If you’re considering buying a dog at a pet store, please, please spend just a moment looking at all the beautiful, loving rescue dogs out there. Look here, look here, look here, go here, go here, go here, go here.

I have no doubt that the perfect dog for you is out there at a shelter, in need of a forever home. Don’t buy a dog, save a dog!!

Have some doubts about getting a rescue dog? Read on…

Sarah,

Brian

A new year is also a great time to look back at the work you did–a practice that is particularly easy for those of us who put much of our work into print (virtual or actual). With that in mind, here are a few of my favorite espnW pieces from 2012…

Don’t be “that guy” at the game–A list of Foul Fan Behavior.

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Tom failed again? Blame Gisele!–Pinning men’s defeats on women.

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Calling out Osi & questioning the use of femininity as an insult.

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Just say “No” to pink–The unwritten rules of female sports fans.

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The heartbreaking & inspiring story of rower and activist Jenn Gibbons.

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Finding a kindred sports spirit in the most surprising of places.

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53rd Man–Bears TE Kyle Adams on faith, on the field and off

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Ryan Garcia’s incredible 366 Random Acts of Kindness

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In honor of a lost friend, Kelcey Harrison ran from NY to SF.

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Street Clothes–Packers tune in when CJ Wilson plays the piano

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53rd Man–Third time’s a charm for Tommie Campbell.

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‘Twas the night before Christmas–A years of sports in verse.

Head out to a Dave & Buster’s next month and play a game or two — you’ll recognize the voice cheering you on! I’m the game’s announcer, helping you select your vehicle, giving you props when you complete a trick and congratulating you on your finish. (I really channeled my inner-surfer bro for lines like “Sweet Trick!” and “Huge Air!”)

Go check it out and let me know what you think! If you send me a picture of yourself with the game, I’ll post it on my site!

The new version of the game, in Dave & Buster's stores everywhere this November!

Bo Jackson addressing partygoers in Room 23.

Yesterday morning we each received a special “VIP card” via messenger with a code in the corner. Typing in the code allowed us into the back entrance of the store, where we were ushered up to “Room 23,” a new space on the fifth floor devoted to special events.

Unique invitations for the VIP event.

We ate passed appetizers and enjoyed drinks at the bar, including a special pomegranate-champagne drink with a stick of blueberries punctuated by a swoosh.

Luvabull Ashley Bond and a friend enjoying the special Swoosh drink.

After some boozing and schmoozing in Room 23 we were taken on a tour of the new store, which has a more modern, open floor plan and lots of unique local touches. Fans of Michael Jordan will love the first floor, devoted entirely to the Bulls legend and Chicago’s rich hoops history.

Check out under the glow of MJ.

The store boasts the largest floor space dedicated to Jordan Brand of any store in the world. Highlights included three huge chandeliers made of Jordan 11s and basketballs and a wall featuring every Jordan shoe ever made.

One of three chandeliers made of Jordan 11s and basketballs.

A shoe collector's dream!

Off to the second floor! An escalator leads you up a wall of logos from high school, college and pro teams in the area, then deposits you in front of a big glass case. Inside you’ll find Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher’s complete “system of dress.” It’s a showcase of Nike’s new NFL collection, from the pants to the jersey to the mouthguard.

Brian Urlacher's "system of dress."

The second floor, devoted to both running and football, featured a floor made entirely of reclaimed wood, most of it gathered from old bleacher and basketball courts at local high schools. The NFL area also featured a very cool display of every team’s gloves.

Nike's new NFL gloves.

Time to head to the third floor — old Chicago Bears prints dominate the wall leading to the escalator.

The third floor is devoted to soccer, tennis, golf, action sports and youth gear. There’s also a table set up for Nike CustomID, where you can create your own shoes.

You can create your own shoe, right down to the color of the laces.

Ashley and I collaborated on some sweet custom kicks with our new friend Cory.

I made a pretty badass pair of navy and orange shoes to rock to Chicago Bears games, customizing them with “SPAIN” on the tongue.

If you get a chance to head down and check out the store, I highly recommend it. You might even run into this guy, a Nike employee who takes brand loyalty to a whole new level.

Back in April I wrote a column for espnW about turning your baseball team’s successes into personal motivators. Inspired by the MasterCard “Priceless Chicago” campaign, which rewards Cubs fans for pledging support for their team, I took a pledge of my own:

I decided to use the Cubs pledge as a motivational tool. For the last few months I’ve wanted to get back on a regular running regimen but haven’t been able to get motivated. Running used to be one of my main sources of exercise, but after straining a muscle behind my knee, I took it out of my workouts and never really got back to it in earnest.

In an effort to reclaim my status as a runner, I will pledge an offseason mile for each of the Cubs wins. So if the Cubs win 75 games, I’ll have to log 75 miles between the end of their season and Opening Day 2013. Now for the marathoners out there, 75 miles over a few months may not sound like much, but to me a couple miles every few days sounds like a perfect way to reintroduce myself to the treadmill.

The Cubs are slogging through one of their worst seasons ever (49-79) so I shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping my promise over the offseason. Five miles a day a few times a week and I’ll be done in no time. Maybe next year I should pledge a mile for each Cubs loss…But I digress.

Reader Jennifer was inspired by my post and, despite being a fan of the rival White Sox, decided to follow my lead. Here’s the email she sent me today.

Thank you
In january of this year I couldn’t run a BLOCK without stopping. Then I read your column about running a mile for every cubs win. Well as a Sox fan I said – hey I can do that too, that’s a way to get into shape. As you know, the Sox are doing very well so I’m running a lot but have switched gears. Now I’m training to run my first 5k in September (AIDS run). But I did want to say “thank you” for the inspiration. Your column is more than just enjoyable – it’s inspiring.

The Sox have definitely kept Jennifer moving–they’re already won 71 games this year. It was so great to hear that my pledge inspired someone else to get moving, and hearing that Jennifer is going from not running at all to taking on a 5k makes me want to step up my game, as well.

Thanks for the note, Jennifer, and good luck with the race!

Our little Fletcher just turned seven months old and he’s the friendliest, happiest, sweetest dog in the world. He keeps us on our toes with all of his puppy energy and gives us endless snuggles and kisses.

Don’t go to a pet store or a breeder when amazing dogs like Fletcher need homes!

Just think, you could wake up to a little face like this every morning. : )

Not only did we have a blast that night, my card-holding abilities (along with some dunks, I guess) made it to SportsCenter’s Top Ten plays! Here’s a pretty terrible iPhone video I got of my SportsCenter debut.

SportsCenter Top Plays #10

SportsCenter Top Plays #2

That triple-OT winner from Lauriane Rougeau pushed the Cornell women past Boston University in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Tonight at 8pm Central the Big Red (30-4-0) will face the second-seeded Minnesota Gophers (32-5-2) in the second Women’s Frozen Four semifinal. Check the schedule at http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule to watch the game live online!

GO BIG RED!

If you’re alone this February 14, let the greatest of all time, Michael Jeffrey Jordan, warm your heart with his thoughtful compliments (“Lookin’ fine!” and “You’re cool!”) and his unintentionally euphemistic declarations (“You give me a lift!”).