ESPYs 2015: Nominees, Predictions and Preview for Award Show
The sporting world gets its own award show and a dose of roasting-esque comedy when comedian Joel McHale hosts the 2015 ESPY Awards this week.
The spectacle in the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles promises to entertain thanks in large part to what are sure to be the antics of McHale. He's a degree deadlier on the mic than last year's host, Drake, at least from a comedic standpoint (not rapping, of course).
As always, the annual event will honor achievements of those in the sporting world on and off the field (or court, etc.) and celebrate those involved in the way only the ESPYs can.
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Here is a look at the categories for the event, which goes down on ABC at 8 p.m. ET on July 15.
ESPYs Predictions
| Best Male Athlete | Stephen Curry |
| Best Female Athlete | Serena Williams |
| Best Championship Performance | LeBron James |
| Best Breakthrough Athlete | Jordan Spieth |
| Best Record-Breaking Performance | Peyton Manning |
| Best Upset | Kansas City Royals Reach 2014 World Series |
| Best Game | Patriots vs. Seahawks Super Bowl |
| Best Team | United States Women's National Soccer Team |
| Best Coach/Manager | Steve Kerr |
| Best MLB Player | Mike Trout |
| Best NHL Player | Jonathan Toews |
| Best Fighter | Ronda Rousey |
| Best NFL Player | J.J. Watt |
| Best NBA Player | Stephen Curry |
| Best Comeback Athlete | Derrick Rose |
| Best Driver | Kevin Harvick |
| Best Jockey | Victor Espinoza |
| Best Bowler | Parker Bohn III |
| Best MLS Player | Robbie Keane |
| Best International Athlete | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| Best WNBA Player | Skylar Diggins |
| Best Male Golfer | Jordan Spieth |
| Best Female Golfer | Stacy Lewis |
| Best Male Tennis Player | Novak Djokovic |
| Best Female Tennis Player | Serena Williams |
| Best Male College Athlete | Marcus Mariota |
| Best Female College Athlete | Breanna Stewart |
| Best Male Athlete With a Disability | Joe Berenyi |
| Best Female Athlete with a Disability | Becca Meyers |
| Best Male Action Athlete | Nyjah Huston |
| Best Female Action Athlete | Kelly Clark |
| Best Play | Odell Beckham Jr.'s catch |
Full list of nominees available at ESPN.com.
Preview
The non-athletes are first.
McHale is a monster of a funny man who folks will recognize from Community. If not there, fans will recognize him as the host of The Soup on E! where he rips apart reality shows across multiple networks—including his own.
He's already joking about the event on social media:
So yes, it figures to make for a good time, especially when one realizes the funny man won't be alone—others such as Jimmy Kimmel, Rob Riggle and Seth Meyers will be along for the ride.
Other than comedic acts—which are necessary as a breath of fresh air considering how oh-so-serious the globe treats sporting competitions—the nice thing about the ESPYs is the show incorporates the ultimate sense of fan involvement.
Outside of a few awards, fans get to vote on the winners of the main categories at ESPN.com until the first broadcast.
Two of the awards fans won't get to vote on are some of the most notable. Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still and daughter Leah will receive the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. After last year's touching speech by winner Stuart Scott, it promises to be the highlight of the night. The other will see Caitlyn Jenner receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
ESPN's Maura Mandt provided her thoughts on the Jimmy V Award in a statement: “This award is a testament to the inspiration Devon and Leah are to all the families who are suffering from similar circumstances. It is our hope that with this award we can send them more strength as they face this latest challenge.”
As for fan-voted awards, there are plenty to go around. Notables include Best Male Athlete, for which 2015 NBA MVP and Finals champion Stephen Curry will clash with LeBron James and his superhuman effort in the Finals and J.J. Watt's football-changing efforts with the Houston Texans, among others.
Best Female Athlete might be even more interesting, with four dominant names in contention. Everyone knows Ronda Rousey and Serena Williams, but don't forget about UConn basketball star and 2015 AP Player of the Year Breanna Stewart or Lindsey Vonn, who owns 19 skiing season titles and a record 67 Women's World Cup wins.
Even Best Record-Breaking Performance will turn some heads this year. Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos threw touchdown pass No. 509. Lauren Chamberlain hit home run No. 91 in 52 fewer games than the prior record holder. Devin Hester took a punt back for a score for the 20th time. Curry's teammate Klay Thompson posted 37 points in a single frame.
Good luck deciding on any of those.
Perhaps most interesting of all will be the Best Comeback Athlete. Alex Rodriguez's name will turn some heads and stir controversy. He clashes with the aforementioned Vonn, Derrick Rose's return to the postseason with the Chicago Bulls and Rob Gronkowski's eye-boggling numbers after shredding two ligaments in his knee in 2013.
There are no easy answers in the voting process, but it's quite clear each nominee up for an award deserves the recognition headed his or her way this week.
With a comedic-serious balance and the world's best superstars on hand, the 2015 ESPYs look ready to match the swelling hype.
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