Tomlinson Dominates In Off-Season, Winning 4 ESPY Awards
It was all about Black man LaDainian Tomlinson in Los Angeles last night, as the Waco, Texas native won big at the ESPY Awards, including a trophy for male athlete of the year for his record-setting season with the San Diego Chargers.
Tomlinson defeated LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Wimbledon champion Roger Federer and Tiger Woods for athlete of the year.
James and comedian Jimmy Kimmel co-hosted the 15th annual show honoring the year's best sports moments and athletes at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
Not that it matters, but the actual show airs this Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
Tomlinson also won best NFL player, record-breaking performance, and the Like Nothing Else award. The NFL MVP scored 31 touchdowns and 186 points, both league records, and rushed for 1,875 yards.
James won best NBA player; Federer earned his third straight male tennis player trophy; Manning won championship performance for his Super Bowl triumph; and Woods was chosen best golfer for the third year in a row, his record 18th ESPY.
With it now being a given that Lebron is the heir to NBA legend Michael Jordan's incredible reign, James was actually brought out on stage on a throne. Kimmel, a mere plebian, even kissed his royal badness' hand in a sign of deference to the brother before James later busted a move in dark shades and a Gumby wig to Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative." (WATCH IT HERE)
"Bobby Brown just checked back into rehab as a result of that performance," Kimmel joked.Manning, who hosted "Saturday Night Live" last season, gave James a good review.
"It's hard to do," he said. "The dancing was probably the highlight."
James clearly enjoyed playing comic foil to Kimmel, who called the basketball superstar's singing "terrible."
"This is what I do off the court—have fun, tell jokes, I'm very outgoing," James said backstage. "This was perfect for me, especially when you got a guy like Jimmy working beside you."
The Colts were named best team, while Tony Dungy, the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, captured the best coach-manager category.Arizona softball star Taryne Mowatt won female athlete of the year and female college athlete honors. She pitched every inning, including eight complete games and threw more than 1,000 pitches in six days, to lead the Wildcats to the NCAA championship.
She defeated Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie, LPGA golfer Lorena Ochoa and Tennessee basketball star Candace Parker for athlete of the year.
The best moment award went to the New Orleans Saints, who returned to the Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina and defeated the Atlanta Falcons on "Monday Night Football."
The best finish category was added this year. The Los Angeles Dodgers won for a victory over the San Diego Padres in which they hit four consecutive homers to force extra innings and then won on a two-run homer by Nomar Garciaparra.
North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow won the inaugural Jimmy V ESPY for Perseverance. She was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer while coaching the Wolfpack during this year's NCAA tournament.
Actor Samuel L. Jackson, looking like Moses, presented the Arthur Ashe Courage award went to Trevor Ringland and Dave Cullen from Northern Ireland.
They founded PeacePlayers to bring Protestant and Catholic children together to play basketball.
Winners in all but the Jimmy V and Arthur Ashe categories were determined by online fan voting. ESPN said a record 12.5 million votes were cast.
DEVIN HESTER WINS BIG! CHECK HIM OUT!
Original story by BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer