Not sure if this was already posted:
Armstrong, Sorenstam win athlete of year honors at ESPY Awards
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES — Cyclist Lance Armstrong won male athlete of the year for
the third consecutive time, and golfer Annika Sorenstam earned female
athlete honors Wednesday night at the 13th annual ESPY Awards.
"I do set some lofty goals and I'm very happy with what I've done," said
Sorenstam, who has won two of the year's first three LPGA majors.
Tiger Woods returned to his winning ways after being shut out last year
for the first time since 1999. He won best golfer, his record 16th honor
at the made-for-TV awards.
Sorenstam's victory gave her seven career ESPYs, breaking a tie with
Barry Bonds for second on the all-time list. She beat out former
Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin and
LSU basketball star Seimone Augustus.
"I had my fingers crossed. I knew it was going to be tough," said
Sorenstam, dressed in a V-neck long black dress. "Good looks does not
hurt the sport."
Actor Matthew Perry, once a nationally ranked Canadian junior tennis
player, hosted the show from the Kodak Theatre.
Armstrong is currently in France attempting to win a record seventh
consecutive Tour de France before retiring. He won over Indianapolis
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, golfer Vijay Singh, Olympic swimmer
Michael Phelps and Olympic skier Bode Miller.
Armstrong, pitcher Curt Schilling and Manning were the only double
winners among 36 categories.
Armstrong also received the professional grade play award.
Schilling won championship performance honors for his 3-1 record in
postseason play on an injured ankle that later required surgery, and
shared best team honors with his World Series champion Boston Red Sox
teammates.
Schilling and Red Sox president Larry Lucchino accepted the team award,
with Schilling intently watching a large screen on stage showing Boston
fans celebrating Wednesday night at Fenway Park.
Lucchino saluted the fans, saying, "We owe them a great deal and we are
very proud and we want to say thank you for their enduring loyalty."
The Red Sox defeated the New England Patriots and three other teams in
their category.
Manning won as the best NFL player and record-breaking performance for
throwing 49 touchdown passes last season.
Bill Belichick of the Patriots was chosen best coach-manager.
Two athletes who recently retired were honored. Mia Hamm was named best
soccer player, and Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers won best moment
for his final NBA game.
Fans voting on the Internet chose Game 5 of the American League
championship series between the Red Sox and New York Yankees as best game.
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award, announced earlier, went to disabled
athletes Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah and Jim MacLaren.
The awards will air Sunday night on ESPN.