Between 2001 and 2004, the award voting panel comprised variously fans; sportswriters and broadcasters, sports executives, and retired sportspersons, termed collectively experts; and ESPN personalities, but balloting thereafter has been exclusively by fans over the Internet from amongst choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee. In 2001, the ESPY Awards ceremony was conducted in February and awards conferred reflected performance and achievement over the twelve months previous to presentation; since 2002, awards have been presented in July to reflect performance and achievement also over a twelve-month period.[1] There was no voting in 2015, 2016, and 2017, but the 2018 winner was determined by voting. There was no voting in 2019.
After Wolves right fielder Sara Tucholsky hits her first career home run in a conference tournament doubleheader but tears her anterior cruciate ligament rounding first base, Wildcats first baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace carry Tucholsky around the bases lest her home run should be disallowed upon her receiving assistance from a teammate
Tim Tebow threw an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime, leading the Broncos to a 29–23 upset victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The play beat out Derek Jeter's 3000th hit, the Tampa Bay Rays' walk-off win on the final day of the MLB regular season that sent them to the playoffs, and Bubba Watson's win at The Masters.[citation needed]
Jack Hoffman, a seven-year-old Nebraska fan suffering from brain cancer, is given the ball in the third quarter of the Red and White spring football game. He runs the ball 69 yards for a touchdown.
After Ghana tied the game, 21-year-old defender John Brooks headed in a goal off a Graham Zusi corner kick in the 86th minute for the game-winning goal.
Lauren Hill, a Mount St. Joseph freshman battling an inoperable brain tumor that would claim her life five months later, scores the first and last baskets in what became the most-attended Division III women's game in history.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, behind 3–1 to the Golden State Warriors, who had won a record 73 games in the 2015–16 season, come back to win the championship. It was the first title Cleveland had won in a major sport since the 1964 Cleveland Browns.
The Chicago Cubs, behind 3–1 to the Cleveland Indians, rallied to win the World Series with by winning Games 5, 6 and 7, capping the comeback with an 8–7 10-inning win in Game 7. It was the Cubs' first World Series since 1908.
Vikings quarterback Case Keenum threw a 61-yard TD pass to Stefon Diggs on the game's last play to give the Vikings a 29–24 come-from-behind victory over the Saints. The play came to be known as the Minneapolis Miracle.[2]
National Football League, FIS, National Basketball Association
American football, Alpine skiing, basketball
Instead of a play or a game, Rob Gronkowski, Lindsey Vonn and Dwyane Wade—who announced their retirements in 2019—were honored for their achievements during their careers.
Notes
↑ Because of the rescheduling of the ESPY Awards ceremony, the award presented in 2002 was given in consideration of performances between February 2001 and June 2002.