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The ESPYAwards on Wednesday weren’t just for athletes. Hollywood’s A-list came out inforce to honor the sporting world’s best and brightest in Los Angeles. Ben Affleck joked onstage about heartbreak, although it had nothing to do with the recent news thathe’s splitting from his wife of 10 years, actress Jennifer Garner. Hepresented the Icon Award to the legendary New York Yankee Derek Jeter, whoretired in 2014 after 20 years with the team.
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Ben's ring was clearly on display despite the news that he and Jennifer have split Photo: Getty Images
“He brokemy heart 100 times, if not more. And he broke it again when he retired, becausehe was absolutely one of the very best ever to play the game of baseball,” said Ben, who despite the divorce announcement appeared on stage with hiswedding ring. “I thank you for every last moment of your incredible career. Youmade the game better for everyone.”
Rachel McAdams and Southpaw co-star Jake Gyllenhaal Photo: Getty Images
Actress Rachel McAdams, who turned heads in a bright red pants suit, paired with black stilettos,hit the red carpet with Southpaw co-star Jake Gyllenhaal, beforepresenting football player Peyton Manning with the award for Best Record BreakingPerformance. Though Rachel and Jake were rumored to have dated in the past, the36-year-old actress has more recently been linked to True Detective co-star Taylor Kitsch, something that she has yet to deny outright. “It’s funnythe things the Internet likes to proclaim,” she said in an interview with ET onMonday.
Britney Spears and NFL linebacker J.J. Watt Photo: Getty Images
Other starsat the glamorous awards included singer Britney Spears, who presented the trophy for Best Female Athlete in a shimmering silver cut-out dress. The singer is nowperforming her show in Las Vegas and was towered over on stage by NFL linebacker J.J. Watt, who joked that her song Hit Me Babyinspired him not to tackle other players, but that he could be “strong in theface of loneliness.”
Ciara and Russell Wilson made for a super chic couple Photo: Getty Images
Ciara was anothersinger on the red carpet, holding hands with her quarterback boyfriend RussellWilson, who made headlines earlier this month when he revealed in an interviewwith The Rock Church that he and his girlfriend plan to stay celibate until marriage.
Halle Berry looked stunning in a black leather and lace dress and presented the Pat Tillman Award for Service to basketballplayer Danielle Green, who was injured in Iraq.
In one ofthe more emotional moments of the evening, football player Devon Still accepted the Jimmy VPerseverance Award on behalf of his 5-year-old daughter, Leah, who is battling cancer.Devon has used his daughter’s illness to raise cancer awareness. Talkingabout the difficulty of leaving his family to play with his team, the CincinnatiBengals revealed how he and his fiancé would pray together for his daughter’shealth.
Devon gave an emotional speech about helping his daughter through cancer Photo: Getty Images
“I wouldgrab my fiancé’s hand every night and we would drop to our knees and we would praythat we wouldn’t lose our daughter while I was in Cincinnati, and that she wasable to fight so that when I got home we could make up for the time that waslost,” he said. “In that time God answered our prayers and my daughter wentinto remission.”
At the endof his speech, which left most of the room with misty eyes, he thanked hisdaughter, who was unable to attend the award. “From themoment you were born you molded me into the man I am today,” said the26-year-old player. “You taught me more about life than I could every dream.”
