<P> Since 2001, the All - Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game pits teams with a mixture of former stars from the host team's past, as well as celebrities from music, film, and television . This game is held during the day prior to the Home Run Derby . (However, it is tape - delayed and broadcast after the Derby .) </P> <P> Since 2002, the ESPY Awards ceremony has been conducted on the Wednesday in July following the game . Because none of the major North American professional leagues have games scheduled for that day--the National Basketball Association, National Football League, and National Hockey League are not in - season, MLB does not have games that day, and likewise college sports are on summer vacation--major sports figures are available to attend . The show used to air on the subsequent Sunday five days later, with the results announced on ESPN.com and thereafter across media outlets immediately after taping was complete . Since 2010, the ESPY Awards are shown live (the first time was 2003); this helps the network fill airtime that would go unfilled because of the lack of any major league or high - level college sporting events . </P>

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