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Thursday, July 15, 2004
Updated: July 18, 3:26 PM ET
 Eavesdropping at the ESPYs
By Miki Turner
Special to Page 3

 HOLLYWOOD -- On a sweltering day with temperatures approaching triple digits, hot movie stars and athletes lost their cool as they wiped beads of perspiration from their brows, and tried to hide the sweat stains under their shirts on the red carpet at the 12th Annual ESPY Awards.

Nomar Garciaparra, Mia Hamm
For Nomar, this was the first time he broke a sweat all season.
Don't they know that real superstars never sweat? They just go through the back entrance like Tom Cruise, Kevin Garnett and Denzel Washington and avoid the scorching sun altogether.

But among the hot and sweaty were: LeBron James, Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, Lisa Leslie, Joe Theismann, Larry Brown, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Ray Lewis, Michael Chiklis, Nomar Garciaparra, Mia Hamm, Andy Roddick, Cedric the Entertainer, and Dwight Howard.

As always, it's not who was there that's important -- it's what they wore, what they said and what they did when they thought the cameras weren't rolling. Your trusty spies at Page 3, however, caught it all.

Seen, Heard, Said:

BEST COORDINATED OUTFIT
LaVar Arrington and his girlfriend Trisha Johnson.

BEST BLING
Dante Hall's iced-out cross on a 30-inch iced-out chain.

BEST SHOES
Dwight Howard's two-tone oxfords.

More from the ESPYs

  • The 2004 ESPY Award winners
  • A recap of the ESPYs
  • In mourning over Shaq at the ESPYs
  • Burning Questions: ESPYs edition
  • ESPY notebook: Seen, heard, said
  • Photos: Best dressed on the red carpet
  • Serena makes over Diana Taurasi
  • L.A.'s SkyBar is the place to party

    • BEST JAMES DEAN IMPERSONATION
    Nomar Garciaparra, who was thinking he was way too cool for this ESPY school.

    BEST NORMA DESMOND IMPERSONATION
    Sharon Stone, who was ready for her close-up from all the way down the red carpet.

    BEST LID
    Emeka Okafor in a midnight blue hat with a lilac band.

    BEST FRENCH CUFFS
    Kevin Garnett

    Lisa Leslie
    For a girl who can play in the paint, Lisa Leslie is quite elegant.
    BEST GOWN
    Lisa Leslie in beige chiffon.

    BEST SIZZLE
    Serena Williams in a two-piece orange mini with cutaways that she designed.

    BEST LOOKING COUPLE
    Tom Brady in pinstripe suit and Bridget Moynahan in a purple mini dress.

    BEST SNEAKERS
    LaVar Arrington's studded high-top Nike Airs.

    MOST SHIMMERY
    Christina Applegate in a gold sequined mini dress

    MOST DAPPER
    Terrell Owens in a bone-colored suit with a purple ascot and matching purple shades.

    MOST PIMPED OUT
    Andy Roddick in a blue pinstriped suit and fuchsia shirt with a white collar.

    MOST CASUAL
    Bill Walton in a short-sleeved print shirt and black slacks (Well, at least his son Luke wore a suit).

    MOST PRETTY IN PINK
    Diana Taurasi in a form-fitting hot pink pants suit.

    MOST APPROPRIATELY DRESSED FOR THE OCASSION
    Jim Caviezel in a classic black tux with wing-tipped shirt and band bowtie.

    Overheard

    Jamie Foxx
    Jamie Foxx expresses his tennis ball fantasy to Serena Williams.
    "The first thing he needs is a get out of jail free card."
    Ken Howard ("The White Shadow") commenting on Kobe Bryant's future.

    "Oh, throwing out the first pitch, definitely. Girl fights are so common."
    Sharon Stone on what's more fun, throwing out a first pitch or her fight with Halle Berry in "Catwoman."

    "Right now I can feel the sweat dripping down my legs!"
    Mia St. John on the heat factor.

    "Keep him blocked. I just don't want him hitting me."
    Eli Manning talking about playing against LaVar Arrington.

    "Wasn't the game good though? The game was real, real good! And I got a good pay day on it."
    Eric Dickerson on the first Lingerie Bowl.

    "I made a commitment. Jerry Buss is a great owner. My commitment is to be on the Lakers and play basketball and I think I will be doing it."
    Gary Payton on his immediate future plans.

    "I decided to wear Aneres, which is my company and which is also my name spelled backwards."
    Serena Williams on who she was wearing.

    "It's depressing."
    Jamie Foxx's reaction to the Shaquille O'Neal trade.

    "I'm so lost."
    Penny Marshall at the after party.

    Seen at the After-Party

    Jamie Foxx
    Luke Walton and Kareem Rush smile at the thought of more PT.
    Luke Walton and Kareem Rush talking on their cells in front of the bar. I could have sworn I heard one of them mention the name Shaq.

    Lisa Leslie and her mother chatting up Lindsey Hunter of the Detroit Pistons.

    Dr. J picking up a glass of white wine at the bar to go with his pasta.

    Diana Taurasi posing for photos with a plethora of men about half her size.

    Emeka Okafor finally removing his hat.

    Eli and Peyton Manning in deep conversation. Peyton was probably telling baby bro that he needs to know when to leave the party.

    Miki Turner covers the good life in LA. She can be reached at dmiki@aol.com.