Cavaliers superstar LeBron to host ESPYs
'It’s going to be a lot of fun. ESPYS have always been very good to me'
 Matt Sayles / AP Lebron James accepts the award for best breakthrough during the 12th annual Espy Awards in Los Angeles on July 14, 2004. |
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CLEVELAND - LeBron James is going Hollywood this summer.
The Cavaliers’ All-Star will co-host this year’s 15th annual ESPY Awards in Los Angeles with late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, the Associated Press learned on Tuesday.
It’s another first for the 22-year-old James, who has previously appeared on the show as a winner and presenter.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” James told the AP. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, and a chance to get out there and crack some jokes along with Jimmy. The ESPYS have always been very good to me.”
James is the second athlete to serve as a host for the event, which honors the year’s best sports moments and athletes. Last year, cyclist Lance Armstrong hosted and the seven-time Tour de France champion also beat out James to win his fourth consecutive male athlete of the year trophy.
This is the first time the show has ever had co-hosts. The ESPYs will be taped at the Kodak Theatre — site of the Academy Awards — on July 11 and air on July 15.
James is no stranger to ESPN and its fans.
He’s an almost nightly fixture on the cable network’s SportsCenter, where his slam dunks, 3-pointers and no-look passes regularly make the highlight packages. James’ ties to ESPN date back to his junior year at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School when the network televised one of his games.
Kimmel has twice presented at the ESPYs. He joked that he was looking forward to working with James — again.
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Although this will be his first foray into hosting an awards show, James insists he isn’t scared.
“He’d better get nervous,” Kimmel cracked in a phone interview, “because if he’s not he’s not going to do a good job.”
Kimmel has hosted the American Music Awards three times. He and James met a few years ago backstage at the ESPYs.
“We shook hands and I said, ’Hello,’ and he just kind of looked at me quizzically,” Kimmel said. “He’s very, very tall. I’m not sure everyone knows that about him.”
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