WISCONSIN LOG ROLLER WINS ESPY AWARD

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Tina Bosworth became the first woman and the first non-bass angler to win an ESPY Award in the "Best Outdoors Athlete" category. The 12th annual ESPY Awards will be telecast from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on ESPN Sunday, July 18 at 9 p.m. ET (four days after taking place on Wednesday, July 14). This year marked the first time that fan voting determined the winners in all categories.

Bosworth, the only 10-time women's log rolling world champion, recently made history by extending her string of victories at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge. In 2003, Bosworth became the only person at the Games to earn four consecutive gold medals in one of the Games' 23 events (every medal since the Games' inception). In 2004, she won again without taking a single fall against her opponents, lengthening her record to a fifth medal.

The Best Outdoors Athlete award is one of 19 cross-cutter categories that pit athletes from different sports against each other. The ESPY Awards also include 17 individual sport categories. The 2004 nominees included Bosworth, bass fishing legend Denny Brauer, 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion Michael Iaconelli, and 2004 CITGO 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 Outdoors Athlete ESPY, which went to bass anglers Kevin VanDam in 2002 and Jay Yelas in 2003.

The 12th annual ESPY Awards Presented by GMC and Under Armour gathered sports and entertainment celebrities including Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington and Sharon Stone to recognize top achievements, relive memorable moments and salute the best performers. Actor/comedian Jamie Foxx served as host.