Prince Harry honored with Pat Tillman Service Award at ESPYS

LOS ANGELES – Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPYS on Thursday night, and mentioned the late Army Ranger’s mother who criticized ESPN for honoring the royals.

With wife Meghan giving a standing ovation, the Duke of Sussex accepted the trophy from three service veterans who were injured during their deployments. Harry served in the British military for 10 years, including two tours in Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot.

He created the Invictus Games in 2014, which serve as a Paralympic-style multisport games for wounded or injured military personnel and veterans.

“This award belongs to them, not me,” Harry said on stage at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, criticized the network’s selection of Harry, saying there are recipients working in the veterans community who would have been a better fit. Harry thanked Tillman’s widow, Marie, for her presence and also thanked Mary Tillman.

“Your defense of Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and I respect it,” he said. “The bond between mother and child is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”

Dawn Staley, coach of the national championship South Carolina women’s basketball team, received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Her friend, Tennessee standout Nicki McCray-Penson, died of breast cancer and Staley’s sister was diagnosed with leukemia.

“I must confess that I feel a little unworthy of this recognition. Previous recipients of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award have faced incredible challenges and proven themselves to be true warriors,” said Staley. “I was just a spectator of this immense courage and resilience.”

A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces won best female sports athlete.

“It’s crazy to think that a young girl who didn’t even want to play basketball is now up for at least one ESPY,” she said in videotaped comments.

JuJu Watkins won best new athlete, taking first prize after the show started 30 minutes late because of President Joe Biden’s press conference.

The Southern California basketball star had a standout freshman season, leading the Trojans to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in decades.

“This is crazy,” Watkins said. “I want to thank all the great and powerful women who came before me and who made this possible.”

Host Serena Williams joked during her monologue after Ciara opened the show with a musical performance. Older sister Venus later appeared and joked that she had been asked to host and the siblings got into a mock argument.

“You might be wondering why I’m doing this,” said Serena, a fashion fan. “Any opportunity to wear 16 outfits in three hours, I’m going to take it.”

The three-hour program on ABC was postponed when Biden’s nationally televised news conference started late and lasted 30 minutes in program time.

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