San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski will be at tonight’s Excellence in Sports Yearly Performance Award Show, better known as the ESPYs, presented by ESPN in Los Angeles as a nominee for “Best MLS Player.”
Wondolowski is one of four players nominated for the award. He will be joined by Edson Buddle, formerly of the LA Galaxy, Landon Donovan of the LA Galaxy, and David Ferreira of FC Dallas. The show will be hosted by Seth Meyers and will air on ESPN on July 13 at 6 p.m. PT from the Nokia Theater. Voting for the show closed on July 12.
Winner of the Budweiser Golden Boot Award last season, Wondolowski netted 18 goals in 28 games during his 2010 campaign for the Earthquakes. He trailed Los Angeles Galaxy forward Edson Buddle in the Golden Boot race by six goals (14-8) with eight games to play (through games on September 11). Wondolowski was the first player to win an MLS goal-scoring title, either jointly or outright, by erasing a deficit of five or more goals in his last 10 games. He was also the first player in San Jose franchise history to win the award.
“It’s an honor to be nominated for this award,” Wondolowski said. “I’m very proud of the way I played last season, but a lot of the credit has to go to my teammates. They allowed me to be in dangerous situations and I was able to put the ball in the back of the net.”
Wondolowski also played in three games for the U.S National Team during the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He has six goals during the 2011 MLS regular season, tied for No. 6 in the league. The Earthquakes are 5-6-7, and in the middle of the playoff hunt.
