Even before I type this...I know, I know...this really isn't worth the waste of breathe, time, or bandwidth. But I was bored, and thought I'd make my selections amongst their limited nominees. One can vote daily, if they are so inclined, at espn.com/espys.
Best Athlete - Men Lionel Messi
Best Athlete - Women Nelly Korda
Best Breakthrough Athlete Fernando Mendoza OR Drake Maye
Best Record-Breaking Performance Johannes Hosflot Klaebo (first to win six Winter Olympic Gold Medals)
Best Championship Performance Connor Hellebuyck
Best Comeback Athlete Christian McCaffrey
Best Single-Game Peformance Tyce Armstrong (Baylor baseball: 3 Grand Slams & 12 RBIs)
Best Play Jack Hughes golden goal
Best Team USA Men's Hockey OR Carolina Hurricanes
Best College Athlete - Women Madison Taylor (Northwestern Lacrosse)
Best College Athlete - Men Fernando Mendoza
Best Disability Athlete Declan Farmer (USA Para Hockey)
Best WNBA Player SKIPPED - The Bastards didn't include Caitlyn Clark as a nominee
Best NBA Player Nikola Jokic
Best NFL Player Matthew Stafford OR Drake Maye
Best MLB Player Paul Skenes
Best NHL Player Nathan Mackinnon OR Connor McDavid
Best Driver Tyler Reddick
Best Fighter Justin Gaethje
Best Soccer Player Lionel Messi
Best Golfer Scottie Scheffler
Best Tennis Player Jannik Sinner
Best Athlete - Men Lionel Messi
Best Athlete - Women Nelly Korda
Best Breakthrough Athlete Fernando Mendoza OR Drake Maye
Best Record-Breaking Performance Johannes Hosflot Klaebo (first to win six Winter Olympic Gold Medals)
Best Championship Performance Connor Hellebuyck
Best Comeback Athlete Christian McCaffrey
Best Single-Game Peformance Tyce Armstrong (Baylor baseball: 3 Grand Slams & 12 RBIs)
Best Play Jack Hughes golden goal
Best Team USA Men's Hockey OR Carolina Hurricanes
Best College Athlete - Women Madison Taylor (Northwestern Lacrosse)
Best College Athlete - Men Fernando Mendoza
Best Disability Athlete Declan Farmer (USA Para Hockey)
Best WNBA Player SKIPPED - The Bastards didn't include Caitlyn Clark as a nominee
Best NBA Player Nikola Jokic
Best NFL Player Matthew Stafford OR Drake Maye
Best MLB Player Paul Skenes
Best NHL Player Nathan Mackinnon OR Connor McDavid
Best Driver Tyler Reddick
Best Fighter Justin Gaethje
Best Soccer Player Lionel Messi
Best Golfer Scottie Scheffler
Best Tennis Player Jannik Sinner