The 2008 ESPY Awards were held at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on July 16, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The 2008 ESPYs will air on Sunday, July 20 at 9PM ET on ESPN.
Golfer Tiger Woods won three trophies at the show, including his fifth male athlete of the year award, giving him a career-leading 21 wins in the ESPY’s 16-year history.
Woods surpassed retired cyclist Lance Armstrong for most wins as male athlete. He earned his fourth consecutive ESPY for best golfer and won best championship performance for his playoff victory at the U.S. Open on a bad left knee.
Woods is at home in Florida recuperating from last month’s knee surgery, causing him to miss this week’s British Open and the rest of the PGA season.
Singer Justin Timberlake, an avid golfer and Memphis Tigers fan, hosted the show which moved this year to the Nokia Theatre downtown. It airs Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
Timberlake performed an original rock opera that showcased his passion for sports. He repeatedly zinged Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham, who sat in the front row with his wife, Victoria.
“Dude, I got to give you props. Single-handedly you made soccer in America this much more popular,” Timberlake said, holding his thumb and index finger an inch apart. “I call it soccer because in America we already have a game dudes play called football.”
The Super Bowl champion New York Giants tied Woods with three victories: best game, best upset and best play, which was David Tyree’s leaping catch of quarterback Eli Manning’s pass that kept the team’s game-winning drive alive.
Source: Sports Stars Score Big Wins at 2008 ESPY Awards
Top photo: WNBA players Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker; second photo: Justin Timberlake
Photo credit: Getty Images North America
Actor/director Forest Whitaker and wife, Keisha Whitaker
Soccer player David Beckham and wife, Victoria Beckham
Actor Samuel L. Jackson
NFL players Eli Manning and Brett Favre
Race car driver Danica Patrick
NBA Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J.” Erving
Supermodel Toccara Jones (R) and guest
NFL player Shaun Phillips
NFL player Terrell Owens and guest
Figure skater Michelle Kwan
Former NFL player Jerome Bettis and guest
