Hey, Minnesota: Who's your Sportsperson of the Year?

The Star Tribune Sportsperson of the Committee gathered last night for the first time, with the lively, caffeine-and-sugar-fueled debate keeping us 30 minutes past the meeting's purported end time. Some years, the committee moves pretty quickly, goes about its business fairly easily. I wouldn't call this one of those years.

This year, like every year in a market our size, there are many worthy nominations, many great stories worth revisiting this time of year. We had over 40 nominations from Star Tribune staff members ahead of last night's committee meeting. But we (a group of Star Tribune editors, reporters, columnists) walked into Meeting No. 1 without a clear favorite on the list of noms, as our friends in Variety might say.

In late December, you'll see our pick.

In early December, I'm curious: who's your choice?

Need ideas? Without naming names …

The student-athletes at the U of M collected some serious hardware – Big Ten players of the year in multiple sports, at least one national championship trophy (women's hockey), with possibly more to come (volleyball back in action Friday).

Some medals made it back home from Rio.

Many home runs were hit (including a record for A.L. second baseman), many buckets were made (60 points in one night last March), many goals scored (has Hermantown stopped celebrating yet?).

There's a high school champion with a good story behind her or him in every corner of the state.

This wasn't Minnesota finest year, but you don't have to work that hard to find a good nomination or 40.

Who's your pick?

…

Another fun exercise this time of year is to look back at past winners.

Last year, Maya Moore hit a buzzer-beater for the ages that helped seal her Sportsperson honor. Although more notable than that one sweet shot is just how good she is, and how often she wins.

Mike Grant's 10^th state title at Eden Prairie, and fourth in a row, made him our 2014 pick.

When you win 62 in a row … you get a Sportsperson nod.

And all Adrian Peterson did in 2012 was rush for 2,097 yards.

The list goes on and on, all the way back to Randall Cunningham in 1998.

A Viking again this year? It would take quite a December from somebody. But the committee is watching. We're always watching.