Brees wins 4 ESPY Awards
LOS ANGELES — Drew Brees was the big winner at the ESPY Awards, collecting four trophies, including male athlete of the year, Wednesday night.
The New Orleans Saints quarterback also won best championship performance, NFL player and shared the team award with his Super Bowl champion colleagues.
"It's hard to beat the Lakers in L.A.," Saints coach Sean Payton said, hoisting the silver team trophy.
Brees was chosen male athlete over Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Jimmie Johnson and Albert Pujols. All but James picked up trophies in other categories.
"I'd also like to thank the Who Dat nation," Brees said. "We love you."
Gold medal-winning skier Lindsey Vonn won female athlete of the year honors during the show hosted by "Saturday Night Live" comic Seth Meyers that aired live on ESPN from the Nokia Theatre. She beat out Serena Williams and basketball players Maya Moore of Connecticut and Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury.
Vonn was also chosen best female Olympian.
Landon Donovan of the U.S. national soccer team picked up three trophies, for best moment in a World Cup game against Algeria, best MLS player and the performance under pressure award. He didn't join his U.S. teammates backstage.
Phil Mickelson ended Tiger Woods' five-year run as best male golfer, denying Woods a record 23rd career ESPY.
Meyers worked some jokes about Woods' sex scandal into his monologue.
"We all know which free agent is making the most money this summer — Elin Nordegren," he said, referring to the golfer's estranged wife.
Phil Jackson of the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers was named best coach, while Bryant won best NBA player.
The year's best game honor went to the U.S.-Canada gold medal hockey game at the Vancouver Olympics, won by the host nation, including the Penguins' Sidney Crosby, who was picked as the top NHL player.
Minnesota Vikings teammates Brett Favre and Greg Lewis shared the best play for Favre's last-second pass to Lewis early last season.
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl received the Jimmy V ESPY for Perseverance. He missed games and practices last season while battling neck and throat cancer. A thinner Karl appeared well, although he didn't come backstage.
