Breaking down the 2003 ESPY nominees   Dan Shanoff Special to ESPN.com

The ESPY fan ballot was released June 13, with 17 categories for fans to vote on -- the most ever. Before you commit to your choices vote on ESPN.com between June 13-27, take a peek at the voter's guide for the latest election wisdom, conventional and otherwise:

CATEGORY: BEST MLB PLAYER
Early Favorite: Alex Rodriguez. And he's got the loot to finance a campaign, if that's what he wanted to do.
Sleeper: Barry Zito. A little quirky, which the kids are into.
Buzz on the Rest: Barry Bonds (Slow start may hurt chances); Randy Johnson (Injury plagued '03); Miguel Tejada (Last year's news?)

CATEGORY: BEST NBA PLAYER

	Kobe Bryant, who picked up the Lakers team honor last year, is still searching for his first ESPY.

Early Favorite: Kobe Bryant. Premature NBA playoffs exit notwithstanding.
Sleeper: Tracy McGrady. Has the grass-roots cred Kobe lacks?
Buzz on the Rest: Tim Duncan (Finals performance is huge); Kevin Garnett (Will he be traded by ESPYs?); Jason Kidd (No MVP, but maybe ESPY-VP?); Shaquille O'Neal (He's still the Daddy)

CATEGORY: BEST WNBA PLAYER
Early Favorite: Lisa Leslie. She gets the pub and has the rings.
Sleeper: Tamika Catchings. League's rising star (understatement)
Buzz on the Rest: Chamique Holdsclaw (Maybe a few years ago); Sheryl Swoopes (Who needs the "soccer-mom" vote? The "hoops-mom" vote rules.)

CATEGORY: BEST BOWLER
Early Favorite: Walter Ray Williams. If only for those great ads he's in. (But doesn't hurt he's dominant.)
Sleeper: Michelle Feldman. The Queen of the PWBA.
Buzz on the Rest: Chris Barnes (His family's dog is named ESPY, so his stock may be rising); Norm Duke (21-year vet still among annual leaders in earnings, top finishes)

CATEGORY: BEST BOXER
Early Favorite: Roy Jones. "Matrix" role boosts stock.
Sleeper: Lennox Lewis. Only the best in the world.
Buzz on the Rest: Marco Antonio Barrera (Not this year); Oscar De La Hoya (Yet he did that cameo on MTV's "Punk'd"...); James Toney (Despite thrilling fight-of-the-year with Vassily Jirov)

CATEGORY: BEST DRIVER
Early Favorite: Michael Schumacher. If international audience weighs in, he's a near-lock.
Sleeper: Tony Stewart. Who else wants to see Stewart vs. Roy Jones?
Buzz on the Rest: Gil de Ferran (Indy 500 momentum?); John Force (No team or athlete is as dominant in their sport as he is in hot-rod racing); Sam Hornish Jr. (Just 22, two-time defending IndyCar champ will dominate this category for decades.)

CATEGORY: BEST NFL PLAYER
Early Favorite: Michael Vick. Could be judged best athlete -- of ANY sport.
Sleeper: Terrell Owens. If there's a Sharpie, there's a way.
Buzz on the Rest: Derrick Brooks (Super Bowl mo'); Rich Gannon (Vet will carry vote of older fans); Marvin Harrison (He can thank Peyton if he wins); Priest Holmes (Terrific underdog story)

CATEGORY: BEST FEMALE GOLFER Early Favorite: Annika Sorenstam. The only question is, how much will she win by?
Sleeper: Ha...not this year...
Buzz on the Rest: Juli Inkster (Came from behind to beat Annika in '02 U.S. Open; 'nuff said.); Karrie Webb (Five top 10 finishes in just 9 '03 starts, after consistently great '02); Se Ri Pak (5 wins in '02, 2 wins in '03 already; became youngest player to win four majors)

CATEGORY: BEST MALE GOLFER

	Woods stole the spotlight at the 2001 ESPYs, will he do the same in 2003?

Early Favorite: Tiger Woods. He owns the ESPYs, but you never know.
Sleeper: Rich Beem. Last year's feel-good golf story.
Buzz on the Rest: Ernie Els (Started '03 strong); Davis Love III (Having best season yet); Mike Weir (Gets Augusta National, Canada votes)

CATEGORY: BEST NHL PLAYER
Early Favorite: J.S. Giguere. Captured nation, then Conn Smythe.
Sleeper: Martin Brodeur. Call it the "Jiggy Reactionary" vote.
Buzz on the Rest: Peter Forsberg (If only goalies didn't get all the hype); Mario Lemieux (Sentimental sleeper?); Markus Naslund (ESPY would be great 30th b-day present for 100+ point player)

CATEGORY: BEST JOCKEY
Early Favorite: Jose Santos. Will we get to see his son get all excited?
Sleeper: Jerry Bailey. Will Triple Crown spoiler do it again to Santos?
Buzz on the Rest: Mike Smith (Previous ESPY winner in this category just didn't get face time of Santos, Bailey); John Velasquez (Leading winner in '03 must get huge upset to win this race)

CATEGORY: BEST FEMALE SOCCER PLAYER
Early Favorite: Katia. WUSA's most electrifying player. Can't beat the one-name mystique to capture casual-fan voting attention.
Sleeper: Marinette Pichon. '02 WUSA MVP and Offensive Player of the Year; among leaders in '03
Buzz on the Rest: Kristin Luckenbill ("Lucks" a rising goalie in WUSA); Birgit Prinz (Recorded astounding 12G/8A in just 15 '02 games).

CATEGORY: BEST MALE SOCCER PLAYER
Early Favorite: Landon Donovan. He's young, photogenic and the kids love him.
Sleeper: Brad Friedel. Top goalie in top English league (as a Yank!)
Buzz on the Rest: David Beckham (Could contract dispute cloud voter judgment?); Oliver Kahn (Became first goalie to win World Cup MVP); Ronaldo (Star of World Cup, but enough U.S. appeal?); Carlos Ruiz ('02 MLS MVP is one of the world's best scorers)

CATEGORY: BEST FEMALE TENNIS PLAYER
Early Favorite: Serena Williams. French fans don't know anything.
Sleeper: Kim Clijsters. Outlasted Serena, Venus and Jenny at French Open.
Buzz on the Rest: Jennifer Capriati (Still popular, but not having a Williams-type year); Venus Williams (Takes backseat to Serena)

CATEGORY: BEST MALE TENNIS PLAYER
Early Favorite: Pete Sampras. He's got the retirement-sentimental thing going.
Sleeper: Andre Agassi. If not Pete, then his arch-rival.
Buzz on the Rest: Juan Carlos Ferrero (French Open pub great, but can he compete in votes, not on clay?); Lleyton Hewitt (Bad boy's rep won't help him here)

CATEGORY: BEST FEMALE TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE
Early Favorite: Gail Devers. Best hurdler/sprinter combo-runner ever -- and an "I Love Lucy" addict, apparently.
Sleeper: Paula Radcliffe. Quite possibly, pride of Great Britain is best distance runner EVER. Keeps setting marathon records.
Buzz on the Rest: Stacy Dragila (Pole vaulter hasn't lost in 2003, set a world record 15'8" in March); Regina Jacobs (Middle-distance specialist may not have rep to top legendary Devers)

CATEGORY: BEST MALE TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE
Early Favorite: Tim Montgomery. If partisan US fans dominate the voting.
Sleeper: Khalid Khannouchi. May not have name recognition of Montgomery, but has more spectacular name, period.
Buzz on the Rest: Hicham El Guerrouj (Hey, who are we to pass judgment on a guy who can run a 3-something mile)

The ESPYs Awards show will air on ESPN live from Hollywood's Kodak Theater on July 16 at 9 p.m. ET.