The mother of Pat Tillman, a US military hero, has criticized ESPN’s choice to honor Prince Harry (The Duke of Sussex) with the award named after her son. Mary Tillman said ESPN network never consulted on Prince Harry getting the Pat Tillman Award.

The award honors the late NFL safety-turned-Army Ranger who volunteered following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Tillman was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, the news stunned his fellow Americans.

“I am shocked as to why ESPN would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” Mary told the Daily Mail Newspaper. “There are recipients that are far more fitting than Prince Harry,” she said. “There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.”

The shocked mother also said that Prince Harry is already popular and has won many awards, so ESPN should have picked someone else who has never been in the spotlight.

Many unsung heroes have won the Pat Tillman Award. Last year’s winner was the Buffalo Bills training staff, who revived Damar Hamlin after he had a cardiac attack in the middle of a game.

Mary’s condemnation was echoed by ESPN analysts Pat McAfee, who accused his own network on Friday of “trying to piss people off” for picking Prince Harry, the New York Post reports.

“It’s going to Prince Harry,” McAfee said on his talk show, “who I don’t even think is a Prince anymore, right? He said don’t call me that? See, why does the ESPYs do this s–t?

“This is like actually the most embarrassing thing I’ve seen in my entire life,” he added.

In picking The Duke of Sussex and others to receive honors during the upcoming ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly), Kate Jackson, VP, Production at ESPN, touted the recipients as those who have changed the world.

Jackson said, “These honorees have used their platforms to change the world and make it more inclusive for marginalized and suffering communities. They have shown incredible resilience, positivity, and perseverance, and we can’t wait to celebrate them at the 2024 ESPYs.”

Others have praised Harry for starting the Invictus Games, even though his life as a royal has caused a lot of trouble. Harry served in the British military for 10 years and flew helicopters on two tours in Afghanistan.

The Games, which started in 2014, are multi-sport competitions in the style of the Paralympics for soldiers and service members who have been hurt or sick.

When Prince Harry found out he was going to get the Pat Tillman Award, he said, “This one is for our whole service community.”

This award was made in 2014 and is given to someone who has worked in ways that are similar to Tillman’s.

Tillman was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals and served in Iraq and then Afghanistan before being killed by friendly fire in 2004. For his service, the hero was given the Silver Star and the Purple Heart after his death.

Source: Daily Mail, NY Post

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Popularity Hopes Dashed

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Popularity Hopes Dashed

 

WIMBLEDON, England — Andy Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, said Sunday that it is “impossible” to predict whether he would be ready to compete at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament despite feeling “better every day” as he recovers from surgery to remove a cyst from his spine.

Murray, 37, is slated to play the first round of singles at the All England Club on Tuesday. He and his older brother, Jamie, were also awarded wild-card invitations for doubles, which begin later this week.

Andy Murray Is Still Not Sure Whether He Will Be Able To Compete At Wimbledon

The Scot underwent back surgery on June 22 after being forced to stop during a match at Queen’s Club a few days prior. He stated that the cyst was compressing a nerve, rendering his right leg numb and difficult to use and that he expected to miss Wimbledon “highly likely” before the surgery.

“It’s been a tough 10 days,” he stated.

Murray played a practice set on Sunday.

“It went pretty well, but I still don’t have 100% feeling and sensation in my leg,” stated the surgeon.

Murray intends to take medical checks on Monday, the first day of Wimbledon, and play another practice set before deciding in the evening.

Andy Murray Is Still Not Sure Whether He Will Be Able To Compete At Wimbledon

Murray has won three major championships: the U.S. Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. In 2013, he became the first British guy to win the All England Club’s singles trophy in 77 years.

He is also the first player to win two Olympic singles gold medals. He triumphed in London in 2012 when the All England Club hosted the sport’s Summer Games and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Murray underwent two hip procedures in 2018 and 2019. Murray returned to action after the second surgery, in which he received a metal hip implant, despite believing he would have to retire.

Subsequently, he has been sidelined by various medical difficulties, including injuring ligaments in his left ankle at the Miami Open in March.

Murray lost in the first round of the French Open in May.

Andy Murray Is Still Not Sure Whether He Will Be Able To Compete At Wimbledon

He is not the only 37-year-old with multiple Wimbledon titles on his resume who is recovering from recent surgery: Novak Djokovic, who won seven of his 24 Grand Slam titles at the All England Club, had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee less than a month ago after being injured at the French Open.

Djokovic stated Saturday that he feels good enough to compete at Wimbledon and possibly win another trophy.

SOURCE – (AP)

Ever wondered what it’s like to attend a party given by Beatles legend Paul McCartney? Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel got an invite and has the scoop.

During an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” on Wednesday, the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and his wife Molly McNearney, who is also the executive producer and co-head writer on the ABC show, discussed the star-studded bash, claiming they brushed shoulders with everyone from Taylor Swift to Bruce Springsteen.

Paul McCartney Hosted A Very Star-Studded Party And Jimmy Kimmel Spilled The Tea About The Guestlist

According to Kimmel, Swift was in charge of the music that night, and she was joined by her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

“They claimed Taylor Swift was DJing. “She just had her iPhone and tapped into the house system, but she wasn’t hired to work there,” he explained.

With several notable music superstars among the 100 visitors, including Ringo Starr and Mick Jagger, Kimmel stated that there was no big jam session, but “people were dancing in the kitchen, including Molly.”

Kimmel, admittedly too star-struck to approach Jagger, said that at a party like that, “you gravitate toward the people you already know and go, ‘Can you believe that this is happening and that we’re here?'”

According to Kimmel, even some of the most famous attendees noticed the star power in the room, and he and Springsteen talked about it.

“I mean, even Bruce Springsteen was like, ‘This is some party,'” the comedian explained.

McNearney also managed to locate her pals Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, whom she described as “so relieved to see because it was one of those parties where I didn’t know how to hold my body.”

“I didn’t know where to look, I didn’t know what to do,” she went on.

It’s unknown when the party occurred, but it sounds identical to the one Kimmel discussed with “Dune: Part Two” star Austin Butler on his late-night show earlier this month.

“It was maybe the craziest party I’ve ever been to in my whole life,” Kimmel stated.

Butler said that witnessing McCartney and Starr in the same room “was amazing” and “so special.” Surpris ingly, that wasn’t the sighting that struck him the most.

“It was Meryl Streep,” Butler explained. “She’s just the greatest.”

Oh, to be a fly on the walls.

SOURCE – (CNN)