After 9/11, Pat Tillman, a defensive back in the NFL with a lucrative and successful career, enlisted in the Army to defend his country. In 2004, he tragically died in an incident of friendly fire in Afghanistan. Posthumously, he received the Silver Star medal and Purple Heart.
The Pat Tillman Award, created in 2014, honors a person who has a connection to sports and has served others by emulating the legacy of former NFL player Pat Tillman, a U.S. Army ranger.
ESPN has decided to award the Prince Harry Award this year. Tillman’s mom is very upset about the selection.
Mary Tillman claimed that the sports channel had never consulted her before presenting the Pat Tillman Award to the Duke of Sussex, in honor of the late NFL safety who became an Army Ranger after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Mary told Daily Mail: “I’m shocked that they chose such a controversial individual who has caused so much division to receive this award.”
She added, “There are recipients who are much more appropriate.” Many people in the veteran community are doing great things to help veterans.
Warning: profanity
ESPN is giving the Pat Tillman award to Prince Harry this year?! Prince Harry?! Even the British hate him. Good for Pat Mcafee for calling out this bullshit: https://t.co/MZieFtE8yy
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 29, 2024
Clay Travis pointed out in the tweet above that ESPN’s Pat McAfee ridiculed and criticized the Duke of Sussex on his show.
There’s been a lot of discussion about Pat Tillman. American hero… There’s a new award named for him in the sporting world, which is appropriate because he embodies selflessness,’ McAfee initially said.
It’s going Prince Harry who I don’t think is a royal anymore. McAfee said, ‘Don’t call me this,’ McAfee said in a subtle dig towards King Charles’ estranged child, adding later: ‘See why the ESPYS does this sh*t’
McAfee questioned if the ESPY Awards committee had done their homework when it came to finding candidates.
Former NFL sideline reporter, now the host of @TafoyaPodcast, was also outraged.
I thought I was alone in my disgust for this decision. But Pat Tillman‘s own mom felt the same. #Disrespect. “US hero Pat Tillman’s mom slams decision to honor Prince Harry with son’s award” https://t.co/GXvffEGBsf
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) June 30, 2024
Prince Harry was in the British army and was praised by many for his role in launching the Invictus Games. This is a Paralympic-style competition for injured or disabled servicemen and veterans. In recent years he and his miserable wife, Meghan, have caused nothing but controversy and division.
Shame on ESPN. Over time, the network has become infected with wokeness. It is now causing its viewers to be annoyed by their political views instead of sports. I’m one of those who thinks that Pat Tillman’s honor should not be linked in any shape or form to Prince Harry, especially for an award named for the American hero.
