Week In Pictures II: Candace Parker Is An Amazonian Goddess For the Espys

Dancers dressed as Tiger Woods, Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo

It was time for the ESPN Awards or the ESPY's in Los Angeles, July 16. I love these because they bring together two of my favorite things -- Gorgeous athletes and gorgeous celebrities. Very hot. But the hottest baller of them all was the WNBA's Candace Parker who looked not just gigantic, but mythic, like an Amazonian goddess in her gown and HEELS. I couldn't tell who brought it more fierce, her or Venus Williams, but Candace had it on lock. Also on hand, NBA champs the Boston Celtics, Super Bowl champs the New York Giants and Justin "Some of my best producers are black" Timberlake, as the host. Everyone looked like they had an awesome time.

Boston rocks.

New York rolls.

Justin gets fey.

Broadcasters Robin Roberts and Stuart Scott

Seriously, Candace. Don't hurt 'em. (BTW, that's IRL driver Helio Castroneves dwarfed next to her fierceness.)

And now for the second most fierce athlete of the evening ...

I love this dress on Venus and the shoes were the kinds I can only dream of wearing. She looks both femme and confident. Very polished as the veteran of fierce women in sports at this event.

IRL driver Danica Patrick did not look fierce, which is kind of a hot mess because she's a pretty woman, sexy even when presented in that sort of gross, exploitative light. (See GoDaddy.com's Web page) But this metallic, sleeveless mini dress, yellow snakeskin belt, her concave and/or disappearing boobs plus hunch back slouch are not working for her. Neither is the big Texas poof hair that looks like something Victoria "Posh" Beckham threw out with last year's diamonds. Fortunately she's standing next to Forrest Whitaker, who while a brilliant actor, isn't good looking. It doesn't make her outfit less ugly, but she didn't get as screwed as her fellow IRL driver Helio who had to stand next to a goddess and look like a member of the well-dressed Lollipop Guild.

No she didn't flash the "LA" sign with the Celtics. Fergie, you're a stinker.

Ashanti ... hmmm. I hate the dress.

Snob proximity note: The Lakers' Derek Fisher (who is awesome and pictured above) is married to a St. Louis woman, Candace, and her parents live next door to my parents. This is probably the closest I'm getting to fame -- tangentially.

Click on this pick and tell me what the hell Jessica "The Body" Biel has around her neck. A hot towl? A scarf? A wall molding? WTF is that? And a gray jersey knit top with a black skirt and secretary heels? I expect better from you Jessica "The Body" Biel." You and the other Jessicas sole purposes are to look hot and when you don't look hot you don't just let yourself down, but you let all the other marginally talented hot Jessicas down, like Jessica Alba, who's trying to lose some baby weight or Jessica Simpson, who is giving up on pop and going country. Represent, Jess. Don't just do it halfway because it's a baller event rather than a ball gown event.

And "Private Practice's" Kate Walsh looks amazing as always, (I hate the dress, but she's making it work, like she's some leftover fan girl from "The Mummy" in a mini-skirt) but you know what would make her look better?

A little TO. I'm really digging Terrell Owens' suit here. Nice. Very nice. And he looks really cute. Not douchey at all. Just happy and cute. Stay cute, Terrell!

Nicole Murphy and Michael Strahan are still doing the clash/contrast thing in clothes and looks but I still think they're kind of cute. I'm just happy to see Nicole free after being strapped to crazy Eddie for so long, popping out his chilluns. Plus, Nicole can actually smile in this picture, unlike how she looked at the Kentucky Derby earlier this year where she looked like a bad dental surgery/Botox victim.

Vanessa Minnillo, Lala Vazquez and Tichina Arnold. Lala? The feathered skirt? No. Just no.

Williams Beats Williams

Venus Williams beat her kid sister Serena for her fifth Wimbledon trophy Saturday and it was awesome. They both played with heart and skill, but Venus, the best player on grass of her generation, was able to rise to the occasion and get herself a bittersweet victory against Serena. The duo also won their umpteeth doubles title, winning seven grand slam doubles.

While I thrilled in their victory, as I'm sure many hardcore Williams sister fans did, it always irritates me how the Williams sisters aren't talked about as American tennis stars. Routinely I hear commentators and sports journalists lament the lack of quality American tennis players completely over looking the history making familial duo.

The Williams sisters are treated as women without a country. This despite them being among the best American players, male and female. Andy Roddick and James Blake often fall short, but the Williams sisters, fading in and out of the sport for school and fashion, remain the preeminent athletes of American tennis. They are Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe. They are as influential as Billie Jean King. They are, combined, one Pete Sampras and are doubly more thrilling that he ever was. Venus has as many Wimbledon trophies as legendary Swede Bjorn Borg. And more than Americans John McEnroe and Jimmy Conners.

If they'd played more perhaps they would have towered over the sport for a decade, trading places as one and two and as much as I would have enjoyed that, their careers and their lives were/are of their choosing. At the end of the day they can still beat any woman in their field. They can't be counted out no matter where they rank or what shape they are in. No one can make assumptions because often to reach the prize you don't have to get through just one Williams. You have to beat two.

I'm not shocked that Americans would be reluctant to embrace the tough and talented Williamses with their unconventional father and colorful personalities. They are so brilliant and so authentically black Americans that their attitude could be interpreted as smug. They are unconventional and do not do the expected. Yet in spite of this they represent with pride and are looking forward to the Olympic games where they hope to represent their country.

John McEnroe could be a flaming asshole and still be loved by the USA. But for being unique, the Williamses are greeted with criticism and shrugs. To be honest, if American tennis can't celebrate them, they don't deserve them. Thank goodness for their fans, black and white, sports lovers or not, who thrill at the feats despite the naysayers who reject a pair of black women who have the audacity to be themselves. A pair of women who do not water it down for the consumption of a jaded and jaundiced tennis watching white populace.

As much as both sisters want to win any time they play each other in a final is a win for every black person every where and it's a win for America, whether the Americans want to acknowledge it or not.

Others can ignore their greatness. But there's no denying who they are and where their from. You can take the girls out of Compton, USA but you can't take Compton out of the girls.

Go westside.