Freep Red Wings writer Helene St. James named Michigan sports writer of year

For six decades, as the biggest names in Michigan journalism vied for the coveted title of the state’s sports writer of the year, only once did a woman win the award.

Until Tuesday, when Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press was selected Michigan’s sports writer of the year for 2017. St. James, the Red Wings beat reporter, joined Jo-Ann Barnas as the only Michigan women to break the glass ceiling in an occupation dominated by men since the 19th century. Barnas, an Olympics and feature reporter for the Free Press from 1995-2012, won the award in 2005.

The National Sports Media Association has conducted state-by-state balloting for sports writer and sportscaster of the year awards since 1959. In a vote of her state peers, St. James won the Michigan award in a runoff with George Sipple, who covers the Tigers, Wings, auto racing and countless other sports for the Free Press.

"Helene St. James is skilled reporter with an undeniable work ethic," Free Press sports editor Chris Thomas said. "Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence distinguishes her from her peers. This honor is well deserved."

St. James joined the Free Press in 1995 after a globetrotting life: She was born in Denmark, grew up in Colombia, graduated from Michigan and taught English in Taiwan. She was on the scene when the Wings ended their 42-year Stanley Cup drought in 1997 and again for their Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2008. She followed the Cup to the Czech Republic (with Dominik Hasek) and to the White House (with Vladimir Konstantinov). She also has covered Olympics in Russia, China and Italy.

"I am very honored to be selected Michigan's sports writer of the year for 2017," St. James said in a statement. "I work among highly dedicated colleagues, making this recognition all the more special. I take great satisfaction in my work, covering mostly hockey, but also basketball, tennis, a few Michigan bowl games, water polo and more — and especially in the people I've met."

St. James nearly won the NSMA’s sports writer of the year award two times. In 2016, St. James and Sipple were runners-up to two-time winner Dave Birkett, the Lions beat reporter for the Free Press. In 2011, St. James was the runner-up to Mark Snyder, the former Wolverines beat reporter for the Free Press.

A Free Press sports writer has won the NSMA award every year this decade and 11 times since the turn of the century. All told, the Free Press has captured the prize 30 times. The Free Press winners: Joe Falls (nine times before he left for the Detroit News, including seven straight in the ’70s), Mitch Albom (seven times and a 2013 NSMA Hall of Fame inductee), Mike Downey (1983 and ’84), Birkett (2013 and ’16), Lyall Smith (1959), Jack Saylor (1970), Charlie Vincent (1998), Barnas (2005), Mick McCabe and Michael Rosenberg (shared in 2010), Snyder (2011), John Lowe (2012), Jeff Seidel (2014), Joe Rexrode (2015) and St. James (2017).

More: View the full list of 2017 NSMA winners

The state’s sportscaster of the year award went to a man long known as an influential sports writer in mid-Michigan. In 1994, 1997 and 2000, Jack Ebling was the state’s sports writer of the year during his long career with the Lansing State Journal, like the Free Press a part of the USA TODAY Network. These days he hosts “The Drive with Jack Ebling” weekdays on 92.1-FM in Lansing – and last week on his show Andre Rison dropped the bombshell that son Hunter would transfer from MSU. He also hosts “Press Pass” on Sunday nights on Lansing’s Channel 47 and continues to write sports books, his most recent “The Perfect :10” with Rexrode about the epic punt block and return that ended the MSU/U-M game in 2015.

Ebling became the first Michigander to capture sports writer and sportscaster of the year awards. He won a runoff with Jamie Edmonds, a weekend sports anchor and host of “Sports Final Edition” on Detroit’s Channel 4. She would have been the state’s first woman to be sportscaster of the year.

Ebling’s fourth overall NSMA award tied him for sixth on the state’s career list with broadcasters Van Patrick and Bob Reynolds. The leaders: Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell (19), Joe Falls of the Free Press and Detroit News (11), Jerry Green of the News (11), Albom (seven) and broadcaster Paul Carey (six).

The NSMA, known until recently as the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, is based in Winston-Salem, N.C., with dues-paying members from across the country.