Danica Patrick takes dig at Cleveland, JR Smith in ESPYs opening monologue

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you didn't catch the ESPY Awards on TV Wednesday night, you missed host Danica Patrick insult Cleveland and LeBron James winning an award.

I'd call that a win.

Patrick was the first woman ever to host ESPN's annual sports awards. Her opening monologue, however, fell flat right from the start.

"For the last 25 years, the ESPYs has been about celebrating the magic of sports," she told the star-studded audience at the outset. "No matter what else is going on in the world, sports has always had the power to inspire and give hope unless those people are from Cleveland."

Cut to Baker Mayfield in the crowd. The Browns quarterback was not amused. Neither were folks on Twitter.

Danica Patrick tried to joke about Cleveland, but like she's done many times during her racing career, she crashed and burned!

-- TyGod is my QB! (@Krazy_Dawg99) July 19, 2018

Cleveland's won a lot more in the last year -- and decade for that matter -- than Danica has.

-- Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) July 19, 2018

Danica Patrick making fun of Cleveland sports is hilarious. Lest we forget she started 252 NASCAR races and won exactly NONE!

-- Bret Korcykoski (@raksales) July 19, 2018

Later, Patrick moved on to James' signing as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"LeBron is the newest Los Angeles transplant. Los Angeles transplant is also what he googles when he needs new hair."

After some moaning in the audience, Patrick shot back with, "When LeBron hosted, he made fun of me too. I'd say we're even. J.R. Smith would say we're up by one."

OK, we'll admit, that was kind of funny.

After a few more comedy bits, the awards were handed out in perfunctory fashion. Mayfield won for Best College Athlete and James won again for Best NBA Player.

The only part worth remembering: the powerful tribute to the more than 140 survivors of sexual abuse by former Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who joined hands after accepting the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.

"To all the survivors out there, don't let anyone rewrite your story. Your truth does matter. You matter. And you are not alone," gymnast Aly Raisman told the audience.

Here's a look at all the winners of the 26th ESPY Awards.

Best Breakthrough Athlete: Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz

Best College Athlete: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

Best Female Athlete: Chloe Kim, Team USA snowboarder

Best Male Athlete: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Best Team: Houston Astros

Best Game: U.S. women's national hockey team vs. Canada in gold medal game of the 2018 Olympics

Best Championship Performance: Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles

Best Olympic Moment: Shaun White's gold medal-winning final run

Best Play: Notre Dame basketball player Arike Ogunbowale's game-winning shot at the buzzer in the women's national championship game

Best Record-Breaking Performance: Roger Federer

Best International Men's Soccer Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

Best International Women's Soccer Player: Sam Kerr

Best NFL Player: Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Best MLB player: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Best NHL Player: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Best Race Car Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Best NBA Player: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Best WNBA Player: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx

Best Fighter: Terence Crawford

Best Male Golfer: Jordan Spieth

Best Female Golfer: Sung-Hyun Park

Best Male Olympian: Shaun White, snowboarder

Best Female Olympian: Chloe Kim, snowboarder

Best Male Tennis Player: Roger Federer

Best Female Tennis Player: Sloane Stephens

Best Male Action Sports Athlete: David Wise, freestyle skier

Best Female Action Sports Athlete: Chloe Kim, snowboarder

Best Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Best Male Athlete with a Disability: Mike Schultz

Best Female Athlete with a Disability: Brenna Huckaby

Best Bowler: Rhino Page

Best MLS Player: Nemanja Nikolic, Chicago Fire

Best NWSL Player: Megan Rapinoe, Seattle Reign FC

Capital One Cup: Stanford Cardinal sports

Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Jim Kelly, former Buffalo Bills quarterback and cancer survivor

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