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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Wildcats win ESPY

CWU softball players awarded for best moment

By Beth Harris Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Western Oregon’s Sara Tucholsky, along with Central Washington’s Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, won the trophy for best moment at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night for their sportsmanship during a Division II softball game.

Tucholsky homered, but missed first base and started back to tag it when she collapsed with a knee injury. Holtman and Wallace, her opponents, stunned fans by carrying Tucholsky around the bases so the three-run homer would count.

The ensuing attention they received has been enjoyable, Tucholsky said, but she admitted, “Tearing your ACL is not fun.”

Singer Justin Timberlake, an avid golfer and Memphis Tigers fan, hosted the show honoring the year’s best sports moments and athletes, which moved this year to the Nokia Theatre downtown. It airs Sunday at 6 p.m. PDT on ESPN.

Tiger Woods one of the biggest winners with three trophies, including his fifth male athlete of the year award, giving him a career-leading 21 wins in the show’s 16-year history.

Woods surpassed retired cyclist Lance Armstrong for most wins as male athlete. He earned his fourth consecutive ESPY for best golfer and won best championship performance for his playoff victory at the U.S. Open on a bad left knee.

Woods is at home in Florida recuperating from last month’s knee surgery, causing him to miss this week’s British Open and the rest of the PGA season.

The Super Bowl-champion New York Giants tied Woods with three victories: best game, best upset and best play, which was David Tyree’s leaping catch of quarterback Eli Manning’s pass that kept the team’s game-winning drive alive.

Being with his teammates again had recently retired defensive end Michael Strahan joking that he’s considering a comeback, a la Brett Favre.

“There’s mornings I wake up and I feel like calling the Giants, especially after watching Brett, and saying, ‘If it’s not going to be a big deal like the Brett Favre situation, I’d like to come back,’ ” Strahan said backstage, drawing laughter from his teammates.

Candace Parker was a double winner, earning female athlete of the year and female college athlete honors. She led Tennessee to its second consecutive NCAA national championship before becoming the WNBA’s No. 1 draft pick and going to the Los Angeles Sparks.