January 21, 2022

The 2022 ESPYs were so special for me and my family.
 
I received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award and it was an incredible honor. Seeing so many great athletes and hearing passionate stories all night long was truly touching.
 
If you didn’t get emotional after stories on Vitali Klitschko and his struggles in Ukraine, you were missing out. If you didn’t understand how special Billie Jean King was speaking about Title Ix turning 50 years old…wow!
 
Receiving this award made me think of the very first ESPYs. Jimmy V gave the speech of a lifetime, don’t give up, don’t ever give up. That started the V Foundation and we have raised over 150 million dollars for cancer research.
 
We need even more dollars to beat this dreaded disease. We have made great strides, but there is a lot more work ahead. If you can donate, please give to the V Foundation.
 
I want to thank the ESPYs, my second family at ESPN, President Jimmy Pitaro, former President George Bodenheimer, Chris German, and everyone involved in a special evening that I will never forget.