from the AP

LOS ANGELES — The busiest and in many ways most difficult year in Landon Donovan’s increasingly storied soccer career ultimately could be the most satisfying.

That was his judgment Tuesday after claiming an unprecedented sixth Honda Player of the Year Award given annually to the U.S. national team’s top player in a luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Donovan, 27, was instrumental in the Americans’ successful qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup and its trek to the Confederations Cup championship match. (more…)

A panel of 221 sports journalists selected the final three, with the winner to be announced Oct. 20 in Los Angeles.

Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Jozy Altidore are finalists for the 2009 Honda Player of the Year Award that honors the best performer on the U.S. national team. (more…)

There were a few surprises, but it was mostly déjà Emmys at the 61st annual awards show as several of last year’s winners gave a repeat performance, and HBO continued its domination in the TV movies and miniseries categories.

AMC’s “Mad Men” won for the second year in a row for drama series as did Glenn Close for lead actress for FX’s “Damages” and Bryan Cranston for AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” “I’m a poor kid from the Valley; I don’t know what I am doing up here,” Cranston said as he accepted the award. “I feel like Cinderfella.”

NBC’s “30 Rock” won the big one for the third year in a row: comedy series.

The show had gone into the awards show with 22 nominations, more than any other series. But as the night went on, it won only a handful, including Matthew Hubbard for writing and Alec Baldwin, who won for lead actor in a comedy for the second year in a row. The win for comedy series made it all go down a bit easier.

All the winners and nominees after the jump (check out some of these categories) (more…)

Michael Jordan sits down with Michael Wilbon to talk about his Hall Of Fame career

Tina Fey’s NBC comedy series, “30 Rock,” earned 22 Emmy nominations this morning, the most any comedy series has received in Emmy history. It earned nods for best comedy series, as well as best comedy actress for Fey and best comedy actor for Alec Baldwin. The show won best comedy series last year. (more…)

2009 ESPY Winners

Special Awards
Arthur Ashe Courage Award: President Nelson Mandela
Jimmy V Award For Perseverance: Don Meyer, Northern State University coach
Best Comeback: Dara Torres, Olympic swimmer.

US MNT won for “Best Upset” .. .. see a full list of the winners and a pic of “Best MLS Player” after the jump.. ..who do you think won for Best in MLS? (more…)

Landon Donovan accepts the award for Best Upset on behalf of the US Soccer team onstage during the 2009 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre LA Live on July 15, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The 17th annual ESPYs will air on Sunday, July 19 at 9PM ET on ESPN.

image via daylife

Love Game / Poker Face mash up…