Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist/editor Royal Brougham created the Man of the Year sports award in early 1936. The Man of the Year became the Sports Star of the Year in 1977, and currently honors the Professional Athlete of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, and Sports Story of the Year.
In the beginning, men and women were lumped together on one ballot. Starting in 1977, the Sports Star of the Year replaced the Man of the Year.
Here are the nominees from the 2010 sports year as well as those in 2011 being voted upon now for the show Wednesday. Winners are in bold. The number behind a nominee’s name indicates the times he or she appeared on the ballot.
| Year | Pro Athlete | Sport | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Swin Cash | Basketball | Helped lead Storm to WNBA title |
| Tim Lincecum (3) | Baseball | Ex-UW star helped SF win WS | |
| Fredy Montero | Soccer | Led Sounders FC in scoring with 12 goals | |
| Louis Ratcliffe | Lacrosse | Helped Stealth win lacrosse title | |
| Mike Williams | Football | Leading receiver for Seattle Seahawks | |
| Male Athlete | Sport | Skinny | |
| J.R. Celski | Short Track | Medaled in Vancouver Olympic Games | |
| Mason Foster | Football | All-Pac-10 linebacker for UW Huskies | |
| Apolo Ohno (3) | Skating | All-time winter gold medalist for USA | |
| Quincy Pondexter | Basketball | Led Huskies to NCAA’s Sweet Sixteen | |
| Klay Thompson | Basketball | Pac-10’s leading scorer for WSU | |
| Female Athlete | Sport | Skinny | |
| Katie Follett | Running | Three-time UW All-America runner | |
| Jenna Haglund | Volleyball | Star setter on UW Huskies team | |
| Ariana Kukors | Swimming | Gold at FINA Short Course World meet | |
| Jessica Pixler (2) | Running | Added 12th NCAA title | |
| Karen Thatcher | Hockey | Silver medal at Vancouver Olympics | |
| Sports Story | Sport | Skinny | |
| Ichiro 200-hit year | Baseball | MLB record 10th season with 200 base hits | |
| Washington Stealth | Lacrosse | Captured league championship | |
| Storm/WNBA Title | Basketball | Won second WNBA title since 2004 | |
| Auburn Little League | Baseball | Good run to Williamsport tourney | |
| Felix Hernandez | Baseball | Cy Young winner with only 13 wins | |
| Year | Pro Athlete | Sport | Skinny |
| 2011 | Kasey Keller (2) | Soccer | Finished stellar 20-year career with Sounders |
| Brandon League | Baseball | Top save man for M’s, AL All-Star | |
| Jason Terry (2) | Basketball | Key role in Dallas Mavericks NBA title | |
| Earl Thomas | Football | 5 interceptions as a Seahawks rookie | |
| Dave Villwock | Hydros | Set career record for hydro wins | |
| Male Athlete | Sport | Skinny | |
| Nathan Adrian | Swimming | World Aquatics bronze | |
| Jeshua Anderson (2) | Track | Captured NCAA, USA Outdoor titles | |
| Chris Polk | Football | 3 straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons | |
| Isaiah Thomas | Basketball | Guard led UW into Sweet Sixteen | |
| Chris Williams | Golf | Qualified for U.S. Open at Congressional | |
| Female Athlete | Sport | Skinny | |
| Maddie Meyers | Preps | Distance runner for Northwest School | |
| Jenn Salling | Softball | All-America at UW | |
| Courtney Vandersloot | Basketball | All-America at Gonzaga University | |
| Julie Woodward | Soccer | Coach at Seattle U. | |
| Sports Story | Sport | Skinny | |
| East. Washington | Football | Won first national championship | |
| Seattle Seahawks | Football | Stunned Super Bowl champion Saints | |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Soccer | Won third U.S. Open Cup title | |
| U.S. Women’s Team | Soccer | Reached World Cup final in Germany | |
| UW Rowing | Rowing | Won 3rd national title in five years |