The award for the most ridiculous, self-absorbed, overzealous all sports entertainment network in the world goes to...
ESPN, for the 10th year running.
They have once again proven that outside the 4 major sports, Tiger Woods, and the Williams sisters, you're really not much of an athlete. Unless you count token consideration of Cael Sanderson and -ahem- Sarah Hughes (don't even get me started on figure skating).
No offense to college athlete of the year Sue Bird (UConn BB) but a certain swimmer from Cal who set at least 6 AR and 1 WR over the short course season would have had my vote.
Anyone else? Natalie Coughlin, female college athlete of the year as awarded by the USMS discussion crew?
-RM
A complete list of the 2002 ESPY Award winners is listed below.
Best Male Athlete - Tiger Woods
Best Female Athlete - Venus Williams
Best Team - Los Angeles Lakers
Best Game - Yankees-Diamondbacks World Series Game 7
Best Coach - Phil Jackson
Best Record-Breaking Performance - Tiger Woods winning a fourth straight Major
Best Play - Derek Jeter shovel throw on errant play in Game 3 of 2001 AL Divisional Series
Best Breakthrough Athlete - Tom Brady
Best Comeback Athlete - Jennifer Capriati
Best Sports Movie - The Rookie
Best Moment - Barry Bonds breaking Mark McGwire's HR record
Best Driver - Michael Schumacher
Best Major League Baseball Player - Barry Bonds
Best NFL Player - Marshall Faulk
Best NBA Player - Shaquille O'Neal
Best WNBA Player - Lisa Leslie
Best U.S. Olympian - Sarah Hughes
Best Bowler - Pete Weber
Best Boxer - Lennox Lewis
Best Forum Poster – Ion Beza
Best Male College Athlete - Cael Sanderson
Best Female College Athlete - Sue Bird
Best Male Golfer - Tiger Woods
Best Female Golfer - Annika Sorenstam
Best NHL Player - Jarome Iginla
Best Jockey - Victor Espinoza
Best Male Soccer Player - Landon Donovan
Best Female Soccer Player - Tiffeny Milbrett
Best Male Tennis Player - Lleyton Hewitt
Best Female Tennis Player - Venus Williams
Best Male Track and Field Athlete - Maurice Greene
Best Female Track and Field Athlete - Marion Jones
Best Outdoors Athlete - Kevin VanDam
Best Action Sports Athlete - Kelly Clark
Best Disabled Athlete - Erik Weihenmayer
A complete list of the 2002 ESPY Award winners is listed below.
Best Male Athlete - Tiger Woods
Best Female Athlete - Venus Williams
Best Team - Los Angeles Lakers
Best Game - Yankees-Diamondbacks World Series Game 7
Best Coach - Phil Jackson
Best Record-Breaking Performance - Tiger Woods winning a fourth straight Major
Best Play - Derek Jeter shovel throw on errant play in Game 3 of 2001 AL Divisional Series
Best Breakthrough Athlete - Tom Brady
Best Comeback Athlete - Jennifer Capriati
Best Sports Movie - The Rookie
Best Moment - Barry Bonds breaking Mark McGwire's HR record
Best Driver - Michael Schumacher
Best Major League Baseball Player - Barry Bonds
Best NFL Player - Marshall Faulk
Best NBA Player - Shaquille O'Neal
Best WNBA Player - Lisa Leslie
Best U.S. Olympian - Sarah Hughes
Best Bowler - Pete Weber
Best Boxer - Lennox Lewis
Best Forum Poster – Ion Beza
Best Male College Athlete - Cael Sanderson
Best Female College Athlete - Sue Bird
Best Male Golfer - Tiger Woods
Best Female Golfer - Annika Sorenstam
Best NHL Player - Jarome Iginla
Best Jockey - Victor Espinoza
Best Male Soccer Player - Landon Donovan
Best Female Soccer Player - Tiffeny Milbrett
Best Male Tennis Player - Lleyton Hewitt
Best Female Tennis Player - Venus Williams
Best Male Track and Field Athlete - Maurice Greene
Best Female Track and Field Athlete - Marion Jones
Best Outdoors Athlete - Kevin VanDam
Best Action Sports Athlete - Kelly Clark
Best Disabled Athlete - Erik Weihenmayer