LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The sporting world’s elite will descend on downtown Los Angeles tonight for the 2016 ESPY Awards, honoring the best athletes and moments in sports from the past year — including the presentation of an Icon Award to retired Laker Kobe Bryant.
Also receiving Icon Awards during the ceremony at the Microsoft Theater will be Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos and retired soccer star Abby Wambach. Justin Timberlake will make the presentation.
Wrestler-actor John Cena will host the ceremony, which will also feature a presentation of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award to Turner Sports broadcaster Craig Sager. Known for the often-outrageous suits he wears while working the sidelines of NBA games, Sager will be honored for continuing his work while battling leukemia. Vice President Joe Biden will present Sager with the award.
U.S. Army Sgt. Elizabeth Marks, who suffered a debilitating injury to both hips while serving in Iraq but is now a top-ranked Paraswimmer — winning four gold medals at this year’s Invictus Games — will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
The show will include a tribute to the late Muhammad Ali, featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Among those scheduled to present at the show are longtime ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, Houston Texas defensive standout JJ Watt, Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, Kansas City Royals slugger Eric Hosmer and beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennin
