The 2013 reader picks for the city's and state's best news and political events and the people involved.  

Whether it's City Council or the Ohio Statehouse, a lot happened in our state last year. Here's a list of the good and not-so-good.  

Last season, the Reds finished with baseball’s second-best record and won the Central Division for the second time in three years. It was a pretty fun year for Reds fans, who saw the team win 97 games — the most since the 1976 Big Red Machine.   

 Before we set our sights on the future of the program — one that looks bright despite the uncertainty surrounded the university’s conference affiliation — we’ll look back at the top 10 moments of the ’Cats’ 2012-13 season. Despite the frustrating second half, there were many awesome dunks and cool things that happened.  

It feels odd to be saying goodbye when I’m not really going anywhere, but if anyone should be used to it by now, it’s me.   

The Big East is officially a mid-major. Not that it’s a surprise, but the agreement on a TV deal with ESPN for $130 million over seven years seals it.  

The sport of boxing admittedly doesn’t hold the nation’s spotlight like it once did, but, even so, it seems this city hasn’t fully embraced the fact that one of its own might be on his way to being the best fighter on the planet.   

The success or failure of any college football program starts with recruiting, which is why we see the coaching turnover in the sport start before the final games are played.  

As America spends the next two weeks readying for its largest annual sporting event, the spectacle, hype and excitement of the Super Bowl will undoubtedly overshadow the toll our enjoyment takes on the players on the field.   

There are days I miss being a fan. Saturday was one of those days, and it reminded me what’s different about my chosen profession and most people. I’m not a fan, no matter how hard I try.