For the first time since the category's creation in 2002, fan voting will determine which Outdoors athlete will win laurels at the 2004 ESPY Awards ceremony, televised from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on ESPN Sunday, July 18 at 9 p.m. ET (four days after taking place on Wednesday, July 14).
Nominees were announced Tuesday for all 36 ESPY categories, and voting has begun at www.espn.com and will continue through July 9. Winners will be announced on the telecast.
The Best Outdoor Sports award is one of 19 cross-cutters categories - which pit athletes from different sports against each other - as well as 17 individual sport categories. The 2004 nominees are world champion log roller Tina Bosworth, bass fishing legend Denny Brauer, 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion Michael Iaconelli, and 2004 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle. The four finalists were chosen by a select panel of outdoor sports writers.
This is the third year for the Best Outdoor Sports ESPY, which went to bass anglers Kevin VanDam in 2002 and Jay Yelas in 2003.
The 12th annual ESPY Awards will gather sports and entertainment celebrities to recognize top achievements, relive memorable moments and salute the best performers. Actor/comedian Jamie Foxx will host.
The ESPY Award events 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 ESPY Awards in 1993.