2009 ESPY Awards and Predictions

The ESPY Awards, may not be on the same equal scale as the Oscars or the Emmys, but for one night the sports world comes together in honoring the best of the year. The 2009 ESPY's will be held on Sunday, July 19th and be hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, who has hosted the show for a record four times, (1999, 2001, 2002, and 2009). Dennis Miller and Jamie Foxx are the only two hosts to host the show more than once.

Here now are the list of nominees in several key categories and who I think should take home the ESPY:

2009 ESPY Award Nominees

Best Male Athlete

Kobe Bryant NBA

LeBron James NBA

Jimmie Johnson Auto Racing

Michael Phelps Swimming

Prediction: Even though LeBron James had a monster year for the Cavaliers last year, how can you ignore eight gold medals in the Olympics, this award is clearly Michael Phelp's to win.

Best Female Athlete

Natalie Coughlin Swimming

Nastia Liukin Gymnastics

Maya Moore NCAA Basketball

Candace Parker WNBA

Serena Williams Tennis

Prediction: I think this award can go between Candace Parker or Serena Williams. but I predict Serena will win this ESPY.

Best Moment

Florida's Tim Tebow's speech

Helio Castroneves wins the Indy 500

US swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay

Prediction: The swim team moment was a nailbiter, but Tebow's speech reminiscent to the classic Joe Namath "We Will Win" speech is the clear winner.

Best Team

Connecticut Women's Basketball

Los Angeles Lakers

North Carolina Men's Basketball

Philadelphia Phillies

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Steelers

Prediction: Even though the Patriots were out of the running after Brady's injury, the Steelers were steadfast to step out from the packed AFC to and win quite possibly one of the greatest Super Bowls of all-time. My prediction is the Steelers, but I wouldn't be surprised if the UCONN Women's basketball team takes this award, based off their miraculous undefeated season.

Best Coach-Manager

Geno Auriemma Connecticut Women's Basketball

Dan Bylsma Pittsburgh Penguins

Phil Jackson Los Angeles Lakers

Joe Maddon Tampa Bay Rays

Mike Tomlin Pittsburgh Steelers

Prediction: As much as I would like to pick Phil Jackson after he broke Red Auerbach's record of 9 NBA championships as a head coach this year, my pick is for Auriema who led his team to an unprecedented undefeated season

Best Game

Federer vs. Nadal 2008 Wimbledon Final

Steelers vs. Cardinals Super Bowl XLIII

Syracuse vs. Connecticut Big East Tournament Quarterfinals

Prediction: The Federer and Nadal match was a classic, and going 6 overtimes, unbelievable, but this award should clearly go to Super Bowl XLIII

Best Championship Performance

Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers

Cole Hamels Philadelphia Phillies

Michael Phelps Olympic Swimming

Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh Olympic Beach Volleyball

Prediction: Again, this is an obvious choice, Phelps and his eight gold medals need I say more.

Best Play

Ovechkin vs. Rangers

Pacquiao KO's Hatton

Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD

Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree makes game-winning catch vs. Texas

Prediction: First off, James Harrison and his 103 yard interception return for a TD is not on the list, that's wrong. I have to say Crabtree's catch in that game against Texas barely beats out Holmes' catch, plus he is the next Jerry Rice how can I now pick this catch.

Best Upset

Mine That Bird

Oregon State stuns then #1 USC

Tampa Bay Rays win the American League Championship Series

US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup Semifinals

Prediction: Tampa Bay, a team that has been just dismal since their inception, shocked the baseball world by knocking out the Red Sox with performances from new stars like Evan Longoria and BJ Upton.

Best Breakthrough Athlete

Shawn Johnson Olympic Gymnastics

Evan Longoria Tampa Bay Rays

Derrick Rose Chicago Bulls

Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons

Prediction: Matt Ryan, for what Ryan accomplished bringing a team back from the dark cloud that was Michael Vick and sent his team to the playoffs as a rookie quarterback, how can he not win this award?

Best Record Breaking Performance

Usain Bolt Olympic Sprinter

Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Cardinals

Phil Jackson Los Angeles Lakers

Michael Phelps Olympic Swimmer

Prediction: I have been praising Phelps throughout this list of awards, but I'm going to choose Usain Bolt for this ESPY, for the way he shattered both the 100m and 200m world records at the Olympics. What a race it would be to have Bolt versus (a in his prime) Michael Johnson.

Best Sports Movie

The Express: The Ernie Davis Story

Sugar

The Wrestler

Prediction: The Express got rave reviews, but The Wrestler was the Sports Movie of the year and no I am not writing this as a fan of professional wrestling. In my opinion, no disrespect to Sean Penn, but if Mickey Rourke won both the Golden Globe and the BAFTA award (England's equivalent to the Oscar) for Best Actor, he should have won the Oscar for Best Actor.

Best Male College Athlete

Sam Bradford Oklahoma Football

Matt Gilroy Boston University Hockey

Blake Griffin Oklahoma Basketball

Stephen Strasburg San Diego State Baseball

Tim Tebow Florida Football

Prediction: This award can one of three ways, Griffin for his stellar performance resulting in him drafted by #1 by the LA Clippers, or Sam Bradford, last year's Heisman trophy winner. But this ESPY, goes to Tebow, the only question can he succeed in the NFL?

Best Female College Athlete

Kerri Hanks Notre Dame Women's Soccer

Courtney Kupets Georgia Gymnastics

Danielle Lawrie Washington Softball

Maya Moore Connecticut Women's Basketball

Dana Vollmer California Swimming

Prediction: Maya Moore, who led her team to an undefeated season under the coaching of Auriema.

Best Male International Athlete

Usain Bolt Jamaica, Sprinter

Pau Gasol Spain, Basketball

Lionel Messi Argentina, Soccer

Rafael Nadal Spain, Tennis

Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal, Soccer

Prediction: This award could to Gasol or Nadal, but based on his Olympic performance, Bolt is the winner of this ESPY.

Best Female International Athlete

Yelena Isinbayeva Russia, Pole Vault

Marta Brazil, Soccer

Lorena Ochoa México, Golf

Stephanie Rice Australia, Swimming

Dinara Safina Russia, Tennis

Prediction: Honestly, I am not familiar with any of these athletes, so this is just a guess, Dinara Safina.

Best Baseball Player

Roy Halladay Toronto Blue Jays

Ryan Howard Philadelpia Phillies

Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox

Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals

Francisco Rodriguez Los Angeles Angels/New York Mets

Prediction: This award would go to Pujols based off his current season this year, but based off last year it is between Howard and Pedroia, the two MVPS last season. Pedroia had a solid season, leading Boston to the ALCS, but Howard, who has solidified has role as one of the game's best is the winner of this ESPY.

Best NBA Player

Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers

Dwight Howard Orlando Magic

LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers

Dwyane Wade Miami Heat

Prediction: Lebron, Lebron, Lebron.

Best WNBA Player

Deanna Nolan Detroit Shock

Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks

Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury

Lindsay Whalen Connecticut Sun

Prediction: Diana Taurasi

Best NFL Player

Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Cardinals

James Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers

Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts

Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings

Kurt Warner Arizona Cardinals

Prediction: This award can go any way, each of these nominees are deserving of the award, so I would have to choose (by a nose) Peyton Manning.

Best NHL Player

Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins

Pavel Datsyuk Detroit Red Wings

Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins

Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals

Prediction: Datsyuk and Malkin don't stand a chance winning this award, it's between Ovechkin and Crosby the new big names of hockey, who has the edge, it's clearly Crosby for leading his Penguins to winning the Stanley Cup

Best MLS Player

Juan Pablo Angel New York Red Bulls

Jon Busch Chicago Fire

Kenny Cooper FC Dallas

Landon Donovan LA Galaxy

Guillermo Barros Schletto Columbus Crew

Prediction: Landon Donovan

Best US Male Olympian

Bryan Clay Track and Field

LaShawn Merritt Track and Field

Michael Phelps Swimming

Angelo Taylor Track and Field

Prediction: Michael Phelps

Best US Female Olympian

Natalie Coughlin Swimming

Dawn Harper Track and Field

Shawn Johnson Gymnastics

Nastia Liukin Gymnastics

Prediction: Shawn Johnson, who could add the ESPY, to her 3 medals (one gold, two silver) and her Dancing With The Stars trophy.

Best Bowler

Chris Barnes

Norm Duke

Wes Malott

Prediction: Wes Malott, all hail the King of Bowling.

Best Driver

Helio Castroneves

Scott Dixon

Lewis Hamilton

Jimmie Johnson

Tony Schumacher

Prediction: Helio Castroneves

Best Fighter

Lyoto Machida MMA

Shane Mosley Boxing

Manny Pacquiao Boxing

Anderson Silva MMA

Prediction: Shane Mosley

Best Male Golfer

Padraig Harrington

Phil Mickelson

Tiger Woods

Prediction: Even though he was injured, this award is still Tiger's award to win. An unbelievable US Open performance still earns Tiger the ESPY.

Best Female Golfer

Paula Creamer

Lorena Ochoa

Suzann Pettersen

Prediction: Lorena Ochoa

Best Jockey

Calvin Borel

Garrett Gomez

Mike Smith

Prediction: For almost winning the Jockey Triple Crown, this ESPY is clearly Borel's to win.

Best Male Tennis Player

Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal

Prediction: In a coin-flip, between the European answer of the Sampras vs. Agassi legacy, and literally a coin-flip I would say (flipping coin): Roger Federer

Best Female Tennis Player

Svetlana Kuznetsova

Dinara Safina

Serena Williams

Prediction: Serena Williams