lived in the territory that he was dutybound to patrol.

"Doped up" Howard after mouth surgery in July 2020

He appreciated the devoted care of the staff at Franklin Falls Animal Clinic, Barkefellers Indy South, and Petco. Franklin Falls kept track of his health, Barkefellers gave him a place to play when Mom and Dad were at work or otherwise away, and Petco staffers gave him baths and tried to keep his dewclaws under control. His parents wish to thank them all for the tremendous love, care, and support they afforded their precious boy.

Howard with a signature Petco bandana

Howard embarked on many adventures. He loved visiting various parks around the area and walking around/sniffing neighborhoods like Misty Ridge and that one condo community off Shelbyville Road near Jeremiah Gray Elementary School. He was involved in a crash when his mother’s car had an unfortunate encounter with a curb while picking him up from surgery to have him fixed.

Howard sleeping like a little human in January 2021

He filled his days with naps and treats, and countless photographs show the many positions and locations in which he slept. Sometimes he would disappear for hours underneath blankets; sometimes he managed to sleep like a little human with his head peeking out from underneath the covers. He also loved to lie in the sun; his mother bought him a specialized elevated bed so he could soak in some rays.

Howard on his elevated bed in July 2025

Howard enjoyed relatively good health throughout his time in the Kingdom of Quail Run. He did need some surgery to remove a few teeth and a collapsing trachea meant he was sometimes prone to respiratory distress. His parents managed his condition with an inhaler and unconditional love. Sometimes his father worked from home to make sure he was comfortable. Sometimes his mother would take the day off work to keep an eye on him.

Howard with his inhaler, April 2022

He typically took three walks a day: one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. In the early days of his Indianapolis residence, the evening walk happened late, between the hours of eight or nine p.m. As the years went by, and Howard’s eyesight declined, he preferred an evening walk around seven p.m., when there was still some waning daylight.

On extremely hot and humid summer days—and there were many in 2024 and 2025—his mother and father drove him to the neighborhood gazebo so he could sniff and take care of his business without being exposed to the elements for prolonged periods of time. This extended to extreme cold, when his parents would drive him somewhere in the neighborhood to avoid the cold and snow. He had a variety of outfits to keep his tummy warm, including several “Adidog” sweatsuits that his father adored.

One of his "Adidog" sweatsuits from December 2020

Over the years, he played with many toys. They included Chewbacca, Peppermint Unicorn, Giant Blue Shrimp, Chop-Chop (Lambchop), Duck-Duck, Pink Flamingo, and many more. His parents needed multiple versions of Chop-Chop, who was undoubtedly one of his favorite toys and needed to be replaced due to excessive wear and tear. He showed much love to a Mickey Mouse toy by ripping off the nose and exposing stuffing in the shoulder region, damage his determined mother could not fix.

One could surmise from this information that Howard was spoiled. This supposition would be correct.

Howard with one of his Chop-Chops, December 2022

It is not an exaggeration to suggest Howard was the reason his parents survived the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic started less than a year into his adoption, and Howard provided a loving presence at home and gave his parents an excuse to get out of the house during lockdown periods. Without him, his mother and father would’ve likely descended into madness. He was truly the MVP of that unfortunate chapter of reality.

Howard chills outside in June 2020 during the great pandemic

While good-intentioned and loyal, Howard could also be feisty and obstinate. Walks didn’t end until he wanted them to end, and he seldom went where his parents wanted him to go. They eventually learned to guide him, although they were never able to do so with 100% success. He didn’t love taking medicine and would sometimes spit out pills even when they were hidden in sliced turkey. If Howard wanted food or attention, he would make it known and relentlessly pursue his parents until they met his demands (again, spoiled).

He was a constant companion, a snuggler, a protector, an investigative reporter, a drain inspector, an accomplished snacker, a world champion napper, and a source of infinite amusement.

But most of all, he was a very good boy.

Rest easy, sweet boy

The Four Miracles of Indiana

When the Indiana Pacers won the Eastern Conference Finals, coach Rick Carlisle uttered a phrase familiar to those who live in the state of Indiana. 

“In 49 states, it’s just basketball. But this is Indiana.” 

The game is inseparable from the Hoosier State. It’s God, basketball, cornfields, and the Indianapolis 500 here—and the priority varies by circumstance. 

We have a few patron saints of basketball. You’ve got Bob Knight, John Wooden, Gene Keady, and Brad Stevens, all generational talents who performed some extraordinary miracles on the hardwood. 

There’s Norman Dale, a fictional coach who’s just as real as anyone who has ever drawn up a play or riled up officials enough to get tossed from a game. 

The Indiana Pacers have a few patron saints of their own—Slick and Nancy Leonard, George McGinnis, Mel Daniels, Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, Jermaine O’Neal. Heck, throw Lance Stephenson in there, too. Few players were as borderline insane and beloved as “Born Ready.” 

Slick, Nancy, and Reggie were the miracle workers of the bunch, with Slick and Nancy willing the Pacers to stay in Indianapolis with a telethon and Reggie providing unforgettable moments that would somehow repeat 25 years later against the same New York Knicks franchise he delighted in tormenting. 

Yet, as charmed as the Pacers’ run in the early 1990s through mid-2000s was, something else always stood in the way. The Patrick Ewing-led New York Knicks. The Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls, a historically dominant franchise that won back-to-back-back titles twice, leaving little room for anyone else to represent the Eastern Conference in the Finals. 

Even when the Pacers made their sole NBA Finals appearance during the 1999-2000 season, they ran into another historic team of destiny in Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and the Los Angeles Lakers. They managed a couple wins in the series before losing in six games. 

The next best shot for the Pacers came during the 2004-2005 season, when Indiana had what appeared to be both the best team in the Eastern Conference and the whole NBA. This team, with Reggie taking on a reduced role as he tried to win that elusive ring, appeared ready to take the next step. 

It all unraveled with The Brawl (aka “The Malice at the Palace”). The resulting fight and media circus, which I will not deign to relive or relitigate here, led to severe punishment for the Pacers and ruined Reggie’s last, best chance at a championship.  

The Pacers made the playoffs as a sixth seed and advanced to the second round before losing to Detroit. Reggie retired at the end of the season. 

The Pacers remained competitive for the better part of the next two decades. They made it to the Eastern Conference Finals a couple times under ascending star Paul George, although the Blue and Gold ran into continued roadblocks in the form of LeBron James, a dominant player whose specter would haunt the franchise in the 2010s in the form of soul-crushing playoff exits and all-world clutch performances with both the Big Three Miami Heat and the Home Again Cleveland Cavaliers. 

From 2010 through 2020, the Pacers qualified for the playoffs in nine out of ten seasons. And while they were above average and consistently competitive, they exceeded 50 wins only once, when the Paul George-led 2013-2014 team won 56 games and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

King James, of course, made sure the top-seeded Pacers never reached the Finals. 

Trades moved star players in and out. George. Victor Oladipo. Malcolm Brogdon. Caris LeVert. Good players, some of whom even had great moments. 

But true success proved elusive. 

In the 2020-2021 season, the Pacers made the play-in round of the NBA postseason and lost to the Miami Heat.  

This marked a key turning point, as the franchise got rid of Nate Bjorkgren (a head-scratching hire in the first place) and hired Rick Carlisle, the NBA championship-winning coach who parted ways with the Dallas Mavericks. 

Carlisle had previously coached the Pacers before his unceremonious firing, when he had more hair and looked even more like Jim Carrey. He was at the helm during The Brawl and oversaw some excellent Pacers teams. 

A tough, demanding coach by reputation, Carlisle wore out his welcome in Indianapolis, which showed him the door following the 2006-2007 season. The team had missed the playoffs after making nine consecutive postseason appearances. 

Fast forward more than a decade and the Pacers, facing an imminent rebuild and a team stacked with young talent, wanted a veteran coach at the helm to pull it all together. 

During Carlisle’s return season, the Pacers acquired Tyrese Haliburton in a trade with the Sacramento Kings, a savvy personnel move that changed the trajectory of the franchise. 

The team gave up Domantas Sabonis, a talented and tough-nosed forward who could serve as a franchise cornerstone with any other team. The immediate returns weren’t evident. The Pacers missed the playoffs in Haliburton’s first two seasons. Too often, flashes of brilliance were offset by injuries or inconsistency. 

It all came together during the surprising 2023-2024 season, when the Pacers made it into the postseason as a sixth seed and beat Milwaukee and New York to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. They ran into a juggernaut in the Boston Celtics, who calmly swept the upstart Pacers en route to an NBA championship. 

That run seemed miraculous. 

But Pacers fans had no idea what the team had planned for the encore. 

These are the Four Miracles of Indiana. 

Miracle One: The Blow By (April 29, 2025) 

The Pacers held a 3-1 series lead and had the chance to close out the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of their first-round series. A desperate Milwaukee team stormed out to a 17-point lead in the first quarter as the Pacers steadily worked their way back into the game. 

Haliburton tied the game at 103 with about ten seconds left. All-world scorer Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a 15-footer that would’ve won the game in regulation, sending it into overtime. 

Milwaukee took a commanding seven-point lead with 40 seconds left in the extra frame. Andrew Nembhard’s three cut the lead to four.  

Timeout, Milwaukee. 

Nembhard then stole the inbounds pass and got the ball to Haliburton, who sprinted in for a layup and drew a foul. He sank the free throw to make it a one-point game. 

Timeout, Milwaukee. 

Facing intense pressure from the Pacers, the Bucks finally inbounded the ball to Kevin Porter Jr. He swung it to AJ Green, who tried to get it to Gary Trent Jr. on the sideline. Trent, who’d made Indiana’s life miserable all night with a barrage of threes, couldn’t handle the pass, which went through his hands and darted out of bounds for the turnover. 

Timeout, Pacers?  

Absolutely not. 

The team used the dead ball to sub Pascal Siakam in for Jarace Walker. With 10.1 seconds left, Haliburton took the inbounds pass and dribbled past midcourt. 

A high screen from Siakam had Antetokounmpo, an All-NBA defender, switch to Haliburton. But the Pacers guard hit him with a crossover dribble, got to his right, and blew by Antetokounmpo to hit the game-winning field goal with 1.3 seconds left. 

Indiana advances. Milwaukee goes home. Final score: 119-118. 

Miracle Two: The Heart-Taker (May 6, 2025) 

After winning Game 1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pacers stared down another huge deficit in Game 2. It ballooned to 20 points in the second quarter, as the top seed in the Eastern Conference dominated Indiana. 

The Pacers trailed by 14 points going into the fourth quarter. The Cavs finished the regular season with 64 wins and appeared to be well on their way to evening the series at one game apiece. 

Cleveland led 119-112 with under a minute left. Yes, the Pacers had come back, but the Cavs answered each time, including a Max Strus three and free throws from star Donovan Mitchell to keep Indiana at a distance. 

When Pascal Siakam drew a foul with 48 seconds left, it looked like the perfect opportunity for the Pacers to score points with the clock stopped. 

Siakam proceeded to miss the first free throw. 

And the second. 

But do-it-all forward Aaron Nesmith crashed in from the top of the key, skied for the rebound, and threw down a vicious dunk. The play stunned the Cavs and their fans. Nesmith’s athletic putback erased Siakam’s free throw misses and made it 119-114. 

On the ensuing inbound play, Mitchell caught the ball on the sideline and tried to go through Nesmith, elbows flying. The resulting collision knocked both players to the floor, and the officials whistled Mitchell for an offensive foul. 

The call held up on review (Nesmith’s putback dunk had also been reviewed and upheld earlier). 

Siakam’s driving layup cut the Cavs’ lead to three, 119-116. 

Timeout, Cleveland. 

Nembhard stole the next inbounds pass with 27 seconds left. He got the ball to Haliburton, who drove toward the basket and drew a foul with 12.1 remaining. 

He sank the first free throw to make it a two-point game at 119-117.  

The second one went off the front of the rim; Myles Turner tipped the ball to Haliburton. 

Timeout, Pacers? 

Absolutely not. 

Haliburton backed out toward the top of the key. With Cleveland’s Ty Jerome in front of him, he calmly stepped back and drilled a three with 1.1 seconds left to give the Pacers a one-point lead. 

The Pacers take a 2-0 series lead. The Cavs have their hearts ripped out. Final score: 120-119. 

Indiana would win the series in five games. 

Miracle Three: The Three-Smith Choke (May 21, 2025) 

Facing a rowdy crowd at Madison Square Garden, the Pacers dug themselves a hole in the fourth quarter, and it looked like they wouldn’t be able to dig out of it this time. The Knicks led by 14 with 3:44 left and took another 14-point lead with 2:51 left off a Jalen Brunson three. 

Haliburton hit a three, the Pacers got a stop, and Nesmith hit from long distance to make it an eight-point game at 119-111. The Knicks kept answering, but the Pacers kept getting the ball to Nesmith, who got on one of the all-time heaters in NBA playoff history. 

During the memorable close to the game, Nesmith buried six threes and hit a couple free throws to bring the Pacers back to life. That’s 20 points in the span of about five minutes, and while it’s not 8 points in 8.9 seconds, it sure as heck is just as impressive. 

These weren’t wide open looks, either. 

The Knicks consistently got a hand in his face and often knocked him down as each unlikely shot hit the bottom of the net. 

Nesmith closed out his scoring run with a pair of free throws to make it 124-123 New York. 

Siakam fouled OG Anunoby with 7.1 seconds left; Anunoby missed the first but hit the second to make it a two-point lead at 125-123. 

Timeout, Pacers? 

Absolutely not. 

Haliburton raced down the floor, drove into the lane, and then, just as he had against Cleveland, took a step back shot. 

This time, the ball hit the back of the rim, bounced straight up, and hung in the air for an eternity until it hit the bottom of the net. 

Hali gave the Knicks fans his version of Reggie Miller’s iconic “Choke.” 

A review showed Haliburton’s toe was on the line, so the clutch shot “merely” tied the game at 125 instead of winning it. The Pacers captured the overtime period (Nembhard scored seven points and had a key assist) to win Game 1. 

The Pacers take a 1-0 series lead. The Knicks cope with “Choke 2.0.” Final score: 138-135.  

Indiana would go on to win the series in six and advance to the NBA Finals. 

Miracle Four: The Point-Three Killer (June 5, 2025) 

In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Pacers looked completely overmatched.  

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the top seed in the playoffs with an NBA-best 68 wins in the regular season, played at a speed unlike anything the Pacers had faced the entire season. 

Watching a team on film doesn’t prepare you for the reality of seeing them on the court. With the raucous crowd at the Paycom Center firmly behind them, the Thunder stormed out to a 12-point halftime lead. 

The Pacers kept turning the ball over. In the first half alone, they gave the ball away 19 times against OKC’s smothering defense. They cleaned it up considerably in the second half, finishing with 25 total turnovers on the night. 

The Thunder, collected and calm, had just seven turnovers in Game 1. 

Oklahoma City extended the lead to 15 points with less than ten minutes left in the fourth quarter. They had a 97.9% chance of winning the game. 

The Pacers chipped away. With 2:52 left, the Thunder led by nine after a pair of free throws from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Indiana responded with back-to-back threes from Nesmith and Nembhard to pull within three. 

A jumper from Gilgeous-Alexander made it 110-105 with 1:27 left. Nembhard sank a pair of free throws, and the Pacers stopped OKC on the next possession after Siakam blocked SGA. 

Nembhard launched a game-tying shot attempt but missed; Siakam stormed into the lane to get the rebound and a putback to make it 110-109 OKC. 

On the ensuing possession, Jalen Williams missed a layup, but the Pacers couldn’t corral the rebound and Carlisle called a timeout to challenge the play, arguing Siakam had gotten shoved out of bounds. 

It was an unsuccessful challenge, and OKC retained possession of the ball. Gilgeous-Alexander, facing intense defensive pressure from Nembhard, missed a jumper off the back of the rim with 11 seconds left. 

Nesmith came through with a spectacular rebound. 

Timeout, Pacers? 

Absolutely not. 

Nesmith got the ball to Siakam, who passed it to Obi Toppin. Toppin handed the ball to Haliburton near midcourt. 

Hali drove to his right, found a little space just inside the three-point line, and pulled up for another cold-blooded clutch shot. 

Indiana takes a 1-0 series lead. Oklahoma City wonders what happened. Final score: 111-110. 

Epilogue

Miracles can only get you so far.

You can't rely on them--they just happen. Sometimes, they desert you.

The Pacers pushed the Thunder to seven games in a series they weren't supposed to be in. And with Haliburton dealing with a calf strain, the miracles ran out.

There would be no fifth miracle. Just heartbreak.

Still, we were believers.

On behalf of the fans, thank you, Pacers.

Studicus Selects 2024

Once, long ago, I posted on the internet as Studicus, an in-joke nickname related to a skit from high school. When I first started blogging, I called my year-end entries "Studicus Selects." The tradition has continued since 2005...although I skipped 2006 for some unknown reason. 

You'll find past entries here (scroll down for the 2024 picks):

Studicus Selects 2023

Studicus Selects 2022
Studicus Selects 2021

Studicus Selects 2020

Studicus Selects 2019

Studicus Selects 2018
Studicus Selects 2017
Studicus Selects 2016
Studicus Selects 2015
Studicus Selects 2014
Studicus Selects 2013
Studicus Selects 2012
Studicus Selects 2011
Studicus Selects 2010
Studicus Selects 2009
Studicus Selects 2008
Studicus Selects 2007
Studicus Selects 2005

Best Howard, Howard Category. We have a repeat winner this year. It's no surprise the judges unanimously selected Howard as the best Howard. We saw some changes in our little guy this year. In January, we noticed he started tearing things up at home when we were gone. We'd check the cameras at home and he'd be pacing and panting, clearly anxious about being alone. We'd come home to find cardboard boxes shredded and items all around the home displaced. We started taking him every day to Barkefellers. He looks forward to going there and socializing with the dogs. He was also named Dog of the Day earlier this year. The only negative about doggy daycare is that Howard got bitten on two different occasions when we arrived to pick him up, with a dog jumping a fence to take a bite out of his hindquarters. The business took care of his vet bills and also changed its outboarding procedures. Anne bought Howie an elevated dog bed for outdoors, and he loves that thing when it's nice and sunny outside.

Our very proud Dog of the Day

This is Howard manning the desk at Barkefellers

This frog hoodie is adorable and I think Howard hates it

Howard mugging it up inside the car

Howard spent a lot...A LOT...of time lying on his elevated bed 

Best Turtle, Northern Map Turtle Category. We have another unanimous repeat winner. Honestly, Willy was pretty low maintenance this year. We kept waiting for her to lay eggs in the spring as she had the last two years. However, once June rolled around, we didn't see any eggs and Willy never had any to begin with. We learned from her vet that it's entirely possible she just didn't develop any this time--and we're constantly learning new things about our little turtle girl. She hasn't been a big fan of the winter weather, not so much because of the temperature but because of the constant fluctuations in hot and cold weather we've had since October. Wild temperatures swings within the same week have delayed her typical brumation period, which is the semi-hibernation stage she stays in during the winter. We'll have to have her beak trimmed down at some point soon, but other than that, she's doing great.

Willy up on her basking ramp

I swear she almost always looks ticked off at me when I take her picture

Best and Biggest Surprise, Nephew Category. When my sister-in-law and brother-in-law visited my other brother-in-law in Michigan back in March, it seemed like a normal trip. Then my sister-in-law started having some stomach trouble, which she initially attributed to something she ate. But in a scene ripped straight from a Lifetime movie, she ended up giving birth to a baby she didn't even know she was pregnant with. We were soon introduced to Dean the Unexpected, the best surprise we could've ever asked for.

Dean at two months

Dean in an October snapshot

Best Trip, 2024 Trip Category. In October, Anne and I ventured forth to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to visit her brother and his family. We spent some time with the Beenkenbauers, ate at some great restaurants, and went through the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. I learned a few things about President Ford, whose presidency had been, in my perception, somewhat of a joke (you can blame Chevy Chase for falling down the stairs, I think). It really is a great museum with some tremendous exhibits about the Ford years.

The museum featured the "Ford at 50" exhibit this year

This replica White House was pretty cool

Did you know he played football at Michigan? The museum will not let you forget

Our tickets and a brochure to the museum

The man himself in statue form

I also got to share one of my all-time favorite SNL sketches with Anne and her brother--Dana Carvey as Tom Brokaw "pre-recording" the news ahead of a planned vacation. One of the main stories was the death of Gerald Ford. Carvey's delivery is pure gold.

Best Concert, College Nostalgia Category. When Creed announced a national tour, my venerable buddy Krildog asked if I wanted to go. After all, we listened to a lot of Creed in college. Well, I should probably clarify that I listened to a lot of Creed in college. Despite the fact I've lived in the Indy area for more than two decades, I'd never been to Ruoff/Verizon Wireless/Klipsch/Deer Creek Music Center. This marked my first go, and I got the full deal: lots of walking, overpriced water, drunk people, a girl peeing next to our car--the full Deer Creek Experience. The show was overproduced just like you'd expect from Scott Stapp and company. I had a great time. One of the opening acts was 3 Doors Down, which performed some of its signature songs. Oh, Finger Eleven was also there.

Hard to tell from the photo, but Scott Stapp has morphed into his final form as Clive Owen

Best Blowout Game, College Football Category. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish made the College Football Playoff this year, and I can at least say I got to see them in person. I didn't go up to South Bend, however, with Mrs. Krildog buying tickets so Krildog, a couple friends, and I could see the Irish play Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium. It's a much shorter trip to West Lafayette. Purdue was an absolute embarrassment this season, and the Irish took a 49-0 lead before the Boilermakers accidentally scored a touchdown. The final score in this beatdown was 66-7. Notre Dame started playing its second stringers at the start of the third quarter.

We had a decent view, at least

Best Indiana Jones Movie, Video Game Edition. After playing the rebooted Tomb Raider games, I always wanted one in that style starring Indiana Jones. Exploration, hunting for relics, some light combat, globetrotting exploits--it all seemed fitting for the venerable Dr. Jones. What I got instead was Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person video game featuring all of what I just mentioned and so much more. It's a great video game, yes, but more importantly it's a great Indiana Jones story and the best thing to come from the franchise since 1989. While Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis will always have a place in my heart, The Great Circle is the best Indy game out there. The story, charm, and wit put it up there with Raiders and The Last Crusade. It's absolutely incredible.

The young Harrison Ford likeness is striking, as is the performance of voice actor Troy Baker

Indy was simply trying to take a photo when these fascists showed up and wouldn't stop bothering him

Best Return to Form, College Football Video Game Category. NCAA Football 2014 was the last licensed college football game released on consoles. More than a decade later, with the rights and likeness situation sorted out, we got EA Sports College Football 25. This miracle of a game included, for the first time, real college players. Most of the big names agreed to appear, which was kind of wild. If you played as Notre Dame, for example, you had Riley Leonard at quarterback. Before, "real" players were represented by names like QB #13. I went straight into Dynasty mode and transformed Ball State into a national powerhouse, with the Cardinals moving up to the Big Ten (Rutgers got relegated to the MAC in a one-for-one swap) after a few seasons. It's not perfect, but it is fantastic.

The national champion Ball State University Cardinals, something that will never happen in real life

Saddest Goodbye, Disney Loyalty Program Category. In August, Disney announced its long-running Disney Movie Insiders program would come to an end. The loyalty program awarded members points on Disney purchases for things like digital movies, movies tickets, and Blu-ray discs. Over the years, I've added several movies to my collection by accumulating points through purchases. At least one of my final hauls was a pretty good one.

I cashed in points for these movies about a month before I learned the program was going away

Movies Year in Review. As I did last year, I'll split my list of entertainment stuff into two sections: movies we saw at the theater and stuff we watched via streaming. Let's start with the movies first. As usual, there may be some spoilers.

Dune: Part Two. A movie of the year contender, this sequel stuck the landing. Director Denis Villeneuve topped Dune: Part One with a captivating cautionary tale packed with mysticism and spectacle. Paul Atreides sees the path laid before him and resists, knowing it will lead to all-out war on an unimaginable scale. But when his enemies refuse to listen to reason, he takes the only path left, becoming the messianic figure he dreaded.

Kung Fu Panda 4. Jack Black returns for another entertaining turn as Po. While not as strong as some of the other entries in the series, it's still very enjoyable.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The apes are firmly in charge in this installment of the long-running series. The special effects work was exceptional, as the apes are the focus of the story and the effects have to work well in order to sell it. It's mostly a coming-of-age tale that explores whether apes and humans could ever truly coexist. I'd rank it below Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes but slightly ahead of Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Twisters. Glen Powell is a star and tornadoes are still scary.

Deadpool & Wolverine. The sole Marvel Cinematic Universe movie of the year, this one packed plenty of star power and inappropriate humor into what was essentially a parody movie about the MCU itself. Ryan Reynolds Deadpooled as hard as he usually Deadpools, but it was Hugh Jackman's return as Wolverine that grounded things (well, kind of). The movie featured some big cameos, my favorite of which was Channing Tatum's unintelligible Gambit. "Woo, I'm about to make a name for myself here."

Trap. The premise was probably more enjoyable than the movie itself, which sputtered once the high-concept plot (a serial killer is trapped at a concert specifically organized to ensnare him) left the concert and headed toward its resolution.

Moana 2. Enjoyable but not as good as the first one, which is certainly not a knock on it because Moana is an all-timer. Still, the music wasn't as catchy as the first one (there was no comparable "Shiny" or "How Far I'll Go" or "You're Welcome" in this one). I liked seeing more screentime for Pua and Heihei, and I'll always enjoy the interplay between Moana and Maui. 

White Christmas. It was the best Christmas, as Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny Effing Kaye. We saw a 70th anniversary screening in mid-December to kick off our Christmas celebration.

Gladiator II. I didn't know if a sequel to Gladiator would work, but I thought Ridley Scott pulled it off well enough. Paul Mescal steps into the Maximus role, and while he's not Russell Crowe, a strong supporting cast and plenty of spectacle aid him considerably. Denzel Washington steals the show as the scheming Macrinus. 

Streaming Year in Review. Here's a look at some of the things we watched at home.

Fallout. I never played the games, so I have a limited perspective on whether or not this was a good adaptation of the source material. As a series, however, I can say it was exceptional with compelling leads and a tremendous turn from the ever-reliable Walton Goggins as the Ghoul.

X-Men '97. A revival of the '90s animated X-Men series did just about everything right, giving us compelling storylines and imperfect characters to bring the world of mutants to life. Several cast members returned, although other characters got new voice actors. This was a stunning achievement, with my only complaint being that some storylines could've used a little more breathing room.

Agatha All Along. I didn't expect to like this MCU show as much as I did. This magic-based show follows Agatha Harkness as she leads others down the "Witches' Road." It's a spiritual sequel to WandaVision, tackling some of the themes and resolving a few dangling plot threads from one of the MCU's best shows. If anything, watch it for "The Ballad of the Witches' Road," which is a real earworm.

Manhunt. This excellent Apple TV+ show was based on an equally excellent book about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination. It follows Edwin Stanton, Lincoln's devoted secretary of war, as he tracks down leads to find Booth and bring him to justice. Some characters and situations are combined or compressed, but it's a compelling miniseries that's a mix of Lincoln and The Fugitive.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. A relatively late 2024 release, this Disney+ show features a bunch of kids who blast off on a starship without a way to return home. Their only hope is a scatterbrained droid and Jude Law's roguish pirate-maybe Jedi-character. The young cast does a fine job, Law is sufficiently charming, and the Spielberg movie-meets-Star Wars vibe works really well.

Abbott Elementary. Thankfully, the show put Janine back at school after last season saw her split time between Abbott Elementary and the school district. It's just a fun show packed with humor and heart. 

Alien: Romulus. The latest movie in the Alien franchise returned to its horror roots. It's very, um, squishy.

Conclave. This awards contender follows a harried cardinal who oversees the papal conclave after the pope's unexpected death. Scandals bloom, factions form, and real-world politics threaten to subsume faith in this gripping thriller.

Late Night with the Devil. I don't watch a ton of horror...it's just not my thing...but the premise of this movie intrigued me. It follows the "lost broadcast" of a late-night talk show, putting a twist on the "found footage" genre. David Dastmalchian hosts a spooky Halloween broadcast that quickly goes sideways and turns shockingly sinister. It's presented as a TV broadcast with "behind-the-scenes" footage shown during commercial breaks.

Jackpot. John Cena and Awkwafina star in this goofy movie, which involves the California "Grand Lottery's" $3.6 billion prize. The winner, Awkwafina's character, can claim it IF she can survive until sundown. Meantime, anyone can steal the prize by killing her (no guns allowed!), meaning pretty much everyone statewide is trying to track her down to secure the life-altering prize. Cena plays a "protection agent" who agrees to help keep her alive in exchange for a cut of the money. Hijinks ensue.

Ricky Stanicky. Another movie starring Mr. Cena, this one revolves around a group of friends who always blame the imaginary scapegoat "Ricky Stanicky" to take the heat off themselves. When they make a major screw-up by missing the birth of a child, people question the existence of "Ricky Stanicky." The desperate friends hire Cena's character to portray their imaginary friend; Cena inserts himself into their lives in various aggravating ways. Probably most notable for a certain trait from William H. Macy's character and the related song in the end credits.