TALK OF THE TOWN JULY 18: THE ESPYS RECAP

Robin Roberts received the 2013 Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Roberts overcame breast cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome. In her speech she said: “I realize that there are many worthy of holding this honor, others who have exhibited far more courage, strength and resilience and it’s humbling for me to represent you tonight, I draw strength from you, you give me the courage to face down any challenge to know that when fear, when fear knocks to let faith answer the door.” later in the speech she said:”You heard me, mama used to say make your mess your message find the meaning behind whatever it is you’re going through because everybody’s got something!” She also said:” And i’ve been blessed to achieve things in life I could have never have imagined as that little girl growing up in Mississippi. But most of all i’ve never imagined that I’d be able to be standing here 20 years after Jimmy V’s speech and say that because everyone who has responded to his challenge, because of all the donations, research and support mine is one of the lives that’s been saved!” Later in her speech she said “Sure I have my sister’s DNA but you will always have my heart, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart” It was a great speech by her some reactoin tweets are below!

@Venuseswilliams Venus Williams

I loved @robinroberts speech, so eloquent and heart heart felt, I was hanging on to every word. Best moment of the #ESPY

@RGIII Robert Griffin III

Robin Roberts…..WOW. Giving everyone a reason to keep fighting no matter the obstacle

@ryantannehill1 Ryan Tannehill

Awesome special on Robin Robers #truestrength

Now let’s get to some more awards!

Best Male Athlete Nominees:

Miguel Cabrera

AL MVP was the first player to win the Triple Crown in baseball since 1967

Led the AL with a .330 batting average, 44 home runs and 139 RBIs

Lebron James

Won his fourth NBA MVP, second straight Finals MVP

Led the Heat to a second straight NBA title and franchise-record 66-16 mark

Only player to lead his team in scoring (26.8 ppg), rebounding (8.0 rpg) and assists (7.3 apg)

Adrian Peterson

NFL MVP rushed for 2,097 yards, second most in league history

Averaged 6.0 yards per carry, scored 13 TDs and caught 40 passes

Michael Phelps

Won four golds and two silver medals at London Olympics

His gold in the 200 IM made him the first man to win the same individual swimming event at three straight Olympics

WINNER

And the winner is…..Lebron James

Best Female Athlete Nominees:

Gabby Douglas

Won gold medal in Women’s All-Around at London Olympics

Was a member of the gold medal-winning USA gymnastics team

First American to win gold in both the Team and Individual All-Around

Missy Franklin

Won four gold medals and a bronze at London Olympics

Won a gold in the 100 backstroke and set a world record in the 200 backstroke

Became the second American woman to win four swimming golds at single Olympics, joining Amy Van Dyken in 1996

Brittney Griner

Swept all major player of the year awards

Ended her career as the NCAA’s top shot blocker (748)

No. 2 on the NCAA Division I women’s scoring chart with 3,283 career points.

Serena Williams

Won the 2012 Wimbledon and US Open singles championships

Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles

Won the 2013 French Open singles title

WINNER

And the winner is…Serena Williams

Best Team Nominees

Alabama Football

Won the BCS Championship in a 42-14 win over Notre Dame

It was their third BCS title in four years

Baltimore Ravens

Defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 to win the Super Bowl

Beat the top seeded Broncos and 2nd seeded Patriots en route to Super Bowl

Chicago Blackhawks

Defeated the Boston Bruins in six games to win the Stanley

Started the season with 24 straight games without a loss in regulation, the best start in NHL history

Miami Heat

Won second straight NBA Finals in seven games over San Antonio Spurs

Had franchise record 66-16 record, included 27 straight wins

Oklahoma Softball

Won the WCWS championship by sweeping Tennessee in finals

Finished the season 57-4

San Francisco Giants

Swept the Detroit Tigers in the World Series for their second title in three years

Rallied from the brink of defeat to beat the Reds in the NLDS and Cardinals in the NLCS

US Women’s Gymnastics Team

The “Fierce Five” of Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney captured the team gold medal by beating Russia

First gold medal in women’s team gymnastics for the US since 1996

WINNER

And the winner is…. The Miami Heat!

Best Moment nominee

Jack Hoffman touchdown run in Nebraska Spring game

Hoffman is a 7-year old die hard Cornhusker fan battling brain cancer

After befriending Nebraska RB Rex Burkhead, he was invited to participate in the Huskers’ spring game, and ran for a long touchdown in the 4th quarter

Alex Morgan’s game-winning goal vs. Canada in Olympic semifinal

The US tied the game on an Abby Wambach penalty kick in the 80th minute

Morgan sent the US to the finals on a header in the 123rd minute, in the second period of extra time

Andy Murray finally winning at Wimbledon, with a gold medal in Olympics

4 weeks after a heartbreaking loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, Murray met Federer again at the All England Club in the gold medal match

Murray beat the world number one in straight sets, becoming the first British man to win singles gold in the Olympics since 1908

Chuck Pagano returns to the Colts

The first year head coach was diagnosed with leukemia after Week 3

Pagano’s battle with the disease inspired an improbable Colts playoff run

Pagano returned to coach the team in Week 17, leading the Colts to a 28-16 victory over the division champion Houston Texans

WINNER

And the winner is… Jack Hoffman!!

Best Male College Athlete nominees

Trey Burke

Won nearly every major college basketball player of the year award, including the Naismith, Wooden, Oscar Robertson and the Associated Press award, plus winning the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard

Led the Wolverines to the national championship game

Kyle Dake

Etched himself into wrestling history with a fourth NCAA championship at an unprecedented fourth weight.

Dake outlasted defending 165-pound champion David Taylor 5-4

Drew LeBlanc

Won Hobey Baker Award as top college hockey player

Bounced back from injury last year to register 13 goals and 50 points

Johnny Manziel

2013 Heisman Trophy winner, first freshman in history

The first freshman in FBS history, and just the fifth player ever, to have 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season

WINNER

and the winner is… Johnny Manziel