ESPY Award winners

The hottest stars in sports, including many 2008 Olympians, converged with Hollywood last night as ESPN hosted the 2009 ESPY Awards. The 17th annual award show celebrated the best athletes and performances of the past year. Actor Samuel L. Jackson hosted the glittering show which saw some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment come together under a single roof for the gala evening.

Unlike the Oscars or the Grammys, fans vote for the awards and 13 were handed out. FYI, ESPY is short for the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly.

SPOILER ALERT: While the 2009 ESPY Awards was taped last night (July 15) fans will have to wait until Sunday, July 19 at 9 p.m. to watch it on TV. So, if you don’t want to know the winners, stop reading now!

The hometown team, Los Angeles Lakers (who play across the street from the Nokia at the Staples Center), won the ESPY for Best Team edging the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Stevie Wonder made the presentation and Kobe Bryant, surrounded by several teammates, accepted the trophy.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson won the award for the Best Coach, his third such honor.  NBA’s Best Player was the Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James.  The L.A. crowd no doubt wanted Kobe to win the NBA’s Best Player award but Lebron deserved this one as he had a monster season.

One streak came to an end at the ESPY’s last night, the five year reign for Tiger Woods as the Best Male Athlete Award. Coming off a historic Olympics at the 2008 Beijing Games, Michael Phelps edged Tiger this year to win the prestigious award. Actress Demi Moore presented the trophy to Phelps. The Olympic swimmer who won eight gold medals in the pool also swam away with the ESPY for Best U.S. Olympian and the Best Championship Performance.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice presented the award for best female athlete to Olympic all-around gold medalist Nastia Liukin, who was a bit little shocked to have beaten out Serena Williams. Swimmer Dara Torres won the ESPY for the Best Comeback.

The Best Female College Athlete was given to Connecticut basketball player Maya Moore who also led her team to a National Championship.

The ESPY for the Best WNBA Player went to Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks. Tiger Woods was not surprisingly voted the Best Male Golfer and Lorena Ochoa won the ESPY for the Best Female Golfer.

Serena Williams took the award for Best Female Tennis Player. This is the first ESPY Award that Williams has received since 2003, when she won the Best Female Athlete award.

At the ceremony the Williams sisters presented former South African president Nelson Mandela the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Mandela’s daughter Zindzi Mandela and grandson Zondwa Mandela accepted the award, which is presented annually to individuals whose contributions transcend sports.

Erin Popovich emerged as a ray of hope for all humanity as she was named Best Athlete with a Disability while the Best Female Action Sports Athlete was awarded to big wave surfer Maya Gabeira.

Complete list of winners:
Special Awards
Arthur Ashe Courage Award: President Nelson Mandela
Jimmy V Award For Perseverance: Don Meyer, Northern State University coach
Best Comeback: Dara Torres, Olympic swimmer.

Best in Sport
Best Female Athlete: Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
Best Male Athlete: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Moment: US Swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay
Best Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Best Coach/Manager: Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Best Game: Steelers vs. Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
Best Championship Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Play: Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD
Best Upset: US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Best Record Breaking Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Sports Movie: The Express: The Ernie Davis Story
Best Male College Athlete: Tim Tebow, Florida Football
Best Female College Athlete: Maya Moore, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Best Male Athlete with a Disability: Jason Lester, Ironman Triathlete
Best Female Athlete with a Disability: Erin Popovich, Swimming
Best International Male Athlete: Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Sprinter)
Best International Female Athlete: Lorena Ochoa (Mexico, Golf)

Individual Sports
Best Baseball Player: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Best NBA Player: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Best WNBA Player: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
Best NFL Player: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Best NHL Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Best MLS Player: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Best Male Action Sports Athlete: Shaun White, Skateboarding/Snowboarding
Best Female Action Sports Athlete: Maya Gabeira, Surfing
Best Bowler: Norm Duke
Best Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Best Fighter: Manny Pacquiao, Boxing
Best Male Golfer: Tiger Woods
Best Female Golfer: Lorena Ochoa
Best Jockey: Calvin Borel

2009 ESPY Award nominees announced

The 2009 ESPY Awards are upon us, and set to air Sunday, July 19th at 9pm, with Samuel L. Jackson as host (we’ll miss you JT).  This year there are a whopping 37 categories and Michael Phelps leads the way with four nominations.

The ESPY Awards honor the best achievements, moments and leading athletes of the previous year. Fans determine winners through online (www.espys.tv) and mobile phone voting (www.espn.mobi) that begins today and runs through July 11.

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award will be given to former South African president Nelson Mandela. Dara Torres, who won three silver medals as a 41-year-old swimmer at the Beijing Olympics, will receive the Best Comeback award.

The voting has begun so be sure to cast your vote for your fave nominees….

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE

Natalie Coughlin, Swimming
Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
Maya Moore, NCAA Basketball
Candace Parker, WNBA
Serena Williams, Tennis

BEST MALE ATHLETE

Kobe Bryant, NBA
LeBron James, NBA
Jimmie Johnson, Auto Racing
Michael Phelps, Swimming

BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, Olympic Beach Volleyball

BEST BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE

Shawn Johnson, Olympic Gymnastics
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

BEST FEMALE COLLEGE ATHLETE

Courtney Kupets, Gymnastics, UGA
Kerrie Hanks, Soccer, Notre Dame
Danielle Lawrie, Softball, Washington
Maya Moore, Basketball, UConn
Dana Vollmer, Swimming, Stanford

BEST FEMALE INTERNATIONAL ATHLETE

Marta, Soccer, Brazil
Yelena Isinbayeva, Pole Vault, Russia
Lorena Ochoa, Golf, Mexico
Stephanie Rice, Swimming, Australia
Dinara Safina, Tennis, Russia

BEST FEMALE ACTION SPORTS ATHLETE

Torah Bright, Snowboarding
Ashley Fiolek, Motocross
Sarah Burke, Skiing
Maya Gabeira, Surfing

BEST RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE

Usain Bolt, Olympic Sprinter
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimmer

BEST UPSET

Mine That Bird wins the Kentucky Derby
Oregon State stuns then #1 USC
Tampa Bay Rays win the American League Championship Series
US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals

BEST GAME

Federer vs. Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon Final
Steelers vs. Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
Syracuse vs. Connecticut in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinals

BEST MOMENT

Florida’s Tim Tebow’s speech
Helio Castroneves wins the Indy 500
US swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay

BEST TEAM

Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers
North Carolina Men’s Basketball
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Steelers

In that last category, Go UConn!!