ESPYs: The Mavs, Brian Wilson’s Beard, and Beliebers Squashed into one Night [VIDEO]
Written by Christina Pham, Thursday July 14 2011
Athletes, celebs, and of course, Justin Bieber swarmed the red carpet as ESPN’s 19th Annual ESPY Awards unraveled live at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles Wednesday evening, with Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live returning for his second consecutive year as the show’s host.
The evening consisted of twists and turns along with the occasional curveball. From millions of viewers watching the show from inside Brian Wilson’s beard, to how his “beard [was] wearing a fake beard,” Meyers chose the San Francisco Giants relief pitcher, his Batman-like attire, along with his beard as the main subject of mockery for the night.
Other holes he dug at included the NBA lockout, the Los Angeles Dodgers bankruptcy, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, and Lebron James and the Miami Heat. Even the famous Vancouver Kissing Couple made a smooching appearance.
By the end of the night, Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks racked up three ESPYs for Best NBA Player, Male Athlete, and Team, although a backstage performance of “We Are the Champions” aside teammates and team owner, Mark Cuban, rivals the significance of the evening’s triple-win.
Skier Lindsey Vonn, who took home her second ESPY for Best Female Athlete, surprised the audience with her request for a Facebook profile picture with teen pop sensation, Justin Bieber, which she did get.
“He’s so cute and he’s just the best. C’mon, Bieber Fever! I have it,” she admitted.
On a more serious note, the network presented Dewey Radar Bozella with this year’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
“I am overjoyed with joy. ESPN has honored me with [this] award that many people just don’t get. Being number 19 on the list, I’m lost for words to be honest, but I truly am honored. I’m enjoying the moment and I feel good,” he said.
Bozella was suspected of killing a 92-year-old woman in 1977. He was wrongly charged of that murder in 1983 and sentenced to 26 years in Sing Sing for a crime he did not commit. After his release in 2009, Bozella set out to make justice his number one priority.
He found peace and spent his free time at a local gym until it was shut down, but now he has hopes opening his own gym to keep teens off the streets.
Anthony Robles, on the other hand, was the winner Best Male Athlete with a Disability and also the recipient for the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. Robles, former NCAA Wrestling Champion at Arizona State, was born with one leg, but that did not hinder him from becoming a three-time All-American, winning the 2011 125-pound title, and being selected as the 2011 Pac-10 Championships and NCAA Wrestling Championship Outstanding Wrestler Honoree.
Other winners from the evening included:
- Blake Griffin, Best Breakthrough Athlete
- Tim Thomas, Best NHL Player
- Jimmer Fredette, Best College Athlete
- Philadelphia Eagles, Best Game
- VCU, Best Upset
- Rick Carlisle, Best Coach/Manager
- Aaron Rodgers, Best NFL Player
- Roy Halladay, Best MLB Player and Moment
- Jimmie Johnson, Best Driver
- Diana Taurasi, Best WNBA Player
- Manny Pacquiao, Best Fighter
- Rory McIlroy, Best Male Golfer and Record-Breaking Performance
- Christie Kerr, Best Female Golfer
- Rafael Nadal, Best Male Tennis Player
- Serena Williams, Best Female Tennis Player
- Maya Moore, Best Female College Athlete
- Shaun White, Best Male Action Sport Athlete
- Stephanie Gilmore, Best Female Action Sport Athlete
- John Velasquez, Best Jockey
- Mallory Weggemann, Best Female Athlete with a Disability
- Jason Belmonte, Best Bowler
- Landon Donovan, Best MLS Player
- Tyson Gay, Best Track and Field Athlete
- Mark Herzlich, Best Comeback
- The Fighter, Best Sports Movie
- Arian Foster, Castrol EDGE NFL Strongest Performance
- Stanford women’s and Florida men’s athletics, Capital One Cup
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