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ESPY Awards

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This article is about the sports award. For other uses, seeEspy (disambiguation).
ESPY Awards
Current:2024 ESPY Awards
Awarded forExcellence in sports performance and achievements
CountryUnited States
First awarded1993
Websitewww.espn/espys/
Television/radio coverage
Networks
ESPN(1993–2014; 2020)
ABC(2015–2019; 2021–present)[a]

TheESPY Awards(short forExcellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards,and often referred to as theESPYs) is an annual American awards show produced byESPNsince 1993, recognizing individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony. From 2015 to 2019, and since 2021, the ceremony has aired live on sisterbroadcast televisionnetworkABC,while ESPN continues to air them in the form of replays.[a]Because of the ceremony'sreschedulingprior to the 2002 iteration thereof, awards presented in 2002 were for achievement and performances during the seventeen-plus previous months. As the similarly styledGrammy(for music),Emmy(for television),Academy Award(for film), andTony(for theater), the ESPYs are hosted by a contemporary celebrity; the style, though, is lighter, more relaxed and self-referential than many other awards shows, with comedic sketches usually included.

From the show's inception to 2004, ESPY Award winners were chosen only through voting by fans. Since 2004, sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives, and sportspersons, collectively experts; orESPN personalitiesalso vote. Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively through global online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates selected by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.

Charitable role

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A portion of the proceeds from sales of tickets to the event devolves on theV Foundation,a charity established bycollegiate basketballcoachand television commentatorJim Valvanoto promotecancer research.Valvano announced the creation of the charitable foundation during his acceptance of theArthur Ashe Courage Awardduring the inaugural ESPY telecast on March 3, 1993, 55 days before Valvano's death frommetastatic adenocarcinoma.

Design

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The ESPY Award statuette was designed and created by sculptorLawrence Nowlan.[1]The statuette consists of a silver sphere, with the word "ESPY" engraved on it, mounted on a silver pedestal.[citation needed]

Ceremonies

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Timing

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Between 1993 and 2001, the ceremony was held each year in either February or March and was broadcast recorded on ESPN.

Between 2002 and 2019 and from 2022 to 2023, the ceremony was held on the Wednesday in July following theMajor League Baseball(MLB)All-Star Game,as it marks the only day of the year on which none of themajor North American professional leaguesnor college sports programs have games scheduled. TheNational Basketball Association,National Football League,andNational Hockey Leagueare notin-season(though the NBA 's post-draft training campNBA Summer Leagueis taking place and NFL teams are getting ready fortraining camp), colleges arein recess for the summer,and MLB does not contest games on the day following its all-star game. Thus, major sports figures (except for those in cycling, which has theTour de France;minor league baseball; and golf, whereThe Open Championshipusually starts that evening) are available to attend. The show aired on the subsequent Sunday four days later, although the results were reported publicly byESPN.

In 2024, the ceremony was conducted on the second Thursday of July.

In 2010, the ceremony was aired live by ESPN for the first time since 2003. In 2015, the ESPY Awards moved to network television, airing on ESPN's corporate sister networkABC.

Location

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The first seven editions of the ESPYs were held inNew York City—in 1993 and 1994 atMadison Square Gardenand from 1995 through 1999, atRadio City Music Hall.The awards relocated toLas Vegas,Nevada,for two years beginning in 2000, and ultimately settled at theDolby TheatreinHollywood,California.In 2006, it was announced that the awards would move in 2008 to thePeacock Theater(formerly the Microsoft Theater), to be situated as theWest Coastheadquarters of ESPN atLA Live,adjacent to theCrypto ArenainLos Angeles,California.

Hosts

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The ceremonies have been hosted variously by comedians, television and film actors, and sportspeople. American film actorSamuel L. Jacksonis the only individual to have hosted four times (in 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2009). ComedianDennis Miller,actor and singerJamie Foxx,and talk show host and comedianSeth Meyersare the only others to have hosted the show more than once.

Year-by-year

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Date Edition Venue Host(s)
July 11, 2024 32nd Dolby Theatre,Los Angeles Serena Williams
July 12, 2023 31st —
July 20, 2022 30th Stephen Curry
July 10, 2021 29th The Rooftop at Pier 17,New York Anthony Mackie
June 21, 2020 28th Virtual show Russell Wilson,Megan Rapinoe&Sue Bird
July 10, 2019 27th Peacock Theater,Los Angeles Tracy Morgan
July 18, 2018 26th Danica Patrick
July 12, 2017 25th Peyton Manning
July 13, 2016 24th John Cena
July 15, 2015 23rd Joel McHale
July 16, 2014 22nd Drake
July 17, 2013 21st Jon Hamm
July 11, 2012 20th Rob Riggle
July 13, 2011 19th Seth Meyers
July 14, 2010 18th
July 19, 2009 17th Samuel L. Jackson
July 20, 2008 16th Justin Timberlake
July 15, 2007 15th Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles LeBron James&Jimmy Kimmel
July 16, 2006 14th Lance Armstrong
July 17, 2005 13th Matthew Perry
July 18, 2004 12th Jamie Foxx
July 16, 2003 11th
July 10, 2002 10th Samuel L. Jackson
February 12, 2001 9th MGM Grand,Las Vegas
February 14, 2000 8th Jimmy Smits
February 15, 1999 7th Radio City Music Hall,New York Samuel L. Jackson
February 9, 1998 6th Norm Macdonald
February 10, 1997 5th Jeff Foxworthy
February 12, 1996 4th Tony Danza
February 13, 1995 3rd John Goodman
February 14, 1994 2nd Madison Square Garden,New York Dennis Miller
March 4, 1993 1st

Awards

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American professional golferTiger Woodsis the most-honored ESPY recipient, having received 21 awards.

Extant

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Cross-cutter categories

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Cross-cutterawards are those for which the eligibility is not confined to those sportspersons participating in, or those events occurring in, any single or specific sport.

  • Arthur Ashe Courage Award,presented to the sports-related person(s) or team, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have made the most significant or compelling humanitarian contribution in transcendence of sports in a given year (presented since 1993)
  • Best Female Athlete ESPY Award,presented to the female sportsperson, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding over a given year (1993)
  • Best Male Athlete ESPY Award,presented to the male sportsperson, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding in a given year (1993)
  • Best International Athlete ESPY Award,presented since 2006 to the professional sportsperson, irrespective of gender, born outside the United States adjudged to be the best in a given year
  • Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award,presented to the sportsperson, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have made the best or most significantbreakthroughin his or her sport in a given year (1993)
  • Best Championship Performance ESPY Award, presented to the sportsperson, irrespective of gender, nationality, or sport contested, adjudged to have made the best or most significant performance in a championship match, series, or tournament in his or her sport
  • Best Coach/Manager ESPY Award,presented to the coach or manager, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding in a given year (1993)
  • Best College Athlete, Men's Sports,presented to the male sportsperson, irrespective of sport played, adjudged to be the best in theNational Collegiate Athletic Association,in a given year (2002[2])
  • Best College Athlete, Women's Sports,presented to the female sportsperson, irrespective of sport played, adjudged to be the best in theNational Collegiate Athletic Associationin a given year (2002[2])
  • Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award,presented to the sportsperson, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have made the most significant or impressive comeback from illness, injury, hardship, retirement, or loss of form (1993)
  • Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award,presented to the female sportsperson with a disability, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best in a given year (2005[3])
  • Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award,presented to the male sportsperson with a disability, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best in a given year (2005[3])
  • Best Game ESPY Award,presented to the single game in a North American professional or collegiate league, irrespective of sport, adjudged to be the best in a given year (2002)
  • Best Upset ESPY Award,presented to the sportsperson or team, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have completed the best, most impressive, or most significant upset in a given year (2004)
  • Best Moment ESPY Award,presented to the moment or series of moments occurring in a sporting event or season, irrespective of sport contested or gender of participating sportsperson(s), adjudged to the most remarkable, compelling, or entertaining in a given year (2002)
  • Best Play ESPY Award,presented to the single play or performance, irrespective of sport contested or gender of participating sportsperson, adjudged to be the most remarkable, significant, or impressive in a given year (2002)
  • Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Award,presented to the record-breaking single-play, game or season performance, irrespective of sport contested or gender of participating sportsperson, adjudged to be the most remarkable, significant, or impressive in a given year (2001)
  • Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance(2007)
  • Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, presented to "an athlete whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a measured positive impact on their community through sports" (2015)[4]
  • Best Team ESPY Award,presented to the collegiate, professional, or national team, irrespective of sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding in a given year (1993[5])

Individual categories

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Individualawards are those for which eligibility is limited to those partaking of a single individual or team sport or specific sport category.

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Sponsoredawards are those otherwise constituted ascross-cutterawards the titles and eligibility criteria of which reflect corporate sponsorship.

  • GMC Professional Grade Play ESPY Award, presented to the single play in a professional or collegiate North American sport adjudged to be the most impressive, remarkable, or notable in a given year, and to the sportsperson(s) involved therewith (presented since 2006)

Discontinued, irregular, or superseded

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Cross-cutter categories

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Cross-cutterawards are those the eligibility for which is not confined to those sportspersons participating in, or those events occurring in, any single or specific sport.

Individual categories

[edit]

Individualawards are those for which eligibility is limited to those partaking of a single individual or team sport or specific sport category.

[edit]

Sponsoredawards are those otherwise constituted ascross-cutterawards the titles and eligibility criteria in which reflect corporate sponsorship.[original research?]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^abABC aired a re-broadcast of ESPN's coverage in 2020.

References

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  1. ^"Sculptor commissioned to complete Joe Frazier statue has died".Barre Montpelier Times Argus.2 August 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 21 February 2014.Retrieved27 August2013.
  2. ^abcdeTheBest FemaleandBest Male College BasketballandBest College Football Player ESPY Awards,awarded betwixt1993and 2001, inclusive, were absorbed in 2002 by theBest FemaleandBest Male College Athlete ESPY Awards.After the 2017 awards, the men's and women's awards were replaced by a single ESPY for Best College Athlete; starting with the 2021 awards, separate awards for men's and women's sports were reinstated, with a change in naming format.
  3. ^abcBetween 2002 and 2004, inclusive, a single award for best sportsperson with a disability was presented; in 2005, the award was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as theBest FemaleandBest Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Awards.
  4. ^"Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award".ESPN.23 June 2020.Retrieved11 July2021.
  5. ^In 2001, theOutstanding Team ESPY Awardwas bifurcated and two new awards—styled as thePro Team of the Year ESPY AwardandCollege Team of the Year ESPY Award—were presented; the two were combined once more in 2002.
  6. ^abcIn 2002 and 2003, a single award, styled in the former year as theBest Action Athlete of the Year ESPY Award,for bestaction sportspersonwas presented; in 2004, the award was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as theBest MaleandBest Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY Awards.
  7. ^abcBetween 2007 and 2018, the award for best fighter, styled as theBest Fighter ESPY Award,encompassed bothboxersandmixed martial artsfighters; theBest MMA Fighter ESPY Awardwas established in 2019.
  8. ^abcBetween 1993 and 2004 inclusive, and again since 2009, the award for best professional golfer has been bifurcated by gender.
  9. ^abcBetween 1993 and 2006 inclusive, with the exception of 2005, separate ESPYs for the best male and female track athletes were presented. These were combined into a single award in 2007.
  10. ^abcdefghij"ESPY Awards past winners".ESPN.Retrieved29 January2011.
  11. ^abcdefghij"Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive".ESPN.Retrieved29 January2011.
  12. ^ab"ESPYs Moments: A Classic Look Back".ESPN.13 July 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 27 May 2010.Retrieved23 September2011.
  13. ^abcBoth males and females were eligible for the 2000 and 2001 iterations of the award, which was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as theBest FemaleandBest Male Soccer Player ESPY Awardsin2002;the awards were merged into a single award in 2005 and ended a year later.
  14. ^Amongst those eligible for theBest Outdoor Sportsman ESPY Awardwerebasssport fishermen;such sportspersons are eligible for theBest Angler ESPY Award,which partially replaced the former award and was first presented in 2006.
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