Morgan, Antetokounmpo win top awards
LOS ANGELES — Alex Morgan won female athlete of the year and shared the best team award with her U.S. women’s national soccer teammates at The ESPYS on Wednesday night, hours after the group was honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York City to celebrate their Women’s World Cup championship.
“Sorry, but this is probably the second-best trophy we won this week,” Morgan said jokingly, hoisting her individual trophy.
As she got up from the front row, Megan Rapinoe’s black tuxedo jacket opened and exposed her left breast, which was caught by cameras showing the in-house feed of the show. It wasn’t immediately known whether it went out over the national telecast.
“I’ve dropped the Fbomb on every stage the last four days, so we’ll just spare you that,” Rapinoe told the audience.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks won male athlete of the year at the show honoring the past year’s top athletes and moments in sports.
“This is all about hard work. When you believe in your dreams this can happen,” Antetokounmpo said. “Hopefully, if I keep working hard there’s more to come.”
Comedian Tracy Morgan presided over the show at Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Special honorees were:
• Bill Russell, Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. The 85-year-old NBA Hall of Famer was saluted for his dedication to fighting for social justice and ensuring opportunity for all young people. Russell acknowledged a standing ovation from an upper level box but didn’t speak.
• Former Marine Sgt. Kirstie Ennis, Pat Tillman Award for Service. While on duty in Afghanistan, Ennis was in a crash that resulted in traumatic injuries and ultimately led to an aboveknee amputation of her left leg. She is trying to become the first woman above-the-knee amputee to summit all seven of the world’s highest peaks.
• Rob Mendez, Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. The high school football coach was born without arms or legs due to a rare disorder. He is head coach of the junior varsity team at Prospect High in Saratoga, Calif.
• Jim Calhoun, best coach. The three-time national champion coach at Connecticut now guides Division III University of St. Joseph.