As we approach the overblown annual sports event known as the ESPY’s, there’s always one or two moments that actually are worthwhile. For this year’s edition that will live this Wednesday on ABC, there’s will be the time when Turner Sports’ Craig Sager will be handed the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. ESPN has announced that Vice President Joe Biden will present the award to Sager.
For his courage in his fight against leukemia and maintaining a rigorous work schedule while undergoing treatment, Sager will receive the award named after the late Jim Valvano who gave the now iconic “Don’t Give Up” speech at the first ESPY’s.
Past recipients of the award include the late women’s college basketball coach Kay Yow, Eric LeGrand, George Karl, Rick and Dick Hoyt, Stuart Scott and Devon and Leah Still.
Sager who recently worked his first NBA Finals game last month, will be on-hand at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA for the event this week, then fly to Rio de Janeiro to be on the sidelines for the Olympics basketball tournament for NBC.
The show will air live at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m.CT on ABC and tape delayed in the Mountain and Pacific time zones. This will be the 24th edition of the ESPY’s.
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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.