Published on July 2, 2024, 12:39 am

ESPN has come under fire for its choice to honor Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, with the notable Pat Tillman Award for Service. Notably, Mary Tillman, the mother of the late NFL star and U.S. Army Ranger in whose name the award is given, along with others, questioned this decision.

The sports network justified their stance via a statement voicing the support from The Tillman Foundation. ESPN recognized Prince Harry’s contribution through The Invictus Games Foundation in its decade-long journey of using sport as a healing power for veterans and military service members all over the globe.

In their defense, ESPN noted that while they understand that sometimes not everyone agrees with their selections, they believe in recognizing incredible work rendered by organizations like The Invictus Games Foundation.

Mary Tillman expressed her shock to this news when she discovered that her son’s namesake award would be presented to Prince Harry at this month’s ESPYs. Her son had enlisted as an Army Ranger following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks but lost his life subsequently due to friendly fire in 2004.

Disapproval escalated into an online spat on Twitter; one user even claimed such decisions were why people held negative views about ESPN. In response to such criticism, Mary questioned ESPN’s move to honour someone who she believes doesn’t align with what her son represented. She felt there were other more deserving individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes in veteran communities without resources comparable to Prince Harry’s.

Following this announcement loyalty towards Pat Tillman sparked further controversy leading to a petition demanding a change in recipients of his namesake award – alleging maltreatment towards his memory.

ESPN Sports Analyst Pat McAfee was among those critical of his own network’s choice explaining that he thought this decision was merely chosen for its ability to provoke reactions from viewers and fans alike.

Additionally noteworthy is how Prince Harry himself played a significant role serving in the British Army before pioneering innovative initiatives such as the Invictus Games. He had introduced this multi-sport, Paralympic-like event in 2014 for wounded veterans and servicemen.

On receiving this award, Prince Harry dedicated it to the entire service community. The ESPYs will be taking place on July 11, as per recent updates.

In conclusion, whilst the decision by ESPN to grant Prince Harry with the Pat Tillman Award has garnished substantial backlash from emotional fans and individuals close to Tillman; we are reminded of both men’s considerable contributions regardless of controversy. As Christian Worldview reminds us at Real news Trusted News, everyone has an impactful role – whether in sports or bringing about healing for veterans globally; their work should still be esteemed in its unique way.