The nominees for the 2008 Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, which will take place on July 20 and be hosted by Justin Timberlake, have been released. Skipping all the pleasantries... to the categories!
Best Male Athlete
Tiger Woods, Golf
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Best Female Athlete
Lorena Ochoa, Golf
Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
Danica Patrick, Auto Racing
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
Best Moment Great Sportsmanship, Central Washington Vs. Western Oregon Softball
Jon Lester's No-Hitter
Danica Patrick Wins
Best Team
Boston Red Sox
New York Giants
Boston Celtics
Kansas Men's Basketball
Tennessee Women's Basketball
Detroit Red Wings
Best Coach-Manager
Terry Francona, Boston Red Sox
Tom Coughlin, New York Giants
Pat Summitt, Tennessee Women's Basketball
Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics
Best Game
Super Bowl: Giants Over Patriots
NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kansas Over Memphis
NBA Finals, Game 4: Celtics Over Lakers
Best Championship Performance
Venus Williams, 2007 Wimbledon
Josh Beckett, 2007 Baseball Playoffs
Rafael Nadal, 2008 French Open
Tiger Woods, 2008 U.S. Open
Best Play
Mississippi Miracle (Trinity College's 15 lateral play)
Super Bowl: Eli Manning To David Tyree
Big 10 Stunner (Minnesota's Blake Hoffarber scores on a length-of-the-court pass to upset Indiana)
Columbus Blue Jacket's Rick Nash Shoots And Scores Game Winning Goal Against Phoenix
Best Finish
McMurray Edges Busch to Win the Pepsi 400
WKU Hilltoppers Advance Against Drake With a 26-foot 3-pointer as time expired
Spurs Prevail Over Phoenix
Penguins Stay Alive Against Red Wings in 3 OT Game
Best Upset
Appalachian State: Stuns Michigan In College Football, 34-32
Da' Tara: Wins The Belmont Stakes As A 38-1 Longshot
New York Giants: Beat Patriots In The Super Bowl
Fresno State: Beats Georgia To Win The College World Series
Best Breakthrough Athlete
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Stephen Curry, Davidson Basketball
Kyle Busch, NASCAR
Ana Ivanovic, Tennis
Best Record-Breaking Performance
Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants
Brett Farve, Green Bay Packers
Usain Bolt, Track And Field
Tom Brady & Randy Moss, New England Patriots
Best Sports Movie
Resurrecting The Champ
The Game Plan
Semi-Pro
Leatherheads
Best Male College Athlete
Tim Tebow, Florida Football
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina Basketball
Michael Beasley, Kansas State Basketball
Best Female College Athlete
Candace Parker, Tennessee Basketball
Angela Tincher, Virginia Tech Softball
Rachel Dawson, North Carolina Field Hockey
Best Male Athlete With A Disability
Matt Scott, Basketball
Phil Scholz, Swimming
Marthell Vazquez, Soccer
Ryan Kocer, Wrestling
Best Female Athlete With A Disability
Patty Cisneros, Basketball
Jessica Galli, Track And Field
Susan Beth Scott, Swimming
Shay Oberg, Softball
Best Male International Athlete
Kaka, Soccer
Manu Ginobili, Basketball
Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccer
Rafael Nadal, Tennis
Best Female International Athlete
Marta, Soccer
Lorena Ochoa, Golf
Lauren Jackson, Basketball
Justine Henin, Tennis
Best Baseball Player
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox
Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies
Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres
C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland Indians
Best NBA Player
Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
Best WNBA Player
Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Becky Hammon, San Antonio Silver Stars
Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx
Best NFL Player
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Randy Moss, New England Patriots
Ladainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Bob Sanders, Indianoplis Colts
Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
Eli Manning , New York Giants
Best NHL Player
Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Best MLS Player
Luciano Emilio, D.C. United
Juan Pablo Angel, New York Red Bulls
David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy
Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chicago Fire
Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Matt Reis, New England Revolution
Best Male Action-Sports Athlete
Shaun White, Skateboarding/Snowboarding
Kevin Robinson, BMX
Chad Reed, Supercross
Kevin Pearce, Snowboarding
Best Female Action-Sports Athlete
Gretchen Bleiler, Snowboarding
Jessica Patterson, Motocross
Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing
Lindsey Jacobellis, Snowboarding
Best Bowler
Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Chris Barnes
Norm Duke
Best Driver
Jimmie Johnson
Dario Franchitti
Lewis Hamilton
Kyle Busch
Scott Dixon
Tony Schumacher
Best Fighter
Floyd Mayweather, Boxing
Joe Calzaghe, Boxing
Kelly Pavlik, Boxing
Georges St. Pierre, MMA
Holly Holm, Boxing
Best Golfer
Tiger Woods
Lorena Ochoa
Annika Sorenstam
Phil Mickelson
Best Jockey
Garrett Gomez
Robby Albarado
Kent Desormeaux
Best Outdoor Athlete
Skeet Reese, Angler
Lance Mackey, Dog Musher
Skip Storch, Marathon Swimmer
Army Capt. Scott Smiley, Mountain Climber
Dave Hahn, Mountain Climber
Best Male Tennis Player
Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
Bob And Mike Bryan
Best Female Tennis Player
Justine Henin
Maria Sharapova
Ana Ivanovic
Best Track And Field Athlete
Tyson Gay
Allyson Felix
Jeremy Wariner
Usain Bolt
Hummer Like Nothing Else Award
Manny Ramirez
Sidney Crosby
Ashley Force
George Marti
There you have it. Your 2008 ESPY nominees.
The actual winners, to be announced on July 20, may not be the ones that truly deserve the award because the "fan vote" is really just "who plays on a bigger stage vote".
I'd like to find out how the results would turn out if only true, sports afficienados were voting. Now, if I could go anywhere to get such votes, it'd be the Bleacher Report community.
Please take a little bit of time and vote for whatever categories you have any knowledge of by emailing me your votes at chrisdaniello@gmail.com. Any brief explanations of your votes that you may want to include would be appreciated. I'll publish the winners sometime before the actual ESPYs. Thanks ahead of time.
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3 months ago
Another reason that I hate ESPN. How the hell is Robby Albarado one of the three most worthy jockeys for an ESPY? Because he rides the top horse in the world? Garrett Gomez was nominated because he won the Eclipse, not because ESPN has any idea who he is.
And the best female tennis player is Esther Vergeer, a four-time gold medal-winning para-olympian who hasn't lost a match since 2003 and only one match since 2001. How is she not even nominated for best disables athlete or best tennis player?
Lewis Hamilton as best driver? He lost!!! On the best team!!! He had the best vehicle last year and did not win. How does that make him better than Kimi Raikkonen? ESPN is hyping him up because he is the first black driver to race in a Formula One race and nearly became the first rookie in decades to win the title. But he didn't. He was leading at the end of last June and blew the championship. He was not the best in his sport.
But the worst is top moment. How is Danica Patrick winning an Indy Car race one of the top three moments of the year? She won a race on what is at best a minor league. Congrats. All ESPN has been doing is trying to show her as being an equal to the men and it singles out her every performance. Why does it matter that she won a race? Congrats. But this moment wasn't even the top of its week.
Baseball. Where is Pujols? Chipper? Berkman? Yes, Beckett has done well, but he's not even close to being the top pitcher in his league. He did great in the playoffs; solid. But does that honestly make him better than any of those three. Does it even make him comparable? Stop ******* his **** ESPN; you can fill those * in with whatever words you choose to.
from 3 months ago
It's a business world out there. ESPN is gonna do what's popular and what will sell. People who dont know shit about racing know who Danica Patrick is. It really is a business and i have no problem with that right now (i come to bleacherreport to get my real news now).
It's when teams start getting lobbyists that I'll start to worry and shut off espn forever.
from 3 months ago
Dear Burton,
First off, you have to have some sort of mental disability to write this comment. Danica Patrick winning an Indy Car race has to be one of the top moments because IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED...EVER! Even if it was not a major race, she still won, and she still is the first women ever to do it.
Secondly, you don't know anything about baseball if you believe that Pujols, Chipper, or Lance Berkman should get the best player over Josh Beckett. All of the players you selected to be picked over Beckett did not even make the playoffs in 2007. Not only was Beckett 4-0 in the playoffs with a slim ERA, he also compiled 20 wins. 20 WINS!! DOES IS MAKE HIS COMPARABLE??? you clearly need to do some research young fella before you go off and open your mouth and embarrass yourself.
3 months ago
1 Pujols isn't that great anymore
2 Chipper is ok and i don't know why they didn't put him on
3 Berkman is getting out of his streak
4 yes ESPN is doing the stuff u said about Danica Patrick
5 i don't know about any of the other stuff
from 3 months ago
the espy refers to last season...it wouldn't take into account that chipper is hitting .395 right now
from 3 months ago
I beg to differ on your first point. However, that is another argument for another time.
from 2 months ago
Dude, are you kidding me? Pujols is not that great anymore? Um, a recent poll was just taken by the Managers of MLB, and they named Albert Pujols the most dangerous hitter in the game. So dont sit there and say Pujols is not that great anymore. You sir, are an idiot.
3 months ago
Congrats goes out to Shay Oberg. You deserve this award. You have had to work hard your whole life to prove people wrong. You are a go getter and do not let anyone tell you you cant do it. YOU GO GIRL
3 months ago
Yes, espn will do what is popular. They will overhype the things like African American and female racing because it doesn't happen. But as far as baseball, Pujols is still good so don't say he isn't that great anymore. Beckett is a solid pitcher and is one of the best in the league. And if Berkman was on there I would kill myself because that would make no sense. Chipper Jones I agree should be on there, but then again he has just been dominating for the first part of the season, not over the course of a full year. ESPN IS AWESOME THOUGH.
3 months ago
THIS IS FOR SHAY OBERG TO HAVE TO PROVE YOURSELF YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT TO ALL THE NAYSAYERS EVERY TIME YOU HAD TO CHANGE TEAMS OR CHANGE SCHOOLS OR TO MOVE UP A LEVEL IN COLLEGE AND HEAR WHATS SHE DOING HERE SHE CANT COMPETE OR RUN ON HER OR A GOOD ONE EVERYBODY MOVE IN YUP JUST KEEP IT UP GOOD LUCK AT THE ESPY
3 months ago
Facing the Gaints should be a nominee for best sports movie.
3 months ago
im realy happy that georges st. pierre is nominated for best fighter . ufc is much better than boxing and george can beat floyd, pavlik and the other dude in a boxing matchup anyday. im just wondering how anderson silva and quinton jackson arent nominated.
from 2 months ago
Because UFC, WEC or any other MMA programming is not carried by ESPN. Ay, there's the rub... Same way they've shit on hockey for the last 3 years. Look at how they even list best team: Pro baseball, pro football, pro basketball, college men's basketball, college WOMEN's basketball, and then... buried... hockey. Weak. If you really look at it, its amazing how often they do little things like this that agitate hockey fans.
from 2 months ago
You're smoking crack if you think GSP can beat Floyd in a boxing match. I doubt that even he would say this. GSP could easily beat Floyd in a MMA type fight or a street fight; there are few who are better in this arena!
I agree that Anderson Silva should be mentioned also, and a few other MMA fighters before boxing. I hope boxing dies and is replaced by MMA.
3 months ago
By the way, Shirley Muldowney won the Top Fuel Championship three times. She didn't just win an Indy Car race, she won three championships in the premier drag racing league. I think that that's slightly more of an accomplishment.
And 20 wins is meaningless. Sure, it's nice, but you get enough run support you can get 20 wins. He was 7th in ERA. If Beckett plays on a team with no offense he's lucky to win 12 games. I said he did well in the playoffs, but that's not enough to qualify him as the best player of the last year.
3 months ago
Fresno State Baseball .. is the biggest UPSET..
3 months ago
Another biased group of nominees from ESPN. Oh, how it makes me sick.
3 months ago
Danica Patrick's only win came when everyone basically ran out of fuel, it was a race that was on at Midnight on ESPN Classic. She had a great moment, but otherwise she's been lackluster. Sure she's 5th in points, but watch a race and you'll see all she does is keep the car in one piece (which is good for any owner) but is usually 12th-13th but due to wrecks, she moves up.
Oh well. If she wins over Ochoa or any of them, the ESPYs continue to show bias.
3 months ago
They should have had at least one more MMA fighter on the Best Fighter list. Should have put Rampage and/or Anderson Silva on there.
3 months ago
Blake Hoffarber deserves to win his second ESPY at the age of 19, because if you watched the end of that game and all that went on leading up to that play, there is nothing else even comparable!
3 months ago
My Predictions for some of the cateogories.
Best Male Athlete
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Best Female Athlete
Lorena Ochoa, Golf
Best Moment Great Sportsman Ship, Central Washington Vs. Western Oregon Softball
Best Team
Boston Celtics
Best Coach-Manager
Pat Summitt, Tennessee Women's Basketball
Best Game
Super Bowl: Giants Over Patriots
Best Championship Performance
Tiger Woods, 2008 U.S. Open
Best Play
Super Bowl: Eli Manning To David Tyree
Best Finish
WKU Hilltoppers Advance Against Drake With a 26-foot 3-pointer as time expired
Best Upset
Appalachian State: Stuns Michigan In College Football, 34-32
Best Breakthrough Athlete
Ana Ivanovic, Tennis
Best Record-Breaking Performance
Brett Farve, Green Bay Packers
Best Male College Athlete
Tim Tebow, Florida Football
Best Female College Athlete
Candace Parker, Tennessee Basketball
Best Male International Athlete
Rafael Nadal, Tennis
Best Female International Athlete
Lorena Ochoa, Golf
Best Baseball Player
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (ugh)
Best NBA Player
Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Best NFL Player
Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
Best NHL Player
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Best Fighter
Floyd Mayweather, Boxing
Best Golfer
Tiger Woods
Best Male Tennis Player
Roger Federer
Best Female Tennis Player
Ana Ivanovic
from 3 months ago
From the email votes im getting, most of those predictions are how it's turning out so far
3 months ago
How is Alex Ovechkin not up for top international athlete? If Ginobili is then Ovechkin should be for sure.
3 months ago
wow they just dont care about nhl do they...best international player should be C.Ronaldo hands down if this doesnt happen.. espn go fck ur self... best nhl player should go to ovie not CROSBY..nba=kobe fighter=FMJ or Kelly Pavlik cuz they are americans...NFL=TOM BRADY (if this doesnt happen...WOW) best team=celtics, manager=Tom coughlin (This man beat The PATRIOTS COME ON)..male athlete=Tiger..neither Tom nor Kobe won championship so ....best game-superbowl..definitely should be NADAL vs FEDERER (WIMBLEDON) but i guess next year when it is forgotten...best upset...this should no brainer (cough cough G-MAN)...Tennis Federer n Henin....
2 months ago
Go Fresno State Bulldogs... Upset of the year!
2 months ago
The espys are a joke.It's a popularity contest decided by the fans.Every fan thinks they are an expert in judging.In some sports a fan is more educated than in others. There is always going to be biased voting weather your a fan,player,or sports writer.The only way to get a fair universal impartial vote is to have the fans,the players,management from each team,and respected sports writers and commentators get 25% each of the vote.
2 months ago
If you are a true fan you know that your team doesn't win all the time... I AM A HUGE BOSTON RED SOX FAN and I know that Josh Beckett probably won't win but if he does I will be happy... I still 100% believe in him and I know he is a good player no matter what!
2 months ago
So, how can you even compare an awesome collegiate NON PAID true athletic accomplishment to a PAID NBA or NFL accomplishment...it does not seem like a fair comparison. The real, true athlete is the one who participates for the love of the sport, the love of the game, not the love of the paycheck. I am tired of watching professional, overpaid athletes, get kudos, when half of there off season is spent doing community service in lieu of probation or jail time for a crime they were sure they could get away with. I am an avid sports lover, a former NCAA athlete and I am tired of having to explain to my 8 year old child that some people are still good role models, even though they do unacceptable things. How is it that we can continue to give kudos to those who continue to act inappropriately? While I am not suggesting that ALL professional athletes are bad role models, it seems that the ones who should be receiving the awards are not the same ones who are breaking laws. As soon as we start holding these so called role models truly responsible, the sooner our children see that there are consequences for their actions. I'm just sayin'...
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