Best Play ESPY Award

Last updated

The Best Play ESPY Award has been conferred annually since 2002 on the play in a single regular season or playoff game contested professionally under the auspices of one of the four major leagues in the United States and Canada or collegiately under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association adjudged to be the most outstanding or best.

Contents

Between 2002 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. The ESPY Awards ceremony is conducted in July and awards conferred reflect performance and achievement over the twelve months previous to presentation. [1] In the last few years, the format has been: sixteen plays are placed in brackets (1 vs. 16, 2 vs. 15, etc.) The winners in voting then advance to the second round. The winners go to the finals, where voters select Best Play. In 2022, there was no elimination format.

List of winners

YearGame or eventCompeting teamsDateVenueLeague or governing bodySportPlay
2002 Game three of the 2001 American League Division Series New York Yankees

Oakland Athletics

October 13, 2001 Network Associates Coliseum (Oakland, California) Major League Baseball Baseball Assist by Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter to catcher Jorge Posada in the game's seventh inning (known thereafter as The Flip )
2003 2002 regular season Division I-A game LSU Tigers

Kentucky Wildcats

November 9, 2002 Commonwealth Stadium (Lexington, Kentucky) National Collegiate Athletic Association American football Seventy-four-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass from Tigers quarterback Marcus Randall to wide receiver Devery Henderson upon the expiration of regulation time for a Tigers win (known thereafter as the Bluegrass Miracle ).
2004 2003 regular season game New Orleans Saints

Jacksonville Jaguars

December 21, 2003 Alltel Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida) National Football League American football Forty-two-yard forward pass from Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks to wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and laterals from Stallworth to wide receiver Michael Lewis to running back Deuce McAllister to wide receiver Jerome Pathon totaling thirty-three yards for a touchdown to draw the Saints within one point of the Jaguars upon the expiration of regulation time (known thereafter as the River City Relay ).
2005 Class 4A state championship game Eastview High School Lightning

Hopkins High School Royals

March 20, 2005 Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Minnesota State High School League Basketball Eighteen-foot two-point field goal by Royals shooting guard Blake Hoffarber while sitting down upon the expiration of a first overtime to draw the Royals equal with the Lightning and to force a second overtime.
2006 2005 regular season Division I-A game Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Alabama Crimson Tide

September 10, 2005 Bryant–Denny Stadium (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) National Collegiate Athletic Association American football Fourth-down reception by Crimson Tide wide receiver Tyrone Prothro of a 42-yard pass from quarterback Brodie Croyle over Golden Eagles cornerback Jasper Faulk, with Prothro catching the ball behind Faulk's back.
2007 2007 Fiesta Bowl Boise State Broncos

Oklahoma Sooners

January 1, 2007 University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona) National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I FBS American football Three-yard rush by Broncos running back Ian Johnson for a two-point conversion on a variant of the Statue of Liberty play executed from a play-action fake undertaken by quarterback Jared Zabransky for a Broncos overtime win.
2008 Super Bowl XLII New York Giants

New England Patriots

February 3, 2008 University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona) National Football League American football Thirty-two-yard reception over Patriots strong safety Rodney Harrison by reserve wide receiver David Tyree of a third-down pass completed by Giants quarterback Eli Manning whilst under threat of sack from Patriots defensive ends Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green and outside linebacker Adalius Thomas, undertaken from the Giants' forty-four-yard line with one minute, fifteen seconds to play in the fourth quarter and the team trailing 14-10 (The Helmet Catch ).
2009 Super Bowl XLIII Pittsburgh Steelers

Arizona Cardinals

February 1, 2009 Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida) National Football League American football Six-yard reception by Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with 35 seconds left giving the Steelers a 27-23 lead over the Cardinals.
2010 2009 regular season game Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

September 27, 2009 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis, Minnesota) National Football League American football Thirty-two-yard reception by Vikings wide receiver Greg Lewis from quarterback Brett Favre with two seconds left giving the Vikings a 27-24 lead over the 49ers.
2011 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Quarterfinal United States

Brazil

July 10, 2011 Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion (Dresden, Germany) FIFA Soccer Goal by forward Abby Wambach off cross from midfielder Megan Rapinoe in the last minute of stoppage time, with the United States down 2–1 and playing a woman down in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The United States would later go on to win in a penalty shoot-out to advance to the semifinals.
2012 2011–12 regular season game Indiana Hoosiers

Kentucky Wildcats

December 10, 2011 Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Indiana) NCAA men's basketball Basketball Indiana junior forward Christian Watford sank a 3-pointer with no time left on the clock, leading the Hoosiers to a 73–72 upset over previously-unbeaten No. 1 Kentucky. Indiana fans stormed the floor of Assembly Hall as the win propelled the Hoosiers' comeback season to the Sweet 16.
2013 2013 Outback Bowl South Carolina Gamecocks

Michigan Wolverines

January 1, 2013 Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida) National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision American football South Carolina sophomore defensive end Jadeveon Clowney made a vicious tackle on Michigan running back Vincent Smith in the fourth quarter. The hit was so devastating that Smith lost both his helmet and the football; Clowney then recovered the fumble with one hand. On the next play, the Gamecocks scored a touchdown that gave them the momentum they needed to win the game.
2014 2013 Iron Bowl Auburn Tigers

Alabama Crimson Tide

November 30, 2013 Jordan–Hare Stadium (Auburn, Alabama) National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision American football Auburn cornerback Chris Davis caught a missed Alabama field goal at the back of the end zone as time ran out and ran it back 109 (officially 100) yards for the game-winning touchdown. It kept Auburn's chances for the national championship alive (known thereafter as Kick Bama Kick by Auburn fans, or more neutrally as Kick Six).
2015 2014 regular season game New York Giants

Dallas Cowboys

November 23, 2014 MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) National Football League American football Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. caught a one-handed 43-yard touchdown reception hailed as the "catch of the year".
2016 2015 regular season game Green Bay Packers

Detroit Lions

December 3, 2015 Ford Field (Detroit, Michigan)National Football LeagueAmerican footballPackers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a 61-yard Hail Mary TD pass to Richard Rodgers II to win 27-23. The Packers scored two touchdowns in the last three-plus minutes to win the game. Known as the Miracle in Motown.
2017 2016 divisional playoff game Green Bay Packers

Dallas Cowboys

January 15, 2017 AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)National Football LeagueAmerican footballAaron Rodgers threw a 35-yard pass to Jared Cook which Cook caught while he was going out of bounds. That play led to Mason Crosby kicking the field goal that won the game for the Packers 34–31.
2018 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Game Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Mississippi State Bulldogs

April 1, 2018 Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)NCAACollege basketball Arike Ogunbowale hit a three-point shot as time expired to give the Fighting Irish a 61-58 victory over Mississippi State, which gave Notre Dame their second NCAA women's basketball title. Two days earlier, her buzzer-beater gave the Irish a win over the previously unbeaten UConn Huskies. [2]
2019 2019 Collegiate Challenge UCLA Bruins, Michigan State Spartans, California Bears, UC Davis Aggies January 12, 2019 Honda Center (Anaheim, California)NCAA Artistic gymnastics UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi scores a perfect 10 in the floor exercises. The performance went viral, scoring millions of views on YouTube. Earlier in the pre-show, it won the first-ever ESPY for Best Viral Moment. The play was the lowest-remaining seed in the field at Number 5.
2020 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic


2021 Women's Soccer bronze medal match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics United States women's soccer team

Australia women's soccer team

August 5, 2021 Saitama Stadium (Saitama, Japan) International Olympic Committee Soccer Megan Rapinoe scored a goal directly off a corner kick that propelled the U.S. to a bronze medal.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Because of the rescheduling of the ESPY Awards ceremony, the award presented in 2002 was given in consideration of performance betwixt February 2001 and June 2002.
  2. ↑ "Ogunbowale wins ESPY for Best Play". WNDU. Retrieved July 19, 2018.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ESPY Award</span> Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards Event

An ESPY Award is an accolade currently presented by the American broadcast television network ABC, and previously ESPN, to recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony. The first ESPYs were awarded in 1993. Because of the ceremony's rescheduling prior to the 2002 iteration thereof, awards presented in 2002 were for achievement and performances during the seventeen-plus previous months. As the similarly styled Grammy, Emmy, Academy Award, and Tony, the ESPYs are hosted by a contemporary celebrity; the style, though, is lighter, more relaxed and self-referential than many other awards shows, with comedic sketches usually included.

The Best NHL Player ESPY Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the National Hockey League player, irrespective of nationality, adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year, typically most significantly in the NHL season contested during or immediately prior to the holding of the ESPY Awards ceremony.

The Best NFL Player ESPY Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the National Football League player adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year, namely in the NFL season immediately precedent to the holding of the ESPY Awards ceremony.

The Outstanding Team ESPY Award, known alternatively as the Best Team ESPY Award, has been presented annually since 1993 to the professional, collegiate, or national team, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best in a specified twelve-month period preceding the awards ceremony. In 2001, the award was bifurcated and the resulting honors were styled as the College Team of the Year and Pro Team of the Year ESPY Awards; the awards were joined once more in 2002.

The Best Female Golfer ESPY Award has been presented annually in two different periods to the professional female golfer adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year. It was originally presented between 1993 and 2004, but was, along with the parallel Best Male Golfer ESPY Award, subsumed in 2005 by the Best Golfer ESPY Award. In 2009, the awards were again bifurcated by sex.

The Best Male Golfer ESPY Award has been presented annually in two different periods to the professional male golfer adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year. It was originally presented between 1993 and 2004, but was, along with the parallel Best Female Golfer ESPY Award, subsumed in 2005 by the Best Golfer ESPY Award. The Best Male and Female Golfer Awards returned to the ESPY list in 2009.

The Best Male Tennis Player ESPY Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the professional male tennis player adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year.

The Best Coach/Manager ESPY Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the head coach or manager of a team contesting play in a professional North American or collegiate sports league adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year.

The Best Female Track Athlete ESPY Award was presented annually between 1993 and 2006 to the female track and field athlete, irrespective of nationality, adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year. Beginning in 2007, this award was combined with the parallel Best Male Track Athlete ESPY Award into the single Best Track and Field Athlete ESPY Award.

The Best Jockey ESPY Award, known alternatively as the Jockey of the Year ESPY Award, has been presented annually since 1994 to the thoroughbred horse racing jockey, irrespective of nationality or gender, adjudged to be the best of those riding in the United States in a given calendar year.

The ESPY Award for Best College Athlete, Men's Sports, known before 2021 as the Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award, is an annual award honoring the achievements of a male individual from the world of collegiate sports. It was first presented as part of the ESPY Awards in 2002, following the subsumption of the Best College Football Player and Best Male College Basketball Player ESPY Awards, each of which had been presented annually between 1993 and 2001, inclusive. The award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan, is awarded to the sportsman adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year of those contesting collegiate sport in the United States through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The ESPY Award for Best College Athlete, Women's Sports, known before 2021 as the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award, is an annual award honoring the achievements of a female individual from the world of collegiate sports. It was first presented as part of the ESPY Awards in 2002, following the subsumption of the Best Female College Basketball Player ESPY Award, which was presented annually between the 1993 and 2001 ceremonies, inclusive. The award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan, is awarded to the sportswoman adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year of those contesting collegiate sport in the United States through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Since the 2004 awards, the winner has been chosen by online voting through three to five nominees selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee. Before that, determination of the winners was made by an panel of experts. Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.

The Best Bowler ESPY Award has been presented annually since 1995 to the best ten-pin bowler, irrespective of gender, adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year of those contesting the sport professionally in the United States. To date, the award has only been presented to male bowlers.

The Best Soccer Player category of the ESPY Award was presented in 2000, 2001, 2005, and 2006 to the soccer player adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year among those contesting the sport on the professional or international level, irrespective of gender or nation represented. The award was bifurcated in 2002, but the resulting Best Male and Best Female Soccer Player ESPY Awards were joined once more in 2005. The award was effectively discontinued in 2005 and replaced by the Best MLS Player ESPY Award, as the 2006 award went to a worldwide star not to an American as in the previous years.

The Best Game ESPY Award is an annual award honoring the achievements of a team who has performed the best play in the world of sports. It was first awarded as part of the ESPY Awards in 2002. The Best Game ESPY Award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan, is awarded to the team on the single regular season or playoff game contested professionally under the auspices of one of the four major North American leagues or collegiately under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association adjudged, in view of its quality, competitiveness, excitement, and significance, to be the best. Since 2004, the winner has been chosen by online voting through choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee. Before that, determination of the winners was made by an panel of experts. Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.

The Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the sportsperson, irrespective of gender, contesting a team sport professionally under the auspices of one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada or an individual sport on either an amateur or professional basis primarily in the United States or internationally under the auspices of a sport governing body adjudged to have made the most significant, profound, or impressive comeback from serious illness, injury, personal or familial hardship, retirement, or significant loss of form.

The Best Upset ESPY Award was conferred once each in 2004 and 2005 annually from 2007 until 2017 and again in 2019 to the team in a regular season or playoff game or series contested professionally under the auspices of one of the four major sports leagues in the United States and Canada or collegiately under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association adjudged to have completed the best, most significant, or most impressive upset in a given calendar year.

The Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Award has been presented since 2001 to the amateur or professional sportsperson, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to have, in a single play, game, or season, completed the best record-breaking performance, irrespective of the nature of the record broken.

The Best Moment ESPY Award has been conferred annually since 2001 on the moment or series of moments transpiring in a play in a single game or individual match or event, across a single regular season or playoff game, or across a season, irrespective of specific sport, contested, in all cases, professionally under the auspices of one of the four major leagues in the united States and Canada, collegiately under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or internationally under the auspices of a sport federation, adjudged to the most remarkable or best in a given calendar year; the primary participant in the moment is generally regarded as the award's recipient.

The Under Armour Undeniable Performance ESPY Award was only awarded once, in 2006, on the player, irrespective of gender or nationality, adjudged to have made, in a given calendar year, the most significant, remarkable, and undeniable performance in a single regular season or playoff game contested professionally under the auspices of one of the four major North American leagues or collegiately under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The award was one of two corporate-sponsored ESPYs; the titular sponsor designates criteria for selection consistent with its advertising campaigns.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.