‘Caitlyn Jenner’ To Receive Bravery Award

Current Events –
‘Caitlyn Jenner’ To Receive Bravery Award

Although it probably took a certain amount of courage for Bruce “Caitlyn” Jenner to publicly announce to the world that he is now a woman, is that announcement truly worthy of a prestigious award for bravery?

Current Events
ESPN has announced that it will award Caitlyn Jenner with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award later this summer. Seriously?? Does Jenner’s proclamation that he has forever felt like a female rise to the appropriate level of an Ashe Award recipient???

No knock against Jenner and her gender choices, however since thousands of men and women make the same gender-switch decision every year, how does Jenner stand out as “courageous” among everyone else making the same discovery??

So, exactly what are the requirements for an Ashe Award recipient?  According to ESPN:

The Ashe Award is one of the most prestigious in sports. Recipients reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost. The award is inspired by the life that Ashe lived, using his fame and stature to advocate for human rights, although, at the time, those positions may have been unpopular and were often controversial. From speaking out against apartheid in South Africa to revealing to the world his struggle with AIDS, Ashe never backed away from a difficult issue, even though doing so would have been easier. Winners of the Ashe Award strive to carry on Ashe’s legacy in their own lives – – inspired by those who do so each day.

When considering someone with real courage, there are perhaps the countless fireman who ran into the World Trade Center to save lives, while risking their own on 9/11.  Or perhaps Georgia Police Sgt. Joe Hudson who saved a young boy from dying in a raging fire.  Or maybe even Army Sgt. 1st Class Lynnette Hobson-Shearwood who saved the life of a drowning child.  THOSE are acts of legitimate courage.  But Bruce Jenner announcing that he is now a woman? Hmmm… not so much!

Current Events
NBC Sports star Bob Costas took issue with ESPN earlier this week, blasting their selection of Jenner for the Arthur Ashe Award as a “crass exploitation play.”

In an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Costas said:

“In the broad world of sports, I’m pretty sure they could’ve found someone — and this is not anything against Caitlyn Jenner — who was much closer actively involved in sports, who would’ve been deserving of what that award represents.

“That’s not to say it doesn’t take some measure of personal courage to do what Caitlyn Jenner has done.

“I think every year we look across the landscape of sports and we find prominent people and kids in high school and amateur athletes who I think more closely fit the description of what they’re looking for — or should be looking for there.

“I think this is just a play to pump up audience, the way lots of things are put on television to attract eyeballs — not because of the validity but because of whatever the kind of gawker factor is.”

Caitlyn Jenner’s acceptance speech at the Los Angeles awards ceremony on July 15th will be her first public appearance since transitioning to female.  According to Jenner, the ceremony will offer her the chance to “stand as my true self in front of my peers.”

Jenner will appear on stage with all 10 of her children and stepchildren, including the Kardashian sisters.  She will also be joined by recent award recipients Michael Sam, who is the first openly gay NFL player, as well as sportscaster Robin Roberts, who survived breast cancer and the blood disease myelodysplastic syndrome.

Is Caitlyn Jenner truly the best and most deserving choice for the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, or is this all just an exploitative media gimmick?

OK WASSUP! covers current events,
including ESPN’s choice of Caitlyn Jenner
for the Arthur Ashe Courage Award?