Stars to Shine at the 2007 ESPYs Hosted by LeBron James and Jimmy Kimmel

Dane Cook, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Matt Leinart, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, Maria Sharapova, Kate Walsh, Jamie Lynn Sigler, T.I. and Vince Young named presenters for the 15th Annual ESPYs Airing Sunday, July 15 at 9 P.M. ET on ESPN

Co-hosts LeBron James and Jimmy Kimmel will be joined on stage by the world’s premier athletes and Hollywood’s biggest stars when The 2007 ESPYS co-presented by HUMMER and Under Armour comes to the Kodak Theatre next month.  The 15th annual celebration of the best moments from the year in sports will be televised on ESPN Sunday, July 15, at 9 p.m. ET.

This year’s presenters will include Dane Cook (Good Luck Chuck), Matt Leinart (Arizona Cardinals), Samuel L. Jackson (1408, Resurrecting the Champ), Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (The Game Plan, Get Smart), Michael Phelps (Swimming Star), Maria Sharapova (Tennis Star), Kate Walsh (“Private Practice,” “Grey’s Anatomy”), Jamie Lynn Sigler (“The Sopranos”), T.I. (rapper/songwriter/producer/actor) and Vince Young (Tennessee Titans) with more to be announced in the coming weeks. 

In addition, top athletes and sports figures scheduled to attend the event so far include: Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Reggie Bush, Tony Dungy, Wayne Gretzky, Lorena Ochoa, Terrell Owens, Chris Paul, Andy Roddick, Ben Roethlisberger, Annika Sorenstam, Shaun White, and more. 

This is the first time that an athlete and Hollywood celebrity have co-hosted the ESPYs.  James won the 2004 ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete, and was nominated for an ESPY five other times, while Kimmel is a two-time ESPYs presenter who hosts his own late night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, and has hosted the American Music Awards three times (2003, 2004 and 2006). 

For the fourth time in the event’s 15-year history, fans will determine the winners in all categories (except the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and other special awards) by voting online at www.espys.tv starting June 25 through July 10.

The ESPYs

The ESPYs gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances.  The 2007 ESPYs co-presented by HUMMER and Under Armour will include both sport-specific awards such as Best MLB Player and Best WNBA Player and distinguishing “Best in Sport” awards, categories that pit different sports against each other, such as Best Team or Best Female Athlete. The ESPYs are committed to the advancement of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, established by ESPN with the late Jim Valvano and announced at the inaugural ESPYs in 1993.

*The show will be taped on Wednesday, July 11 at 6 p.m. PT. 

**For more information, including official ESPYs photos, go to http://www.espnmediazone.com/press_kits/espys. 

-30-