Dear Santa,

Before you mask up the reindeer — with lengthier reins for social distancing purposes — and make your rounds in a few days, I make my annual requests.

Please fill this list as best you can ... and pack plenty of hand sanitizer with you before taking off. Those chimneys can be a mess:

To PITTSBURGH STEELER FANS: A strong sedative.

To ETHAN MORTON, graduated Butler basketball standout: A career at Purdue that even approaches what he did at Butler, in the classroom and on the court.

To HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS TEAMS: Games.

To JIM MORANDINI, Eagle news desk: Another NBA championship for the Los Angeles Lakers, this one complete with games at the Staples Center, fans in the building and a postseason parade.

To DEREK SHELTON, Pittsburgh Pirates manager: A 20-game winner. Uhh, that’s for the team first, then maybe a pitcher. You have to crawl before you can walk, after all.

To MIKE TOMLIN, Pittsburgh Steelers coach: A running game ... throw a couple of healthy linebackers in his stocking, too, would you, Santa?

To MIKE KILROY, Eagle staff writer: A successful playoff run, not a one-and-done, for the Buffalo Bills.

To DEREK PYDA, Eagle staff writer: Three Steeler wins to close the regular season — and close the mouths of numerous critics.

To SHAWN LUTZ, Slippery Rock University football coach: A 2021 season that lasts one game longer than the 2019 season.

To ERIC CHRISTY, Butler football coach: A full 2021 schedule, with another step forward in won-loss record.

To MATT CLEMENT, Butler basketball coach: A 2021 season that proves worth waiting for.

To MARS SOCCER OPPONENTS: A goal.

To the NHL: A starting date. Preferably soon, Santa.

To PAUL LUEKEN, Slippery Rock University athletic director: A long and fruitful retirement.

To SPRING SPORTS TEAMS: A song entitled ‘Tis The Season To Have A Season.’

To pro pitching prospects DAVID BEDNAR and COLIN McKEE: A chance to establish themselves as being major league ready.

To SCOTT HEINAUER, Mars football coach: Another highly productive running back. You never seem to miss on this one, Santa. Once one is used up, you send him another.

To NANCE CONLON, Knoch tennis coach: A couple of more Grebs, maybe another Bauer ... oops, never mind. I see you delivered that one early.

To NATHAN BOTTIGER, Eagle staff writer: The day he no longer has to write a COVID-19 story.

To the PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: A playoff series win, preferably before July.

To ALL OF US WHO ARE GETTING THROUGH 2020: The realization of what’s most important in this world — each other.

Have a warm, safe and joyous holiday season!

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle