By BETH HARRIS
(AP)
–
4 hours ago

LOS ANGELES — Drew Brees was a large leader during a ESPY Awards, pciking up 4 trophies, together with masculine contestant of a year upon Wednesday night.

The New Orleans Saints quarterback additionally won many appropriate championship performance, NFL player as good as common a group endowment with his Super Bowl hold up colleagues.

“It’s tough to kick a Lakers in LA,” Saints manager Sean Payton said, hoisting a china group trophy.

Brees was selected masculine contestant over Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Jimmie Johnson as good as Albert Pujols. All though James picked up trophies in alternative categories.

“I’d additionally similar to to appreciate a Who Dat nation,” Brees said. “We adore you.”

Gold medal-winning skier Lindsey Vonn won womanlike contestant of a year honors during a uncover hosted by “Saturday Night Live” comic Seth Meyers which aired live upon ESPN from a Nokia Theatre. She kick out Serena Williams as good as basketball players Maya Moore of Connecticut as good as Diana Taurasi of a Phoenix Mercury.

“This is entrance from a fans,” Vonn pronounced backstage. “It’s not basketball, tennis or golf. It’s not as rarely noticed as alternative sports. To win is a lot some-more than you expected.”

Vonn was additionally selected many appropriate womanlike Olympian.

Landon Donovan of a U.S. inhabitant soccer group picked up 3 trophies, for many appropriate impulse in a World Cup diversion opposite Algeria, many appropriate MLS player as good as a opening underneath vigour award. He didn’t stick upon his U.S. teammates backstage.

Phil Mickelson finished Tiger Woods’ five-year run as many appropriate masculine golfer, denying Woods a jot down 23rd career ESPY.

Meyers worked a small jokes about Woods’ sex liaison in to his monologue.

“We all know which giveaway representative is creation a many income this summer — Elin Nordegren,” he said, referring to a golfer’s disloyal wife.

“Everyone, give it up for Tiger Woods, if you haven’t already,” Meyers said, sketch a single of his greatest laughs.

Phil Jackson of a two-time fortifying NBA hold up Los Angeles Lakers was declared many appropriate coach, whilst Bryant won many appropriate NBA player.

James was booed when a montage of masculine contestant nominees was shown. He didn’t attend a 18th annual awards.

Meyers zinged James’ preference to leave Cleveland as a giveaway representative as good as pointer with a Miami Heat.

“Did it unequivocally need to be an hour?” Meyers said. “Somebody time me. Miami. How prolonged did which take? A second.”

Actors Steve Carell as good as Paul Rudd spoofed James’ hour-long preference special upon ESPN in a pre-taped bit which culminated in Carell announcing he had selected to eat cooking during Outback instead of his longtime uncover up Chili’s.

Meyers sealed a uncover by saying, “Stay tuned to ESPN for an encore display of LeBron James’ ‘The Decision.’”

The year’s many appropriate diversion respect went to a U.S.-Canada bullion endowment hockey diversion during a Vancouver Olympics, won by a horde nation.

Minnesota Vikings teammates Brett Favre as good as Greg Lewis common a many appropriate fool around for Favre’s last-second pass to Lewis early final season.

“A lot of discuss about improved pass, improved catch. That was a single heck of a catch,” Favre told a audience. “That was only a small blip upon a radio detector of what kind of deteriorate you had. At 40, you still felt similar to you could do it. You guys done me hold it. It was only a enchanting year.”

Favre hasn’t voiced either he’ll fool around this deteriorate as good as Lewis appeared alone backstage.

“I unequivocally couldn’t get a review upon either he’s entrance behind or not,” Lewis told reporters. “I goal he comes back.”

Denver Nuggets manager George Karl perceived a Jimmy V ESPY for Perseverance. He longed for games as good as practices final deteriorate whilst battling neck as good as twist grip cancer. A thinner Karl appeared well, nonetheless he didn’t come backstage.

The Arthur Ashe Courage endowment went to a Ed Thomas family of Parkersburg, Iowa, for their bravery to forgive. In Jun 2009, Thomas was shot as good as killed in a tall propagandize football team’s locker room by Mark Becker, a single of his former players. Favre presented a endowment to Thomas’ mother January as good as sons Aaron as good as Todd.

“Without the conviction you do not consider there’s any approach you could get by this tragedy,” Todd Thomas said.

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