Last night the 2008 ESPY Awards, an annual sports awards event which honors Excellence in Sports Performance for individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance, took place at the Nokia Theater here in LA and a bunch of sports celebs (and other, regular celebs) attended the event, which was hosted by self-proclaimed “sports nut” Justin Timberlake. Here are a few pics from the red carpet and a bit about JT’s performance as host:

Self-proclaimed sports junkie Justin Timberlake had his idols rolling in the aisles Wednesday night, as he hosted the 2008 ESPY Awards. The singer earned raves as he alternated between self-deprecating humor (at one point, he poked fun at his infamous 2004 Super Bowl performance with Janet Jackson, saying “I wanted to be the only guy at a football game to get to second base”) and playfully mocking audience members (he lowered his nose to one of David Beckham’s Tom Ford shoes and proclaimed, “Smells like $250 million to me!”). He also performed a sports-themed rock opera. “If I made the decisions, I’d ask Justin to be [our] entertainment every week,” Monday Night Football host Stuart Scott told reporters during the show. “After what he’s putting down tonight … Justin can come hang out with us on the set anytime.”

But, apparently, the ESPY Awards are more than just celebs and funny hosts … there is actual recognition of sports achievement to be had as well … golfer Tiger Woods and basketball player Candace Parker were the top male and female winners last night, Sports Illustrated has the deets:

Tiger Woods won three trophies at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night, 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 … 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. “I’m just excited I got to meet David Beckham,” said Parker, who received her trophy from the English superstar. “I grew up playing soccer, so I love David Beckham. I was thinking, `Don’t trip, don’t trip.’ He’s truly an inspiration.” Tennis players Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, along with Woods, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., NHL star Sidney Crosby and bowler Norm Duke repeated as winners in their individual sports categories. Like Woods, Federer won his category for the fourth straight year. Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was chosen as comeback of the year, having successfully battled drug addiction to reach the major leagues. Tuesday, Hamilton hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the All-Star Home Run Derby. Tommie Smith and John Carlos received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award nearly 40 years after their black power salute on the medals stand at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics … The best moment category honored Western Oregon’s Sara Tucholsky, along with Central Washington’s Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, 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.

To be honest, I never pay attention to Sports Awards shows like this … I had no idea that they honored actual sportsmanship. If you look at the red carpet, you’d have no idea the awards show was actually about honoring real sports heroes. That being said, some celebs — like David and Victoria Beckham — are trying to bridge the gap between sportsdom and celebrity … here are a few pics of Les Beckhams on the red carpet last night:

And others, still, like Cristiano Ronaldo who are trying to emulate David Beckham to hopefully get in on that sports/celebrity thing — tho, Cristiano has a lot to learn about making a red carpet splash. I feel bad that the guy got injured (sometime between his extended vacay in Sardina, Italy and last night’s ESPY Awards) but crutches do not make the right kind of statement on the red carpet:

Yeah, it’s not a good look for him … but good for him for making the effort! Cristiano talked to Hollyscoop on the red carpet and revealed that if a David Beckham-type offer came from a US soccer team (like the LA Galaxy) he’d consider making the move to the US:

When Hollyscoop.com caught up with him at the 2008 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, Cristiano said that if LA Galaxy came knocking on his door, he would certainly consider the move. He seemed eager to follow in Beckham’s footsteps. In regards to making an immediate move to Los Angeles, the 23 year-old star tells Hollyscoop, “I have time, I prefer to play in Europe … it’s better in the moment, but the future, no one knows” … Would Galaxy ever be an option for Ronaldo? “Yes, you know Beckham plays there and I spoke with him a few times and he says it’s great to play here, so maybe in the future you never know. Maybe one day, I will play here.”

Maybe indeed … heal up that ankle first, Cristiano … we wouldn’t want a repeat of the Galaxy’s last season (Becks was sidelined for much of his tenure due to an ankle injury).

And so … another cache of ESPY Awards have been handed out … congrats to the winners and all that jazz. Click HERE for a full list of this years ESPY Award winners.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin, Splash News; Source, Source, Source]