Tag: ESPY

LOOK: Jahan Dotson representing college basketball star Caitlin Clark

Clark won an ESPY this week as the best female college athlete.

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Caitlin Clark is one of the most famous athletes in the country. Clark recently led the Iowa Hawkeyes to the NCAA women’s championship game after a historic NCAA Tournament performance. Iowa upset the dominant South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four before falling short to LSU in the title game.

The three-time All-American, two-time Big Ten player of the year and 2023 national player of the year was in the news again this week as she won the ESPY for Best Female College Athlete.

Apparently, one of Clark’s biggest fans is Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson. Working out with his teammates this week ahead of training camp, Dotson was spotted wearing a Clark t-shirt.

Check it out:

Dotson played college football at Penn State, a Big Ten rival of Clark’s Hawkeyes. Clark led Iowa to two wins over Dotson’s Nittany Lions last season by a combined 85 points.

Dotson and the Commanders report to training camp in less than two weeks.

Twitter Reacts: ESPY award goes to the more popular team, not the ‘best team’

At the ESPYs, the award went to the more popular team and not the “best team” and social media reacted accordingly.

In an event that is supposed to be the sporting world’s answer to the Oscars or the Grammy’s, the ESPYs fell short of legitimacy in their Best Team award on Wednesday night.

A fan vote decided that the Kansas City Chiefs were the best team of the last year, snubbing an award that should have very easily gone to the record-setting Oklahoma Sooners softball team.

Led by Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and former Sooners [autotag]Creed Humphrey[/autotag] and [autotag]Orlando Brown Jr.[/autotag] (now with Cincinnati), the Chiefs were great in 2022 on their way to a Super Bowl win over [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag], [autotag]Lane Johnson[/autotag] and the Philadelphia Eagles.

But the fan voting aspect of the award took away a chance to recognize the greatness that was Oklahoma softball in 2023.

The Sooners lost one game in their third straight national title run. In February, they lost a one-run affair, 4-3, to the Baylor Bears. They didn’t lose another game the rest of the season. Not in Big 12 play. Not in the regionals or super regionals. Not in the Women’s College World Series.

The Sooners ended the season on a record-setting 53-game winning streak to capture their third consecutive national title. Their three-peat is only the second time the feat has been accomplished. The last time was nearly 40 years ago in the infancy of the sport at the NCAA level.

This team had the best offense in the country, the best ERA in the country, the best player in the NCAA tournament ([autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag]), and arguably two of the best position players in the sport in [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag]. And there’s no argument that they have the best coach in the sport leading the best team in sports with [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] at the helm.

Yes, it was a fan vote. Yes, the NFL is the more popular sport. And yes, the ESPYs missed an opportunity to honor a phenomenal feat on a public stage when the award was given to the more popular team and not the best team.

Here’s a look at how Twitter reacted to the snub.

Justin Jefferson wins ESPY for best play

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson wins ESPY for best play on his immaculate catch against the Buffalo Bills.

Every so often, a play happens that is so special you know it the second it happens. Against the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson had that moment.

That fateful 4th and 18 catch earned Jefferson the ESPY for best play.

The Vikings were down 27-23 and they were on their last chance. Kirk Cousins had a rough game up to that point, including throwing an interception right to a defender that looked really rough.

Cousins knew they needed 18 yards to continue the game and he had the best receiver in football running a corner route. He threw it up hoping that Jefferson would come down with it and it happened just as they drew it up.

The play was remarkable and featured one of the best calls by Fox Sports’ Joe Davis where he screamed “There’s no way!”

When receiving the award, Jefferson was gracious, but spoke from the heart, saying “there is more to come.”

Without a doubt, it was the play of the year.

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This Gators gymnast nominated for 2023 ESPY award

Trinity Thomas is working on bring home some more hardware for her efforts this season.

The 2023 ESPY award nominations were announced last week with one member of the Florida gymnastics team in line for the annual honor bestowed by ESPN.

This year, Gator [autotag]Trinity Thomas[/autotag] made the cut for the ESPY, which will be given out along with the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award and Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award on Wednesday, July 12, at 8 p.m. EDT broadcast on ABC from Los Angeles, California.

Thomas, the only Florida athlete represented, is nominated for Best Play as a result of her perfect 10 which tied the all-time NCAA record at 28. She competes for the award against UCLA Bruins soccer player Ally Lemos, who nailed a perfect corner shot to tie the national championship game, as well as a pair of other professional athletes.

Also included among the nominations are the LSU Tigers‘ Angel Reese and Iowa Hawkeyes‘ Caitlin Clark, who are up against Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers and Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners for the Best Breakthrough Athlete award.

Oklahoma Sooners softball and LSU women’s basketball were also nominated for Best Team.

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Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Bryce Young takes home ESPY for best male college athlete

Bryce Young wins yet another award for his superb sophomore season.

Alabama star quarterback [autotag]Bryce Young[/autotag] just continues to haul in some impressive awards.

After winning the Heisman, the Maxwell, and many other awards for his incredible sophomore season, the California talent has now been awarded the ESPY for the best male college athlete.

Young beat out the other three nominees which included Georgetown soccer player Dante Polvara, Gonzaga basketball player Chet Holmgren and Maryland lacrosse player Logan Wisnauskas.

Former Alabama wide receiver [autotag]DeVonta Smith[/autotag] received the honor just last year giving the Tide back-to-back winners.

Young finished last season with 4,872 passing yards and 47 touchdown passes. Young added another three touchdowns on the ground.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

LaMelo Ball named Best Breakthrough Athlete at 2021 ESPY awards

LaMelo Ball took home another trophy this offseason, winning the Best Breakthrough Athlete at the ESPY’s on Saturday night.

At the 2021 ESPY awards on Saturday night, LaMelo Ball was named the Best Breakthrough Athlete of the year. Nominated alongside NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young and WNBA Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield, the NBA Rookie of the Year Ball took home the crown.

The award show took place The Rooftop at Pier 17 at the Seaport in New York City. With Mother Nature not cooperating, rain poured from the skies during at least Ball’s part of the ceremony. Whether it was the rain or Ball’s typically brief nature when speaking, his acceptance speech was….unique.

In his rookie year, Ball averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 51 games. Ball became the only player in the last 60 years to lead all rookies in total points, rebounds, assists and steals at the All-Star break. Ball is the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double after totaling 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists vs. Atlanta on Jan. 9 at 19 years and 140 days old.

In his brief career, Ball’s trophy cabinet is quickly filling up. In his lone season in the NBL with the Illawarra Hawks, Ball won Rookie of the Year as well.

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Eagles’ WR DeVonta Smith wins the ESPY for Best College Athlete in Men’s Sports

Eagles’ WR DeVonta Smith wins the ESPY for Best College Athlete in Men’s Sports

DeVonta Smith’s award tour continued on Saturday night, as the Eagles’ star rookie just took home the ESPY for Best College Athlete in Men’s Sports.

Smith dominated the SEC to the tune of 227 catches, 3835 yards, and 43 touchdowns the last three seasons as well as the Heisman Trophy this year.

The production against SEC competition was off the chart for Smith who during his final season in Tuscaloosa, logged 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns.

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Vote for Chargers QB Justin Herbert to win ‘Best Breakthrough Athlete’ ESPY

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is up for an ESPY.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been nominated for the “Best Breakthrough Athlete” ESPY.

The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year’s competition includes Hornets’ Lamelo Ball (NBA), Lynx’s Crystal Dangerfield (WNBA) and Washington Football Team’s Chase Young (NFL).

After finishing with one of the league’s best rookie seasons at his position, Herbert is more worthy of the award, which you can vote for here.

In an unexpected manner, Herbert was asked to come in to start in the second week of the 2020 season against the Chiefs after a medical emergency occurred to QB Tyrod Taylor five minutes before kickoff.

It was then when a star was born.

Herbert set NFL single-season records for the most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback (31) and most total touchdowns by a rookie quarterback (36). He posted the most completions (396) and second-most passing yards (4,336) by a rookie quarterback in NFL history

In addition, Herbert posted eight games with at least 300 passing yards, surpassing Andrew Luck (six games in 2012) for the most 300-yard passing games by a rookie quarterback in league history.

The ESPY’s will air on July 10 at 5 p.m. PT on ABC.

LaMelo Ball nominated for Best Breakthrough Athlete at 2021 ESPYs

LaMelo Ball was one of four athletes across multiple sports to be nominated for Best Breakout Athlete at the 2021 ESPY awards.

While not quite as storied a trophy as he’s already secured this offseason, LaMelo Ball has been nominated for an ESPY award. Ball is one of five athletes nominated for Best Breakthrough Athlete and the only NBA player to receive a nomination.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, Washington Football Team defensive lineman Chase Young and Lynx guard Crystal Dangerfield are also nominated for the award. Herbert was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and Young the Defensive Rookie of the Year while Dangerfield was named WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Ball, obviously, was the recipient of the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, edging out Anthony Edwards of Minnesota and Tyrese Haliburton of Sacramento.

Voting is open for all awards, Best Breakout Athlete included, on ESPN’s website and will be open leading up to the awards show on ABC on July 10 at 8 p.m. EST. Two years ago at the ESPY awards, Lonzo Ball was in attendance sporting an impressive suit.

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Latest NBA mock draft predicts 2 Alabama players drafted

Two Alabama Crimson Tide basketball stars are projected to be drafted to the NBA, according to ESPN’s latest mock draft.

The Alabama crimson Tide has been rolling through their 2020-2021 season. Being ranked in the top 10, along with an undefeated conference record has put the program, the coach and players in the national spotlight.

ESPN’s latest 2021 NBA mock draft by Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz put together a complete mock that includes two Alabama stars: John Petty and Herb Jones.

Both players are seniors and have been with the program through highs and lows, as well as two different coaches.

Here’s where they’re projected to land, according to this mock draft:

59. Charlotte Hornets – John Petty

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

49. Utah Jazz – Herb Jones

[Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]