ESPY Awards

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This article is about the sports award. For other meanings, see Espy (disambiguation)

The 10th Anniversary ESPY Award.

The ESPY Awards is an annual televised event created by ESPN and were first awarded in 1993. "ESPY" is an acronym, meaning "Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly."

Similar in format to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards, the ESPY Awards recognize outstanding individual and team achievements and memorable performances in the world of sports during the previous year. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales to the event goes to the V Foundation for Cancer Research, a charity founded by the late Jim Valvano to find a cure for cancer. Valvano was the head coach of the North Carolina State University Wolfpack, who upset the heavily favored University of Houston Cougars in the in 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship game. In 1992, Valvano, who had become a broadcaster after leaving North Carolina State, was diagnosed with a form of cancer called Metastatic Adenocarcinoma and was told he had a year to live. He fought the disease bravely and continued working as long as he could. During the first ESPY Awards telecast on March 3, 1993, "Jimmy V," as he was affectionately known, announced the formation of the V Foundation. He died on April 28, 1993.

From their inception until 2004, winners were chosen both by fans, experts, or ESPN personalities in each particular category. However, beginning with the 2005 ceremonies, fans popularly voted for all the winners via the Internet. Categories include Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Best Coach/Manager, Team of the Year, Breakthrough Athlete of the Year, Best Sports Movie, Best Moment, and Comeback Athlete of the Year.

Additionally, the Arthur Ashe Courage Award is presented to a single sports figure who overcame adversity or contributed to humanity in a way that transcended sports.

Actor Matthew Perry (2005) and comedian Jamie Foxx (2004) are recent hosts. Lance Armstrong (2003-2006 Best Male Athlete) is slated to host the 2006 ceremony, scheduled to air on July 16 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. He is the first athlete to do so. The 2006 version is sponsored by GMC and Under Armour.

Winners

Best Male Athlete

• 1993: Michael Jordan
• 1994: Barry Bonds
• 1995: Steve Young
• 1996: Cal Ripken
• 1997: Michael Johnson
• 1998: Ken Griffey Jr. and Tiger Woods
• 1999: Mark McGwire
• 2000: Tiger Woods 2
• 2001: Tiger Woods 3
• 2002: Tiger Woods 4
• 2003: Lance Armstrong
• 2004: Lance Armstrong 2
• 2005: Lance Armstrong 3
• 2006: Lance Armstrong 4

Best Male Tennis Player

• 1993: Jim Courier
• 1994: Pete Sampras
• 1995: Pete Sampras 2
• 1996: Pete Sampras 3
• 1997: Pete Sampras 4
• 1998: Pete Sampras 5
• 1999: Pete Sampras 6
• 2000: Andre Agassi
• 2001: Pete Sampras 7
• 2002: Lleyton Hewitt
• 2003: Andre Agassi 2
• 2004: Andy Roddick
• 2005: Roger Federer
• 2006: Roger Federer 2

Best Female Tennis Player

• 1993: Monica Seles
• 1994: Steffi Graf
• 1995: Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
• 1996: Steffi Graf 2
• 1997: Steffi Graf 3
• 1998: Martina Hingis
• 1999: Lindsay Davenport
• 2000: Lindsay Davenport 2
• 2001: Venus Williams
• 2002: Venus Williams 2
• 2003: Serena Williams
• 2004: Serena Williams 2
• 2005: Maria Sharapova
• 2006: Venus Williams 3

External links

• [2006 ESPY official site]
• [Full list of past winners]

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