Las Vegas Weekly

July 16, 2009 · 1:29 PM

Photo Gallery: Las Vegas stars shine at 2009 ESPY Awards in L.A.

By Robin Leach

Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Gorgeous Lake Las Vegas golfer Natalie Gulbis and hometown boxing champion Mike Tyson were just two of our favorite stars to shine at last night’s ESPY Awards hosted by actor Samuel L. Jackson at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. The program was recorded for broadcast on ESPN this Sunday.

Newlywed Girl Next Door Kendra Wilkinson was on the red carpet with Philadelphia Eagles husband Hank Baskett and proudly showing her baby bump. Another regular Las Vegas visitor, 14-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps also was there, and was a four-time ESPY Award recipient.

Our Las Vegas contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was on duty at the theater and was even photographed himself with Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zindz and 25-year-old grandson Zondwa. Health problems prevented the 91-year-old former South African leader from traveling to receive the prestigious Arthur Ashe Award.

Among the other stars with a Las Vegas connection attending were NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, racecar driver Danica Patrick, actress Jaime Pressley, Terrell Owens of the Buffalo Bills and boxer “Sugar” Shane Mosley.

Along with Michael, other athletes who received awards last night included Olympic gold medalist gymnast Nastia Liukin, Olympic medalist swimmer Dara Torres, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the L.A. Lakers, the U.S. soccer team and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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