Jun 25th, 2009 | 2:31 pm |
At the 2009 ESPY’s, the 2009 Arthur Ashe Courage Award, will be given to Nelson Mandela. Also, two special ESPYs will be presented this year: the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, honoring Don Meyer, Northern State University coach who refused to give up on life while battling cancer and surviving a major car crash; and Best Comeback, being given to Dara Torres who, after an eight-year absence and at 40 years old, competed in the 2008 Olympics, winning three silver medals.
Voting begins today and runs through 11:59 p.m. ET on July 11, and The 2009 ESPYs will be televised Sunday, July 19 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN HD.
Complete List of Nominees
BEST MALE ATHLETE
Kobe Bryant, NBA
- Led Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference (65-17) and their first NBA Title since 2002.
- Averaged 33.4 PPG, 7.4 APG, 5.6 RPG as NBA Finals MVP.
- Finished third in NBA in scoring (26.8 PPG).
- Helped lead the USA to a gold medal in the Olympics.
LeBron James, NBA
- Named NBA MVP and led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a single-season record for wins (66).
- Finished second in the NBA in scoring (28.4 PPG).
- Became the first MVP in NBA history to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals in the same season.
- Helped lead the USA to a gold medal in the Olympics.
Jimmie Johnson, Auto Racing
- Joined Cale Yarborough as the second driver in the history of the sport to win three consecutive series titles.
- Finished with a series-high six pole positions during 2008 season.
- Won the title by 69 points over Carl Edwards.
Michael Phelps, Swimming
- Became the first athlete to win eight gold medals in one Olympics.
- Set seven world records on his way to winning eight gold medals.
- Swam in 17 races over the course of nine days at the 2008 Olympics (including preliminaries).
Natalie Coughlin, Swimming
- Became the first woman to win six medals at a single Olympics.
- Became the first woman to defend her title in the 100-meter backstroke by winning gold.
Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
- Joined Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Carly Patterson (2004) as the third American woman to win the individual all-around championship.
- Edged US teammate Shawn Johnson by six-tenths of a point to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
- Won three silver medals and one bronze medal in addition to her gold at the 2008 Olympics.
Maya Moore, NCAA Basketball
- Averaged 19.3 PPG and 8.9 RPG while shooting 52.1 percent from the field.
- Set the Connecticut single-season scoring mark as the AP Player of the Year.
- Led the Huskies to a 39-0 record and an NCAA championship.
Candace Parker, WNBA
- Named WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year for 2008 season.
- Led WNBA in rebounding (9.5 RPG) and finished fifth in scoring (18.5 PPG).
Serena Williams, Tennis
- Won her 10th career Grand Slam at the 2009 Australian Open.
- Failed to drop a set on her way to her to the 2008 US Open singles title.
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
- Earned NBA Finals MVP.
- Averaged 33.4 PPG, 7.4 APG, 5.6 RPG in the NBA Finals.
- Led Lakers to franchise’s 15th NBA championship.
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
- Became first player to win LCS and World Series MVP in the same season since 1997.
- Had a 4-0 record in the 2008 MLB Postseason.
- Had a 1.80 ERA with 30 strikeouts and nine walks during 2008 postseason.
Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
- Became the first athlete to win eight gold medals in one Olympics.
- Set seven world records on his way to winning eight gold medals.
- Swam in 17 races over the course of nine days at the 2008 Olympics (including preliminaries).
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, Olympic Beach Volleyball
- Went undefeated without losing a set in winning the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
- Won their 108th consecutive match with their gold medal victory.
Shawn Johnson, Olympic Gymnastics
- Won one gold and three silver medals at the 2008 Olympics.
- Joined Shannon Miller (1996) as the second U.S. gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal on balance beam.
- Won the Sullivan Award as top amateur athlete.
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
- Became the first player in Rays’ history to win the AL Rookie of the Year.
- Led all major league rookies in HR (27) in 2008.
- Was second among major league rookies in RBI (85).
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
- NBA Rookie of the Year.
- Averaged 16.8 PPG and 6.3 APG.
- Joined Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson and Penny Hardaway as one of four rookies in NBA history to average at least 16 PPG and 6 APG while shooting at least 45% from the field.
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
- Completed over 61 percent of his passes for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns.
- Led Falcons to an 11-5 regular-season record, an improvement of seven games.
BEST RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE
Usain Bolt, Olympic Sprinter
- Set a world record time of 9.69 in the 100-meters.
- Set the first world record at the 100-meters at the Olympics since 1996.
- Won and set the world record in the 200-meters which was previously held by US Sprinter, Michael Johnson.
- His performances led to three world records at the 2008 Olympics (two individual, one relay).
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
- Broke the NFL postseason record for receptions (30) and receiving yards (546), previously held by Jerry Rice.
- Had four catches of 40+ yards during the playoffs.
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
- Won his 10th NBA title as a head coach, surpassing Red Auerbach for the most all-time.
- Became the first head coach to win 10 championships in one of the four major American pro sports leagues.
Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimmer
- Became the first athlete to win eight gold medals in one Olympics.
- Set seven world records on his way to winning eight gold medals.
- Swam in 17 races over the course of nine days at the 2008 Olympics (including preliminaries).
Mine That Bird wins the Kentucky Derby
- The 50-1 long shot won the Kentucky Derby.
- Scored a 6¾-length victory at Churchill Downs, the second-biggest stunner in Derby history.
- The margin was the largest since Assault won by eight lengths in 1946.
Oregon State stuns then #1 USC
- Mike Riley’s team won 27-21 in Corvallis, Oregon.
- The Beavers raced out to a 21-0 halftime lead to shock the Trojans.
- Oregon State freshman Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns in the upset.
Tampa Bay Rays win the American League Championship Series
- Tampa Bay did not have a winning season prior to 2008.
- Beat out the Red Sox and Yankees en route to winning the AL East Division.
- Beat the Boston Red Sox in Game Seven of the ALCS.
US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals
- Lost the first two games of the 2009 Confederations Cup to Brazil and Italy by a combined margin of 6-1.
- Beat Egypt and went through as the runner-up of Group B on a tie-breaker to face Group A winner, Spain who was undefeated in the tournament leading up to the match.
- Defeated Spain, the top ranked team in the world, by a score of 2-0 to advance to the Final.
Federer vs. Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon Final
- #2 Rafael Nadal defeated #1 Roger Federer (6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7) in the five-set thriller.
- The match featured two tie-breaks, two rain delays and lasted four hours and 48 minutes.
- Roger Federer’s streak of five straight Wimbledon wins was halted by Rafael Nadal in the longest Wimbeldon final in history.
- Became the third player in the Open era to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.
Steelers vs. Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
- Santonio Holmes’ catch with 35 seconds left gave the Steelers their record sixth Super Bowl title.
- The Steelers’ last minute drive clinched the 27-23 victory over the Cardinals.
- Arizona scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter before the Steelers’ final drive clinched the Lombardi Trophy.
Syracuse vs. Connecticut in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinals
- After six overtimes, Syracuse defeated UCONN 127-117.
- The game lasted almost 3 1/2 hours in real time and the teams combined for 209 shots from the floor.
- It was the longest game ever played in Big East Tournament history and the 2nd longest game in Division I history.
- Prior to the 6th OT, Syracuse never led in overtime.
Florida’s Tim Tebow’s speech
- Tebow took responsibility and ownership of his team during a press conference after Florida’s loss to Mississippi.
- The Florida Gators went on to win the BCS National Championship with a margin of victory of 33.8 PPG over their final 10 games.
Helio Castroneves wins the Indy 500
- Won the 93rd Indianapolis 500 after being found innocent on tax-evasion charges.
- Became just the ninth driver to win at least three Indianapolis 500’s and the first since 1988.
- Led the final 59 laps of the race.
US swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay
- Michael Phelps’ quest for eight gold medals was in danger of disappearing in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.
- Veteran Jason Lezak hit the water a half-second after Alain Bernard of France, the world-record holder in the 100-meter freestyle at the time.
- Lezak edged Bernard at the finish to give the Americans the gold.
Ovechkin vs. Rangers
- Washington Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin scored a spectacular goal vs. Rangers in game five of Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
Pacquiao KO’s Hatton
- Manny Pacquiao cemented his claim as the best pound-for-pound boxer.
- Pacquaio knocked Hatton down two times in the first round before knocking him out with a vicious left hand late in the second round.
Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD
- Holmes’ brilliant catch in the corner of the end zone with 35 seconds gave the Steelers a 27-23 victory and a record, sixth Super Bowl title.
Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree makes game-winning catch vs. Texas
- The 28-yard touchdown pass with :01 remaining sealed the upset victory for Texas Tech as they rallied late to beat Texas, 39-33.
Connecticut Women’s Basketball
- Had a 39-0 record on their way to a National championship.
- Became the first team in men’s or women’s Division I to win every game by double digits.
- Became the fifth team in NCAA women’s basketball history to finish the season undefeated.
Los Angeles Lakers
- Won 15th NBA championship by beating Orlando Magic, 4-1 in NBA Finals.
- Posted the best record in the Western Conference (65-17) during the regular season.
- Won the NBA title for the first time since 2002.
North Carolina Men’s Basketball
- Became the fifth team in NCAA history to win all their tournament games by double digits en route to a national title.
- Led the nation in scoring margin (+17.8 PPG) on their way to a 34-4 record.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Earned their first World Series title since 1980 and second in team history.
- Their 28-year span between World Series titles is tied for the fourth-longest in MLB history.
- Finished the postseason with a 7-0 record at home.
- Won the NL with a record of 92-70.
Pittsburgh Penguins
- After starting the season 27-25-5, the team changed coached, turned things around and made the playoffs.
- Won their first Stanley Cup since 1992 by defeating the Detroit Red Wings in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Won their record-breaking sixth Super Bowl.
- Went 12-4 during regular season despite playing the toughest schedule in the NFL.
BEST INTERNATIONAL MALE ATHLETE
Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Sprinter)
- Set an Olympic and world record time of 9.69 in the 100-meters.
- Won and set the world record in the 200-meters with a time of 19.30 at the 2008 Olympics.
- Won gold and set a world record along with his teammates in the 4×100 relay with a time of 37.10 seconds.
- Became the first man to win all three events at a single Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984.
- Became the first man in history to set world records in all three events at a single Olympics.
Pau Gasol (Spain, Basketball)
- Helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA championship.
- Averaged 18.3 PPG and 10.8 RPG in 2009 NBA Playoffs.
- Was a member of Spain’s silver medal-winning basketball team at 2008 Olympics.
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Soccer)
- Led Barcelona to obtain the Champions League 2009, the Copa del Rey and the La Liga title.
- Won the Gold Medal with Argentina national team at the 2008 Olympics.
- Finished as the runner-up to Cristiano Ronaldo for the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year.
Rafael Nadal (Spain, Tennis)
- Became the #1 ranked tennis player in 2008 and won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
- Became first player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon titles in same year.
- Led ATP circuit with eight titles in ten finals, 82 match wins, most matches played (93) and a 17-6 mark against Top 10 opponents.
- Helped Spain to Davis Cup title (vs. Argentina) by winning all three of his matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Soccer)
- 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year.
- Led Manchester United to a Premier League championship.
- Led Manchester United to their second consecutive UCL Final appearance.
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEMALE ATHLETE
Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia, Pole Vault)
- Most dominant female pole vaulter in history.
- Set an amazing 26 indoor and outdoor world records.
- Currently holds the title of Olympic and World Champion.
Marta (Brazil, Soccer)
- Led Brazil to a Silver medal at the 2008 Olympics.
- Helped the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPS) to a strong start as a member of the Los Angeles Sol.
Lorena Ochoa (México, Golf)
- Remained the #1 ranked golfer in the world.
- Added two more majors to her already storied career.
- Won seven tournaments during the 2008 LPGA season.
Stephanie Rice (Australia, swimming)
- Won three gold medals at 2008 Olympics.
- Won in the gold in the 200 meter individual medley, the 400 meter individual medley and 4×200 meter free relay.
Dinara Safina (Russia, Tennis)
- Was ranked World #1 by the Women’s Tennis Association.
- Won the silver medal in women’s singles at the 2008 Olympics.
- Runner-up in the 2009 French Open.
- Won four tournaments in 2008.
UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICA MOMENT
Jake Bernhardt, Lacrosse
- Bernhardt was hit by an opposing player, but still had the strength to score.
- Scored two goals in the game.
- Was named the 2008 Central Florida Player of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel.
Tara Glover, Softball
- Glover made a great stab on a hard hit line drive.
- Was recently profiled on the cover of ESPN Rise.
David Renfroe, Baseball
- Renfroe hit the lone homerun of the game to left field.
- He struck out five batters in two innings and was named MVP for Team One.
Hannah Werth, Volleyball
- Werth pounded the ball into the ground for her third straight kill in the match.
- Was named MVP of the match with five kills and eight digs.
Andre Debose and Russell Shepard, Football
- Shepard threw a deep pass to Debose who split the defenders for a 92 yard TD.
- Debose announced he would attend Florida following the game.
- Shepard announced previously that he would be attending LSU.
The Express: The Ernie Davis Story
- Based on the life of Syracuse star running back Ernie Davis, who became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.
- Stars Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown.
Sugar
- The story of a Dominican pitcher who struggles to make it to the big leagues and pulls himself and his family out of poverty.
- Stars Algenis Perez Soto and Rayniel Rufino.
The Wrestler
- A drama centered on a fictional character, retired professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson.
- Stars Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei.
Geno Auriemma, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
- Earned his sixth national championship and led Connecticut to a perfect 39-0 record.
- His team won every game by double figures.
Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Led the Penguins to first Stanley Cup since 1992.
- Replaced Michel Therrien as coach when Pittsburgh started with a 27-25-5 record, off the playoff pace.
- Led team to 18-3-4 mark to end regular season and then through the playoffs to win the Stanley Cup.
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
- Won his 10th NBA title as a head coach, surpassing Red Auerbach for the most all-time.
- Became the first head coach to win 10 championships in one of the four major American pro sports leagues.
Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays
- Led Tampa Bay to its first winning season in franchise history.
- Tampa Bay became the second franchise in major league history to finish first immediately following a streak of 10 or more consecutive losing seasons.
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Led Steelers to Super Bowl championship.
- His Steelers finished the 2008 regular season with a 12-4 record.
- Became the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl.
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
- Had a total of 96 receptions, 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns during 2008 regular season.
- Broke postseason record for receptions (30) and receiving yards (546), previously held by Jerry Rice.
- Had four catches of 40+ yards during the playoffs.
James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
- Recorded 16 sacks during the regular season.
- Returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
- Earned MVP award for the third time, tying Brett Favre for the most.
- Posted his NFL-record ninth straight season of 4,000+ passing yards.
- Became the first player with 11 straight seasons of 25+ touchdown passes.
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
- Led NFL in rushing yards with 1,760.
- Averaged 4.8 yards-per-carry.
- Became the fifth player in NFL history to total over 3,000 rushing yards over his first two seasons.
Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
- Led Cardinals to the NFC championship.
- Threw for 4,583 yards during the regular season, which was second in the NFL.
- Had the most postseason passing yards (1,147).
Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays
- Became the first pitcher to reach 10 wins during the 2009 season.
- Posted a 20-11 record with a 2.78 ERA during the 2008 season.
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
- Became the second player in the last 47 years to lead the majors in home runs and RBI and play for a World Series champion in the same year (Roger Maris is the other).
- Led the league with 48 home runs and 146 RBI during the 2008 season.
Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
- Earned the AL MVP Award.
- Became the first AL 2nd baseman to win the award since Nellie Fox in 1959.
- Became only the sixth player to win the MVP Award in his second season.
Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
- Was second in NL in batting (.357) and tied for fourth in NL in home runs (37).
- Led the MLB in slugging pct. (.653) and total bases (342).
- Named NL MVP.
Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels/New York Mets
- Had a total of 62 saves during the 2008 season.
- Broke Bobby Thigpen’s single-season record for saves (57) which was set in 1990.
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Finished second in regular season assists (70).
- Finished third in scoring (103 points).
- Helped lead the Penguins to the Stanley Cup.
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
- Finished the season with the third best plus/minus in the NHL (+34).
- Finished fourth in regular-season in points (97).
- Won the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward.
- Won the Lady Byng as the most sportsmanlike player.
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Led the NHL in scoring (113 points) and assists (78) and posted a +17 plus/minus.
- Was named the Conn Smythe trophy winner as the Stanley Cup playoffs MVP.
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
- Led NHL in goals during regular season (56) and was the only player during 2008-09 season to score 50 goals.
- Finished second in scoring (110 points) and scored 10 game-winning goals during the regular season.
- Won the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP.
Helio Castroneves
- Won the 93rd Indianapolis 500 after being found innocent on tax-evasion charges.
- Won the third Indy 500 of his career.
Scott Dixon
- Won 2008 IRL championship, his second title.
- Equaled the single-season mark for IRL wins in 2008 with six.
Lewis Hamilton
- Became Formula One’s youngest champion.
- Clinched the Formula One Championship after a dramatic finish in the final event of the season (Brazil Grand Prix).
Jimmie Johnson
- Joined Cale Yarborough as the second driver in the history of the sport to win three consecutive series titles.
- Finished with a series-high six pole positions during 2008 season.
- Won the title by 69 points over Carl Edwards.
Tony Schumacher
- Won his fifth consecutive NHRA crown.
- Set a Top Fuel record of 15 victories in one season.
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
- Led Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference (65-17) and their first NBA Title since 2002.
- Averaged 33.4 PPG, 7.4 APG, 5.6 RPG as NBA Finals MVP.
- Finished third in NBA in scoring (26.8 PPG).
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
- Was one of two NBA players to average at least 20 PPG and 10 RPG (Toronto’s Chris Bosh was the other).
- Led NBA in rebounding (13.8 RPG) and blocks (2.9 BPG).
- Helped Magic reach the NBA finals.
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Led Cavaliers to NBA-best 66-16 record, including 39-2 at home.
- Finished second in the NBA in scoring (28.4 PPG).
- Became the only player in NBA history to average 38+ PTS, 8+ RPG and 8+ APG in a playoff series.
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
- Led the NBA in scoring (30.2 PPG).
- Averaged 7.5 APG.
- Finished second in steals and sixth in minutes played.
Deanna Nolan, Detroit Shock
- Averaged 15.8 PPG.
- Helped the Shock win the WNBA championship.
Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
- Named WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year.
- Led WNBA in rebounding (9.5 RPG) and finished fifth in scoring (18.5 PPG).
- Was the only WNBA player to average more than nine rebounds per game.
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
- Led WNBA in scoring (24.1 PPG).
- Posted second-best performance in WNBA history for both single-season scoring average and total points.
- Scored 30 or more points 10 times, including a season-high 37 at Seattle.
Lindsay Whalen, Connecticut Sun
- Finished second in WNBA MVP voting.
- Led the WNBA in assists (5.4 APG).
- Became just the second player in league history to average 10+ PPG, 5+ RPG and 5+ APG for an entire season.
Lyoto Machida, MMA
- Knocked out Rashad Evans to capture light-heavyweight championship at UFC 98.
- The match-up of Machida and Evans was a battle of unbeatens.
Shane Mosley, Boxing
- Won WBA welterweight title by beating Antonio Margarito.
- Scored a ninth-round TKO to earn another championship (he has won in three separate weight classes).
Manny Pacquiao, Boxing
- Dominated over eight rounds against Oscar De La Hoya before the fight was stopped in a welterweight bout.
- Followed the De La Hoya fight with two-round demolition of Ricky Hatton.
- Joined Oscar De La Hoya as the second boxer all-time to win titles in six different weight divisions.
Anderson Silva, MMA
- Defeated Patrick Cote and Thales Leites in middleweight title defenses.
- Also defeated James Irwin.
Bryan Clay, Track and Field
- Won the Decathlon at the 2008 Olympics.
- Led from the start (when he had the best time in the 100m) to the finish.
LaShawn Merritt, Track and Field
- Won the gold medal in 400 meters at the 2008 Olympics.
- Won the gold medal as a part of the 4 X 400-meter relay at the 2008 Olympics.
Michael Phelps, Swimming
- Became the first athlete to win eight gold medals in one Olympics.
- Set seven world records on his way to winning eight gold medals.
- Swam in 17 races over the course of nine days at the 2008 Olympics (including preliminaries).
Angelo Taylor, Track and Field
- Won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympics.
- Won gold in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4 X 400-meter relay.
- Was part of the first US sweep (gold, silver, bronze) in 400-meter hurdles since 1960.
Natalie Coughlin, Swimming
- Became the first woman to win six medals at a single Olympics.
- Became the first woman to defend her title in the 100-meter backstroke by winning gold.
Dawn Harper, Track and Field
- Won gold medal in 100-meter hurdles at the 2008 Olympics.
Shawn Johnson, Gymnastics
- Won one gold and three silver medals at the 2008 Olympics.
- Joined Shannon Miller (1996) as the second U.S. gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal on balance beam.
- Won the Sullivan Award as top amateur athlete.
Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
- Joined Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Carly Patterson (2004) as the third American woman to win the individual all-around championship.
- Edged US teammate Shawn Johnson by six-tenths of a point to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
- Won three silver medals and one bronze medal in addition to her gold at the 2008 Olympics.
Padraig Harrington
- Became only the fourth player to win the British Open and PGA in the same year (2008).
- Made three clutch putts in the final three holes to win the PGA Championship.
- Became the first European to win the PGA Championship since Tommy Armour in 1930.
- Became the fifth golfer in the last 50 years to win back-to-back British Open championships.
Phil Mickelson
- Earned over $5 million on PGA Tour in 2008.
- Won two tournaments during 2008 PGA season.
Tiger Woods
- Came back from major knee surgery to win Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament in 2009.
Paula Creamer
- Won four LPGA tournaments during the 2008 season.
- Finished in the top 10 in 15 of her 26 LPGA appearances.
Lorena Ochoa
- Won seven tournaments during the 2008 LPGA season.
- Finished in the top ten in 17 of 22 events she played in.
- Made over $2.7 million in prize earnings.
- Won Rolex Player of the Year for third straight time.
Suzann Pettersen
- Finished second on the LPGA money-winning list in 2008.
- Recorded 10 top ten finishes.
- Made the cut in all 24 LPGA events she participated in.
Roger Federer
- Became the sixth male player to complete career Grand Slam.
- Tied Pete Sampras’ record for Grand Slam singles titles with his 14th when he won the 2009 French Open.
- Won his fifth straight US Open title, the longest streak since Bill Tilden won six in a row from 1920-25.
Rafael Nadal
- Won 2008 Olympic gold medal.
- Finished the 2008 season as the #1 ranked player in the world.
- Posted an 82-11 record in 2008 and won eight ATP tour titles.
- Won Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
Svetlana Kuznetsova
- Won the 2009 French Open singles championship.
- Beat the top two seeds (Dinara Safina and Serena Williams) en route to winning that title.
Dinara Safina
- Climbed to the #1 world ranking in early 2009.
- Reached finals of the 2009 French Open.
- Won four tournaments in 2008.
Serena Williams
- Won her third US Open championship (2008) without losing a set in her seven match wins.
- Defeated three of the top seven seeds at the US Open (Venus Williams, Dinara Safina, Jelena Jankovic).
- Won the 2009 Australian Open women’s singles and doubles championships.
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma Football
- Became the second sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy.
- Completed 68 percent of his passes for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns.
Matt Gilroy, Boston University Hockey
- Won the Hobey Baker Award as top college hockey player.
- Helped lead the Terriers to a national championship.
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma Basketball
- Averaged 22.7 PPG and led the nation with 14.4 RPG.
- Had 30 double-doubles during 2008-09 season.
Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State Baseball
- Led Division I in strikeouts (180), ERA (1.24) and strikeouts per nine innings (15.88) during the 2009 regular season.
- Had a perfect 13-0 record during the regular season.
- Was th #1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft.
Tim Tebow, Florida Football
- Led the Gators to national championship.
- Set a school-record for 230 passing attempts without an interception.
- Was 18-of-30 for 231 yards and two touchdowns in the Gators’ 24-14 win over top-ranked Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship Game.
Kerri Hanks, Notre Dame Women’s Soccer
- Joined Mia Hamm, Cindy Parlow and Christine Sinclair as the fourth two-time Hermann Award winner.
- Finished the 2008 season ranked fifth in the nation in goals (20), tied for third in assists (15) and tied for second in points (55).
- Became the only Division I player to rank in the top five nationally in goals and assists.
Courtney Kupets, Georgia Gymnastics
- Helped Georgia earn its fifth consecutive national title.
- Won on the uneven bars and the balance beam while tying for first in floor exercise during NCAA team championships.
- Became the all-time NCAA leader with nine individual championships.
Danielle Lawrie, Washington Softball
- Led Washington to its first national softball championship title.
- Led the nation in strikeouts (521) and wins (42).
- Finished third in shutouts (21) and sixth in ERA (0.97).
- Was named 2009 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year.
Maya Moore, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
- Averaged 19.3 PPG and 8.9 RPG while shooting 52.1 percent from the field.
- Set the Connecticut single-season scoring mark.
- Led the Huskies to a 39-0 record and an NCAA championship.
Dana Vollmer, California Swimming
- Won the 100 and 200 freestyle titles at NCAA swimming championships.
- Was part of two winning relays that helped California win its first NCAA Division I swimming championship.
BEST MALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE
Ryan Sheckler, Skateboarding
- Won 2008 X Games Skateboard Street gold.
- Starred in his own MTV show and still just 19 years old.
Kelly Slater
- Won his ninth ASP Championship in 2008.
- Placed in seven events on his way to the Championship.
James Stewart, Motocross
- Captured the 2008 AMA Motocross points title by compiling just the second perfect season in AMA history.
- Became the 2009 AMA Supercross champ.
Shaun White, Snowboarding/Skateboarding
- Won gold medals in the SuperPipe and Slopestyle at the 2009 Winter X Games.
- Won the bronze medal in Skateboard Vert at the 2008 X Games.
- Became the overall 2009 Dew Tour champ in both Superpipe and Slopestyle.
BEST FEMALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE
Torah Bright
- Won Winter X Snowboarding Superpipe gold.
- Became the Burton Global Open Champion in 2008.
Sarah Burke
- Earned her third straight Winter X Skiing SuperPipe gold in 2009.
Ashley Fiolek
- Became the 2008 AMA Women’s Motocross champ as a 17-year-old in her first full season on the series.
Maya Gabeira
- Won the 2009 Billabong XXL Women’s Overall Performance Award for the third straight year.
Calvin Borel
- Rode 50-1 longshot Mine That Bird to victory at the Kentucky Derby.
- Rode Rachel Alexandra to a win at The Preakness.
Garrett Gomez
- Rode winners in the Filly and Mare Sprint and the BC Sprint at the 2008 Breeders’ Cup.
- Rode 214 winners and topped $23 million in earnings.
Mike Smith
- Rode Zenyatta, the winner of Ladies’ Classic in Breeders’ Cup.
- Rode Mine That Bird to second place finish at The Preakness.
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY
Jessica Long, Swimming
- Won gold in the 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 400 freestyle at the 2008 Paralympics.
Asya Miller, Goalball
- Had a standout performance as a goalball star on gold medal-winning team at the 2008 Paralympics.
Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, Sailing
- Was Nick Scandone’s sailing partner and became the first female to win a Paralympic gold in sailing.
Erin Popovich, Swimming
- Won four gold medals and two silver medals at the 2008 Paralympics.
- Won gold in 400 freestyle, the 100 backstroke, 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle.
BEST MALE ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY
Jeremy Campbell, Track and Field
- Won the gold medal and set the world record in the pentathlon at the 2008 Paralympics.
Will Groulx, Wheelchair Rugby
- Led the team in scoring as they went undefeated in the 2008 Paralympics to win the gold medal.
Jason Lester, Ironman
- Became the first physically-challenged Ironman athlete to finish the Ultraman Hawaii World Championship with a partially paralyzed right arm.
- The event included a 6.2 mile swim and 90-mile ride on day one, a 171-mile ride on day two and a double marathon on day three.
- Finished in 24th place overall.
Oscar Pistorius, Track and Field
- Won three gold medals at the 2008 Paralympics (100, 200 and 400 meter races).
Chris Barnes
- Led PBA Tour in points.
- Advanced to match play in 18 of the 21 tournaments he competed in.
Norm Duke
- Led PBA Tour in earnings ($199,130).
- Ranked fourth in the PBA Tour points race.
Wes Malott
- Led PBA Tour in scoring average (222.98) and finished fifth in earnings ($174,680).
- Led the PBA in championship round appearances (9).
Juan Pablo Angel, New York Red Bulls
- Scored 14 goals during the regular season.
- Led the New York Red Bulls to their first MLS Cup appearance.
Jon Busch, Chicago Fire
- Posted a 1.10 goals-against average and a league-high 10 shutouts.
- Led the Chicago Fire to the playoffs in his first full season as a starter.
- Played every minute of all 30 regular-season games.
Kenny Cooper, FC Dallas
- Scored 18 goals in 30 games during the 2008 regular season
Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy
- Scored 20 goals and added nine assists in 25 games during the 2008 regular season.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus Crew
- Was named MLS regular-season MVP and playoff MVP.
- Had seven goals and 19 assists during regular season.
- Led Columbus to best regular-season record (17-7-6).
