2012 ESPYs: Making Fun of LeBron James, Tiger Woods and More

Admit it, you love it when people fall on their face—especially when that person is an athlete who is making millions upon millions of dollars. Other than the SportsCenter segment “Not Top 10,” the ESPYs are the place to go for your dose of sports-related laughter.

According to ESPN, Daily Show correspondent Rob Riggle will host the 2012 ESPYs, which means we will certainly be in for an amusing ride. Previous hosts that will show up include Samuel Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Seth Meyers. I will admit that I’m not a huge fan of Timberlake, but after watching his 2008 performance I changed my mind at least a little bit.

Having said that, nothing—absolutely nothing—compares to the hilarity Will Ferrell has brought to the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards (kind of a weird name, no?). Here is a must-see classic from the 2008 ESPYs, in which Will Ferrell impersonates Tiger Woods.

Ferrell wasn’t done, either. Check out this skit he performed for that same show with John C. Reilly, co-star in their movie Step Brothers.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve replayed these videos—they never get old. Will Ferrell singlehandedly got me hooked on this show. When he showed up two years later for the 2010 ESPYs, impersonating those annoying vuvuzelas from the World Cup, I was in hysterics.

For those who have seen it, you know you probably want to watch it again. For those who haven’t seen it, you’re welcome.

Okay—that’s it for Will Ferrell, although he did do a promotion for Talladega Nights on the ESPYs that wasn’t too bad, either.

Another one of my favorites was after the infamous summer of 2010, when LeBron James made his famous, albeit arrogant, “Decision.” Seth Meyers was the host when Steve Carell did this parody.

The ESPYs attract the biggest names in sports along with the biggest celebrities, and everybody is free game for the host to poke fun at. We can definitely count on Rob Riggle to take advantage of that.

There are inspiring portions of the show as well, like the Jimmy V Award, named after the college basketball coach who gave an amazing speech while battling bone cancer. Also presented in the ESPYs are Best Male and Best Female Athlete of the Year, Best Team of the Year, and more.

So, as you have probably figured out by now, in about a month you will know where to find me: sitting down and enjoying the jokes and inspiration that the ESPYs have to offer.

I humbly recommend you should be, too. 

Where: ESPN (unless you can get into the Nokia Theater in L.A. to watch it live)

When: July 11, 2012

Time: 9 p.m. ET