By Allan Brown
As the year comes to a close, 2018 will be remembered in the sports world as one of extremes.
From the euphoric joy of a Philadelphia Eagles fan base that finally saw their beloved football team hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy, to a Red Sox Nation that saw its squad win its fourth World Series Championship of this century, the year had its highs and lows.
For every feel good story (like the Washington Capitols winning their first Stanley Cup) there was a negative story looming right around the corner. (Think the Kareem Hunt or Urban Meyer scandals.)
For this column, however, I choose to focus on the positive the year brought in the wonderful world of sports.
So without further ado, here is my annual list of the Most Intriguing People in Sports.
This year with a twist.
Instead of ranking them 1-10, this year, I'm Only giving one #1, one gold star. The rest of the list won't be in any particular order.
So grab a cup of egg nog and enjoy.
First up, sports journalists are - for good or for bad - as much in the sports pages as the actual athletes they cover.
With that in mind, I'm first giving out an honor for someone who reports, analyzes and comments on the games.
Someone who is intriguing to me and, as is my customary criteria for my annual list, a person I would most like to interview.
And in the case of Laura Rutledge, I have already had the privilege of writing about.
As host of SEC Nation, Laura has parlayed that success into a semi-regular gig on ESPN's suddenly resurging Get Up show.
It can't be a coincidence that the show's numbers have spiked considerably since she has begun appearing on it.
To be honest and in full disclosure, I have known Laura for many years as she was our Miss Florida 2012, though I can honestly say I'm unbiased in my opinion of her - one that so many in the industry obviously share.
She moved from the ranks of reporter for the Tampa Bay Rays to covering the San Diego Padres - with a few other stops in between - before becoming a household name at the SEC Network.
What's particularly remarkable about Laura is her ability to cover ANYTHING. From college football to the NFL, from MLB to the College World Series, Rutledge is a virtual encyclopedia of sports knowledge that is unparalleled on the network. And in a sea of Greenys, Stephen As and Hannah Storms, she might just be ESPN's greatest asset.
She is relatable and down to earth. With Laura, what you see is what you get, especially when talking to her in person.
Her star is burning brightly
And is still on the rise.
Count on it.
Now on to the NHL.
And my choice of Alex Ovechkin as most intriguing in his sport is a no-brainer.
From the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Award, given to the goal leader to the Hart Memorial - or MVP Trophy, Ovi has won virtually every award his sport has to offer.
Except one.
The Stanley Cup.
So when Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals team finally we're able to house that Cup this spring, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for the Russian-born winger.
And he made the most of it.
Ovi was seen taking the Cup all around the District of Columbia and his native Russia.
And a growing fan base who rooted for him along the way delighted in Ovechkin's well-earned trek, even if it meant some of his teammates got less time with Lord Stanley's Cup.
Always a great player, Ovechkin learned to be a great leader on and off the ice. While he might not be as great as Wayne Gretzky, like Gretzky, Ovi has endured the sport to a new generation.
As for others who intrigued us - or at least me- this past year, the list is many.
However, before unveiling my number one choice, I've narrowed it to several others who deserve mebtion.
University of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa may have been runner-up for the Heisman Trophy this year, but no doubt his time will come.
His numbers this season, including passing for 3,353 yards and 37 touchdowns and leading the Crimson Tide to a perfect regular-season record, have excited college football fans and, no doubt, have made NFL scouts take notice, too.
For Alex Cora, he was denied the American League Manager of the Year honor, though he has a World Series Championship in his first season as skipper of the Boston Red Sox to keep him comfort.
In leading the Red Sox to a franchise-best- ever 108 regular season wins, maybe Manager of the Year voters thought he made it look too easy or that he already had the tools in place to succeed to begin with, Cora, however, still did something his predecessor couldn't.
Like Jon Gruden in the NFL when he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Lombardi Trophy with talent mentored by Tony Dungy, Cora was snubbed for year-ending honors. I'm pretty sure, though, he's content with the hardware he helped his Red Sox win.
Chicago Bears fans haven't had much of anything - or anyone - to cheer for since the Monsters of the Midway dominated the game in the mid-1980s.
Enter Matt Nagy, who in his first year as coach of the formerly down and out Bears has led his team to defensive dominance and a first-place record in the NFL's North Division.
The addition of defensive juggernaut, Kahlil Mack hasn't hurt, either.
Both are intriguing and promise to make gridiron action in the Windy City interesting and exciting for years to come.
For LeBron James, he really doesn't need any more accolades to prove his worth.
However, that hasn't stopped him from continuing to rewrite the NBA record books or to move around the League in quest of another World Championship.
His second departure from Cleveland was without the drama and negative reaction from Cavs fans that his first exit caused back in 2010.
Since then, he helped Cleveland win a World Championship and had endured himself to his hometown community via the opening of a school for at-risk children in Northeast Ohio.
He is intriguing for not only his spectacular play on the court, but for the man he has become off it.
In a world filled with sports idols who have fallen from grace or fallen short of being a positive role model for our youth, The King has proven that there are still some exemplary athletes who can overachieve both on and off the athletic stage.
As for who Cleveland sports fans have to idolize in James' absence, the answer to that question is an easy one.
Just as easy as who my choice for Most Intriguing Sports Figure of 2018 should be.
That top honor goes to rookie Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Many - including this writer - questioned the Browns' choice of Mayfield as their number one draft pick this spring.
Boy, were we wrong.
Mayfield has not only looked sharp and promising since he took over the reins at QB from Tyrod Taylor in a spectacular game-winning series in Week Three of the NFL season, he has only gotten better and more confident in his leadership role as the season has progressed.
He clearly enjoys being in Cleveland, enjoys interacting with the fans and enjoys playing his heart out each week in a season where the Browns are still in the playoff hunt as the waning weeks of the NFL season play out.
When's the last time Browns fans could say that?
Putting past personal transgressions aside, Mayfield has shown that unlike another former Browns' draft pick, Johnny Manziel, he has learned from his mistakes and his football talent wasn't just limited to the collegiate field, where he was last year's winner of the Heisman Trophy.
Mayfield is just a little dangerous both on the field and in his post-game pressers and that's good.
Dangerous can be exciting and sometimes even good.
In Mayfield's case, good enough to be named the Most Intriguing Sports Figure of 2018.
And that choice may be a little dangerous on my part, as he still has much to prove in his future with the Browns.
Mayfield, however, is worth the risk.
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