Another very sad commentary on our times when a selfish aberration to mankind is chosen as a courage award winner over an heroic, selfless, dying athlete. While Lauren Hill gave everything she had in the hope that it might help others in the future, Jenner was entirely self-absorbed, self-serving, and another blow to a dying society.
The Internet sears with outrage over ESPN’s bestowal of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award on the Athlete Formerly Known as Bruce Jenner rather than giving it to Lauren Hill, the utterly courageous 19-year-old woman who battled inoperable brain cancer while playing basketball for Mount St. Joseph’s.
Before she died in April, Hill had achieved a dream of her own, scoring the first and last basket when Mount St. Joseph’s defeated Hiram College 66-55 on November 2014. The courageous young woman, knowing she wouldn’t survive, decided to use her notoriety to raise money for cancer research; by last November, she had raised $1 million for DIPC Cancer Research.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, whose 4-year-old daughter was battling cancer, tweeted:
Congrats Lauren Hill on raising 1 million dollars for DIPG Cancer research! Using your battle to raise awareness n money is an inspiration!
— Devon Still (@Dev_Still71) December 30, 2014
According to ESPN, Hill’s courage was superseded by Jenner’s decision to become a woman. ESPN announced on June 1 that it was honoring Jenner with the Ashe Award, and only belatedly announced on July 14 that it would offer a small tribute to Hill at the ESPY Awards. A producer for the program admitted that she and her staff, rather than any wider voting process, selected the former Olympian for the honor. On Wednesday, the resultant fury was exhibited on Twitter:
How the hell does Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner get the Arthur Ashe Courage Award over Lauren Hill?! Our society is a JOKE.
— Dylan Loberg (@dloberg22) July 16, 2015
My pick for the #ArthurAsheCourageAward … I think many will agree. #LaurenHill https://t.co/0W1LCZLC81
— Matt Overton (@MattOverton_LS) July 16, 2015
Touching tribute to Lauren Hill. Makes the Caitlyn Courage “ratings grab” look even more pathetic !!
— John Dennis (@JohnDennisWEEI) July 16, 2015
The Los Angeles Times reported that a possible reason for the honoring of Jenner derived from a deal between ABC and Jenner. ABC televised the ESPYs and Jenner had granted an exclusive interview to ABC’s Diane Sawyer in April regarding the gender transition Jenner was undergoing. The interview grabbed huge ratings.
Is that how we pick our heroes now? By the ratings they may generate on TV? God help us. It's almost criminal that his/her name even be mentioned in the same breath as Lauren Hill's.
ESPN - you're sick!
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| Lauren Hill, RIP, you are a genuine hero |
Before she died in April, Hill had achieved a dream of her own, scoring the first and last basket when Mount St. Joseph’s defeated Hiram College 66-55 on November 2014. The courageous young woman, knowing she wouldn’t survive, decided to use her notoriety to raise money for cancer research; by last November, she had raised $1 million for DIPC Cancer Research.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, whose 4-year-old daughter was battling cancer, tweeted:
Congrats Lauren Hill on raising 1 million dollars for DIPG Cancer research! Using your battle to raise awareness n money is an inspiration!
— Devon Still (@Dev_Still71) December 30, 2014
According to ESPN, Hill’s courage was superseded by Jenner’s decision to become a woman. ESPN announced on June 1 that it was honoring Jenner with the Ashe Award, and only belatedly announced on July 14 that it would offer a small tribute to Hill at the ESPY Awards. A producer for the program admitted that she and her staff, rather than any wider voting process, selected the former Olympian for the honor. On Wednesday, the resultant fury was exhibited on Twitter:
How the hell does Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner get the Arthur Ashe Courage Award over Lauren Hill?! Our society is a JOKE.
— Dylan Loberg (@dloberg22) July 16, 2015
My pick for the #ArthurAsheCourageAward … I think many will agree. #LaurenHill https://t.co/0W1LCZLC81
— Matt Overton (@MattOverton_LS) July 16, 2015
Touching tribute to Lauren Hill. Makes the Caitlyn Courage “ratings grab” look even more pathetic !!
— John Dennis (@JohnDennisWEEI) July 16, 2015
The Los Angeles Times reported that a possible reason for the honoring of Jenner derived from a deal between ABC and Jenner. ABC televised the ESPYs and Jenner had granted an exclusive interview to ABC’s Diane Sawyer in April regarding the gender transition Jenner was undergoing. The interview grabbed huge ratings.
Is that how we pick our heroes now? By the ratings they may generate on TV? God help us. It's almost criminal that his/her name even be mentioned in the same breath as Lauren Hill's.
ESPN - you're sick!
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