The ESPY Awards: Like the Emmys, or Grammys, or Oscars, but for sports

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As anyone who’s visited the Ministry’s pro athlete archives knows, jocks are celebrities too -- so it’s only fair they get their shot at shiny statuettes, just like actors and singers do.

Thank ESPN (not exactly a nonprofit ‘academy,’ but work with us here) for staging the extravaganza, complete with a swag suite and a red carpet that would make Hollywood proud.

Heck, Hollywood even showed up for the event, in the form of host Seth Myers, presenters Zac Efron, January Jones, Ashley Greene and Tracy Morgan, and guests like Andy Samberg, who hit the stage dressed as, um, Paul the octopus. World Cup reference, there. Also spotted: Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte.

And why not show up -- the event was, after all, held Hollywood-adjacent in downtown L.A. at the Nokia Theatre, which was recently in the spotlight over a little four-day camp-out before the premiere of ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.’

There was even an ‘aww’ moment onstage that cries out to be made into a movie, maybe starring Will Ferrell in some way, shape or form: Major League Baseball umpire Jim Joyce and Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga shook hands before presenting an award. No hard feelings, right?

Click on the photo of Adam Samberg above to launch a photo gallery of red carpet arrivals.

-- Christie D’Zurilla

Related dispatches from our friends at the Fabulous Forum:

‘The Decision’ becomes a punching bag at the ESPYs

ESPY’s show different sides of athletes

Landon Donovan’s goal wins Best Moment in Sports at ESPYs

Top photo: January Jones, snowboarder Shaun White and Zac Efron pose together backstage July 14, 2010, after White won the ESPY for best male action sport athlete, presented by the two actors. Credit: Alexandra Wyman / Getty Images for ESPY

Second photo: Andy Samberg performs a routine at the 2010 ESPY Awards dressed as Paul the Octopus, the resident of Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, that correctly predicted eight matches at the 2010 World Cup. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters