Pat Tillman's mother is amongst a growing number of individuals questioning whether “controversial” Prince Harry deserves an award named in honor of the San Jose-raised NFL star and war hero who was killed in Afghanistan.
Mary Tillman said in an announcement that she was not consulted by ESPN in the choice to present the estranged son of King Charles III with the 2024 Pat Tillman Award for Merit at this 12 months's ESPY Awards. Harry is scheduled to simply accept the award at a televised ceremony on July 11 hosted by former tennis player Serena Williams – who happens to be good friends with Harry's equally controversial wife, Meghan Markle.
“I am shocked why they chose such a controversial and polarizing person as the winner,” Mary Tillman said of Harry in an announcement to the Daily Mail.
Mary Tillman said organizers must have chosen a less famous honoree, as they’ve done for the reason that award was created in 2004 as a tribute to her son, the 27-year-old Leland High School graduate who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in April 2004. The Fremont native was a star football player at Arizona State University and, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, walked away from a $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals to affix the Army Rangers.
Mary Tillman said there are people who find themselves “far more suited” to the award, individuals who “don't have the money, the means, the connections or the privilege that Prince Harry has.” She said: “I think those kinds of people deserve recognition.”
Harry didn’t reply to a request for comment from People Magazine about Mary Tillman's testimony.
ESPN said the Tillman Award is given to “an individual with a strong connection to the sport who has served others in a way that reflects the legacy of the former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger.”
Yet, as Mary Tillman said, Harry has turn out to be a polarizing figure in popular culture. Many people all over the world love him for his decision to step away from royal life and take a look at to construct a life in California as a media mogul, philanthropist and mental health advocate. ESPN said Harry is receiving the Pat Tillman Award due to his service within the British armed forces, which included two tours in Afghanistan, and his work in founding the Invictus Games, a world sporting event for wounded, injured and sick lively duty soldiers and veterans.
Harry's decision to simply accept the Pat Tillman Award was also met with disdain by Pat McAfee, ESPN's star sports analyst, and Organizers of a petition, which have up to now collected greater than 28,000 signatures calling on ESPN to reconsider awarding the prize to Harry.
In his show on Friday, McAfee asked: “Why are the ESPYs doing this (curse word)?” He criticized the ESPYs for appearing to pander to Harry, “who I don't even think is a prince anymore.”
“Did (Prince Harry's) people know that you simply publicly nominated me for this award? You ask principally anybody who considers themselves an American and say, 'That's nonsense…' Especially at a sports awards ceremony. I assume Harry knew that, right?” McAfee continued.
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