Caitlyn Jenner Allegedly Selected For Arthur Ashe Award Over A Disabled Iraq Veteran
The ESPYs are terrible. It is a nauseating pat-me-on-the-back-for-my-diving-catch award show where celebrities and athletes meet for one long night of #sponsored, #branding entertainment in Los Angeles. That being said, the ESPYs usually do one thing right: The Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
Previous winners include Muhammad Ali, Stuart Scott, Jim Valvano, Robin Roberts, Nelson Mandela and Michael Sam. Scott, who gave an inspiring speech at last year’s ESPY awards, died of cancer in January.
So, when ESPN announced on Monday that Caitlyn Jenner would be selected as the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, it deservedly turned some heads, especially when people learned who Jenner beat out for the award.
Caitlyn Jenner wins Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
And the runner-up is …. pic.twitter.com/DKUdnPT8Gx
— Gerry Callahan (@GerryCallahan) June 1, 2015
Noah Galloway, who lost an arm and a leg in roadside bomb in Iraq and now competes in Crossfit events nationwide, is rumored to have been the selection before Jenner was hand-picked by ESPN’s ratings-driven executives.
Other names mentioned for the award include TNT court-side reporter Craig Sager, who is currently battling leukemia, former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, a cancer survivor, and Lauren Hill, the Division III basketball player with a terminal brain tumor who played in one game in November before passing away in April.
I can think of no more courageous or deserving athlete this year than the late #LaurenHill – should have been Arthur Ashe recipient IMO
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) June 2, 2015
OJ Brigance, Lauren Hill are both worthy candidates for the Arthur Ashe courage award if it was not about ratings, hits and clicks
— Clarence Hill (@clarencehilljr) June 2, 2015
Lauren Hill played college b-ball while battling a brain tumor and raising $1.5mil for research before she died pic.twitter.com/kC4J5n7O6N
— Clay Strohman (@chipotclay) June 2, 2015
It appears ESPN went for a ratings grab with reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner, and that’s a real shame. While she no doubt has courage and is the celebrity face of the under-represented transgender community, her achievements don’t hold a candle to those of Noah Galloway and Lauren Hill.
The ESPYs will have at least one less viewer this year..
Image via Twitter
I may get down-voted, but Lauren Hill unquestionably deserved this award.
9 years ago at 4:56 pmI fucking hate your profile picture more than anything but I agree with your comment. Legitimately furious that they gave a reality star the award, and for what? He got fake tits and put on a dress for his own damn reality series, who knows what his intentions are. What I do know is Lauren Hill was fighting terminal illness and playing college basketball for her school and that shows god damn pride as well as courage in my book. Sorry, not trying to project my beliefs, just furious after reading this.
9 years ago at 5:35 pmThe amount of circle jerking people are giving for Bruce is embarrassing. He can be a woman, black, white, an alien, I don’t fucking care. But don’t try to convince me that just by being “uncomfortable” everyone is going to put you on magazines and heralded as some sort of a hero. Especially above Noah Galloway, Eric Berry, Lauren Hill, Craig Sader. All these people should be celebrated, hell give them a whole TV. Better than most of the reality shit on nowadays.
9 years ago at 4:57 pmI think it’s time for the dismantling of ESPN. I’m switching over to 120 sports for updates on my teams
9 years ago at 5:02 pmWhat would be really honorable, is if bruce/caitlyn took the award and gave it to the vet. but what do I know…
9 years ago at 5:09 pmDon’t understand why Bruce Jenner turning into a woman automatically gives him a bunch of respect and labels him as an inspiration. I can think of so many more qualified and more derserving candidates such as Lauren Hill, Eric Berry, or even Craig Sager. All people who suffered from REAL adversity. It’s a goddamn shame.
9 years ago at 5:15 pmIt’s because he’s famous
9 years ago at 6:00 pmWhile Galloway clearly deserves the award, some of the comments here are pretty solid justification for calling her brave. Hate ESPN, not Jenner.
9 years ago at 5:16 pmJenner makes the best tv which equals more cash for the network. I wish it wasn’t this way but that’s how the world works.
9 years ago at 5:25 pmWell, it’s not the first time a publication’s award has gone for the choice that’ll attract more attention instead of the more deserving, and it won’t be the last. It’s bullshit, but it’s a fact of life, and it’s going to stay that way as long as so many people are obsessed with celebrities.
9 years ago at 5:25 pmStuart Scott’s the man, I miss him every time I watch Sportscenter.
9 years ago at 5:26 pmI completely respect Caitlyn for her decision to do what she wants, but she doesn’t deserve this award at all.
9 years ago at 5:28 pmBruce* His name is Bruce
9 years ago at 5:38 pmHis name is Bruce, you fucking lib.
9 years ago at 6:13 pm“I (don’t) completely respect (Bruce) for (his stupid) decision to do what (he) wants, but (he) doesn’t deserve this award at all.
9 years ago at 9:16 pmIt, not her.
9 years ago at 5:05 am