If 2015s ESPY Awards needed to be summed up in words it’d be [a night filled with reminders about]:
- Acceptance
- Fortitude
- Compassion
- Perseverance
Although there was indeed an awards show like every year its held-recognizing team or individual excellence in sports, last night ESPYs was filled with deserving persons being honored and recognized for all the above +the moving speeches certainly stole the show.
Take a look at the top honors/prizes, then the complete noms and winners list:
Steph Curry introduced Lisa Hill-mother of high school basketball player Lauren Hill who died three months ago from a brain tumor-but not without living the life she was destined to live. She fought a great fight still, while doing what she loved and as a result, she was recognized with Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance award for just that-her perseverance. Tap in:
Soccer player Abby Wombach of the U.S Women’s National gave a moving and poignant speech before presenting the Arthur Ashe Award for courage to Caitlyn Jenner (a former U.S Olympic champion herself). Caitlyn Jenner took the brave step of being who she is by unveiling her true self to the world and embracing it. And so gifted the Arthur Ashe Award –named after the late, great tennis pro.
NBA player Lebron James presented Cincinnati Bengals NFL player Devon Still with the Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance award as he accepted on behalf of his daughter Leah Still, who is giving cancer its most ferocious fight of the 5 year-old’s life as Leah has been a true testament of the will to live in the most optimistic way and still winning. Tap in below:
Basketball player Danielle Green gave us a look into her backstory in a moving narrative into winning her Pat Tillman Award of Service. Check it out:
https://youtu.be/vN-WjbnqSTs
Baseball great Derek Jeter was the top honor/prize winner and took home the Icon Award. Although Boston native-actor Ben Affleck is a die-hard Red Sox fan, he’s no hater. Check him out as he present Jeter with a man hug and the award:
https://youtu.be/IB_Kr_l1TNU
Here is the complete list of winners and noms!
Best Team
U.S. Women’s Soccer (WINNER)
New England Patriots
Connecticut Huskies
Golden State Warriors
Chicago Blackhawks
Ohio State Buckeyes
Best Male Athlete
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (WINNER)
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
JJ Watt, Houston Texans
Best Play (bracket-style)
1. Odell Beckham catch (WINNER)
- Albany goalie lacrosse goal
- Bahamas Bowl Hail Mary vs. 15. Dwayne Bravo cricket catch
- Lionel Messi goal vs. Jerian Grant dunk
- Malcolm Butler INT vs. 13. Josh Sheehan triple back flip
- Stephen Curry step back 3 vs. 12. Ameer Abdullah TD run
- Ronda Rousey armbar vs. 11. Gerald Green dunk off the glass
- Tyler Ennis goal vs. 10. Shoni Schimmel circus shot
- Kevin Pillar catch vs. 9. Jeremy Menez goal
Best Comeback Athlete
Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (WINNER)
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
Best Female Athlete
Ronda Rousey, MMA (WINNER)
Breanna Stewart, UConn Basketball
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
Serena Williams, WTA
Best Championship Performance
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (WINNER)
American Pharoah, Race Horse
Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
Lauren Haeger, Florida Softball
Best Breakthrough Athlete
Mo’ne Davis, Little League Baseball (WINNER)
Odell Beckham Jr, New York Giants
Cardale Jones, Ohio State Buckeyes
Jordan Spieth, PGA
Best Record-Breaking Performance
Peyton Manning throws record-509th touchdown pass (WINNER)
Lauren Chamberlain hits 91st home run in NCAA softball
Devin Hester takes punt in for 20th touchdown return
Klay Thompson scores 37 points in a single quarter
Best Upset
Mississippi over Alabama, FBS (WINNER)
Georgia State over Baylor, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
Kansas City Royals wins AL Pennant
Best NFL Player
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (WINNER)
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys
JJ Watt, Houston Texans
Best MLB Player
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (WINNER)
Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
Best NBA Player
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (WINNER)
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
James Harden, Houston Rockets
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Best International Athlete
Lionel Messi, Barcelona/Argentina (WINNER)
Novak Djokovic, ATP
Lewis Hamilton, Formula One
Lydia Ko, LPGA
Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid/Portugal
Best Fighter
Ronda Rousey, MMA (WINNER)
(Rousey cracked quite the quip over Floyd Mayweather’s way after winning “best fighter.” Check her out):
Donald Cerrone, MMA
Terence Crawford, Boxing
Gennady Golovkin (GGG), Boxing
Floyd Mayweather Jr, Boxing
Best Male Action Sports Athlete
Ryan Dungey, Motocross (WINNER)
Tucker Hibbert, SnoCross
Nyjah Huston, Skateboarding
Mark McMorris, Snowboarding
Josh Sheehan, Freestyle Motocross
Best Female Action Sports Athlete
Kelly Clark, Snowboarding (WINNER)
Paige Alms, Surfing
Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing
Laia Sanz, Enduro/motorbike
Best Jockey
Victor Espinoza (WINNER)
Javier Castellano
Joel Rosario
Best Male Golfer
Jordan Spieth (WINNER)
Rory McIlroy
Billy Horschel
Best Male College Athlete
Marcus Mariota, Oregon Football (WINNER)
Jack Eichel, Boston University Hockey
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin Basketball
Logan Stieber, Ohio State Wrestling
Dansby Swanson, Vanderbilt Baseball
Best Game
Patriots vs. Seahawks, Super Bowl (WINNER)
A’s vs. Royals, MLB AL Wild Card
Spurs vs. Clippers Game 7, NBA Western Conference Quarterfinals
Best Coach/Manager
Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors (WINNER)
Geno Auriemma, UConn Huskies
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Blue Devils
Urban Meyer, Ohio State Buckeyes
Best NHL Player
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks (WINNER)
Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Best Driver
Kevin Harvick, NASCAR (WINNER)
Erica Enders-Stevens, NHRA
Lewis Hamilton, Formula One
Juan Pablo Montoya, IndyCar
Will Power, IndyCar
Best Female Golfer
Lydia Ko (WINNER)
Stacy Lewis
Inbee Park
Best Male Tennis Player
Novak Djokovic (WINNER)
Marin Cilic
Roger Federer
Stan Wawrinka
Best Female College Athlete
Missy Franklin, Cal Swimming (WINNER)
Taylor Cummings, Maryland Lacrosse
Lauren Haeger, Florida Softball
Micha Hancock, Penn State Volleyball
Breanna Stewart, Connecticut Basketball
Best Female Athlete with a Disability
Becca Meyers, Swimming (WINNER)
Kendall Gretsch, Triathlon
Oksana Masters, Nordic Skiing
Tatyana McFadden, Track and Field
Greta Neimanas, Cycling
Best Bowler
Jason Belmonte (WINNER)
Parker Bohn III
Mike Fagan
Best MLS Player
Robbie Keane, Los Angeles Galaxy (WINNER)
Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders
Lee Nguyen, New England Revolution
Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls
Best WNBA Player
Skylar Diggins, Tulsa Shock (WINNER)
Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx
Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Best Female Tennis Player
Serena Williams (WINNER)
Simona Halep
Petra Kvitova
Maria Sharapova
Best Male Athlete with a Disability
Krige Schabort, Triathlon (WINNER)
Joe Berenyi, Cycling
Josh Pauls, Sled Hockey
Mike Shea, Snowboarding
US national champion in boardercross
Andy Soule, Nordic Skiing
