Stephanie McMahon, Mark Giordano, San Francisco 49ers Among Winners at ESPN Sports Humanitarian Awards

Stephanie McMahon and Ronda Rousey at ESPN Humanitarian Awards

Photo by Scott Clarke / ESPN Images

The Third Annual ESPN Sports Humanitarian Awards on Tuesday once celebrated again the positive things that athletes do rather than the negative things that so often end up in the news.

From the NFL, NBA and MLS to WWE, UFC and boxing, sports stars from across the country joined in honoring those who try to make the world a better place.

Laila Ali co-hosted this year with “Mike & Mike’s” Mike Greenberg, and they both got to witness the presentation of the first Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award in remembrance of her late father, who paved the way for athletes wanting to make an impact on the community. Presented by ESPN and sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, the event gathered leagues, teams, individuals and members of the sporting community in Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE’s The Novo to celebrate those who have used the power of sports to make a positive impact on society.

Also Read: Laila Ali Talks Muhammad Ali Ahead of ESPN Humanitarian Awards: 'He Is in a Better Place Now'

After a media circus across the street Tuesday afternoon at the Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor press conference, UFC fighter Ronda Rousey was on hand to present a very special award to WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon — one of the three recipients of the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award.

“Stephanie is an anomaly,” Rousey told the audience. “She was born into a life of privilege but never took advantage of it. She is a fine example of paying it forward. While she plays a bad guy in the is a fine example of working for the greater good.”

Honored for her work cancer sufferers, especially children such as Connor Michalek, the inspiration for the WWE charity Connor’s Cure.”I first met Connor backstage and you could tell he was sick from the way he looked but you would never guess from his personality,” McMahon then said in a video montage. Connor was later invited by McMahon and her husband Triple H to appear in a WWE ring.

“The last time I saw Ronda she had me in an arm bar … so I am really grateful she hugged me just now. To be a part of Stuart Scott’s legacy of hope and to live a life with purpose is not something I take lightly,” McMahon said during her acceptance speech.

“There is truly nothing better to put a smile on a child’s face for a few moments … or make them forget that they are sick when they meet their idols. I will never forget the choke-out hug that Connor gave me in WrestleMania,” she said, asking Connor’s father to stand up for an ovation.

“It’s our mission to put smiles on people’s faces, that’s what our company stands for … no child should ever suffer from cancer, they should never be sick,” McMahon added.

Also Read: WWE WrestleMania 33: 11 Things You Didn't See on TV

Friend of TheWrap’s CEO Sharon Waxman, Katie Couric said she was delighted to be at the event to support the youth tennis program that she works with.

“I want to thank ESPN for everything you do to help Stand Up for Cancer and the V Foundation,” Couric said when she took to the stage. “Jimmy V stood in front of us 25 years ago and told us all ‘never give up.’

ESPN president John Skipper took time out from talking with executives to pose with Special Olympics gold medalist Daina Shilts as she conducted interviews on the red carpet. The snowboarder gushed with pride when Skipper said he remembered meeting her at the world winter games in Austria. Next up, Daina will get to meet Michelle Obama at the ESPYs when Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver is honored.

Also Read: Eunice Kennedy Shriver to Be Honored With Arthur Ashe Courage Award at ESPYs

“We created this event to honor people in sports who do great things and you’d never know it,” Skipper said during the Humanitarian dinner. “We also created it to honor Stuart Scott and we are pleased that his daughters are here with us.

“Whenever I am asked which athlete has stood up for the community and his culture, it is the same answer since I was 10 years old: Muhammad Ali,” the ESPN boss continued.

“There can be no more fitting way to show what we honor. In Arabic, Muhammad Ali means praiseworthy one. It was an apt choice,” he added.

Laila Ali then returned to the stage to tell the audience that as much as her father talked “and he talked a lot — he was a man of action.”

She went on to present the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award to Mark Giordano, team captain of the NHL Calgary Flames, for his work with local schools and underprivileged youths, encouraging them to attain their goals no matter how far out of reach they may seem. His Team Giordano program provides resources to 1,900 students, promoting physical fitness, academics and positive behaviors.

“To be mentioned in the same sentence as Muhammad Ali is a great honor,” Giordano said, before thanking ESPN and everyone involved in the event — and his pregnant wife. “I’ve never been to anything like this before, and it’s been great.”

Also Read: Peyton Manning to Host 25th Annual ESPYS

Even among the seriousness, there was plenty of fun going on, such as former NFL star Shawne Merriman gushing over seeing his own idol, skateboarder Tony Hawk on the red carpet.

ESPN veteran and NFL guru Chris Berman made a public appearance following the recent death of his wife, telling TheWrap how touched he was by the outpouring of support he and has family has received since her passing. Normally covering the MLB All-Star weekend, this was the first time Berman had the opportunity to attend the Humanitarian Awards, despite being a staple at the ESPYs for decades.

Also Read: ESPN Veteran Chris Berman Is 'Overwhelmed by the Outpouring of Love' in Wake of Wife's Death

Always a firecracker on the red carpet, George Takei was excited to talk about everything from growing up in L.A., being named after a British royal, and his dislike of Donald Trump (spoiler alert: he’s really not a fan).

Takei was joined by good friend Lance Bass to present to the Orlando City Soccer Club, who banded together to help victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

“Power” actor Omari Hardwick made an appearance to present the Team of the Year Award to the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier he told TheWrap that it’s so important for sports stars to do philanthropic work as many of them came from inner cities or communities in need.

The winner of the Corporate Community Impact Award was DICK’S Sporting Goods, which in conjunction with The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation launched Sports Matter to help save youth sports by highlighting the benefits of youth sports through documentaries and short films.

Grammy winner Patti LaBelle closed out the night with awe-inspiring performance from her latest release “Bel Hommage,” accompanied by a brass quartet.

Also Read: Michelle Obama to Give Arthur Ashe Courage Award to Eunice Kennedy Shriver at 25th ESPYS

Other notable names in attendance were “SportsCenter” host Cari Champion and actress Angie Harmon, who attended as an ambassador of UNICEF USA.

The net proceeds of the event will benefit the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund at the V Foundation. ESPN will grant a total of $100,000 to the charities of the winners and $25,000 for each of the finalists.

More than $1.1 million was raised through the Sports Humanitarian Awards, which will benefit the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund at The V Foundation. Additionally, ESPN will grant an additional $1 million to the charities of the nominees and winners. In total, more than $2 million will be distributed to the community as a result of the initiative.

Highlights of the evening will be showcased during a one-hour program on ESPN, July 25, at 7 p.m. ET.

25 Most Memorable ESPYs Moments, From Stuart Scott to Justin Timberlake (Photos)

Since the first ESPYs Awards in 1993, the show has celebrated the best sports action from throughout the year while honoring trailblazers from all realms. It was originally held in March or April from New York City, but has since moved to its regular spot in July following the MLB All-Star game and migrated west to Los Angeles. Check out some of the best moments from the last quarter decade.
Debbie Emery
Jimmy V's historic speech begins it all (1993)
Long before the Jimmy V Award existed, its namesake Jim Valvano made what still stands as the most famous speech in ESPYs’ history – and possibly all of sports. “I'm going to speak longer than anyone else has spoken tonight," Valvano said, accepting the first ever Arthur Ashe Courage Award (and everyone was more than OK with that). "Time is very precious to me. I don't know how much I have left and I have some things I would like to say." The N. C. State basketball coach was battling terminal bone cancer and died less than two months later.
ESPN
Michael Sam accepts the Courage Award (2014):
After becoming the first openly gay football player to enter the NFL draft in 2014 (where he was picked by the St. Louis Rams), Michael Sam was then presented the Courage Award by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Sam quoted Arthur Ashe, telling the audience: "Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” The University of Missouri alum went on to tell the audience: "Those were the words to live by, whether you're black or white, young or old, straight or gay ... Football raised me, football taught me about hard work."
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Sidney Poitier honors Muhammad Ali (1997):
A Hollywood legend honored a boxing legend with an Oscar-worthy speech and the result was nothing short of magical. "In an age of discrimination, he stood up for racial pride. In an era of lost values, he had a spiritual rebirth. In a time of war, Muhammad Ali spoke of peace,” Poitier said when he took to the podium.
Stuart Scott's inspirational cancer speech (2014):
Longtime “SportsCenter” anchor Stuart Scott became a part of the show in 2015 when he accepted the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. Up until then, few knew the extent of Scott’s cancer battle as he never let the struggle show on-air, but the sports broadcaster took the entire room with him on a beautiful, tear-jerking journey. “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live. So live. Live. Fight like hell and when you get too tired to fight then lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for you." Scott died in January 2015 at age 49 – but he never lost the fight.
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Devon Still accepts award for sick daughter Leah (2015):
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still became a household name during his five-year-old daughter Leah’s cancer battle, as he put supporting her ahead of his NFL career. Too sick to attend the ESPYs herself, the brave little girl said via video: “Sorry I couldn’t be here, everybody. Thank you for supporting me while I beat out cancer,” before her dad sent the message “don’t give up.” Two years later, Leah is cancer-free and the face of the Still Strong Foundation.
Photo by Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images
Ben Affleck pays tribute to a Yankees great (2015)
A die-hard Boston Red Sox fan presenting a New York Yankees legend with the Icon Award, what could go wrong? Thankfully, “There was something about him [Jeter] that made the boos ring a little hollow. Maybe it was his inimitable class, maybe it was that he won with dignity and lost with grace. Maybe it was simply that we knew no matter what, he was a winner regardless,” Affleck said. "He broke my heart 100 times, if not more. And he broke it again when he retired.”
Photo by Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images
Jamie Foxx serenades Serena Williams (2003):
We all heard Jamie Foxx sing as Ray Charles in Oscar-winning “Ray,” but no one expected him to honor Serena Williams with a little ditty titled, “Can I Be Your Tennis Ball?” when he served as host in 2003 and 2004. "15-love, 30-40 love, advantage you, 'til you get to deuce," went the catchy lyrics. Not even a Grand Slam champion could resist that.
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Craig Sager’s colorful Jimmy V Award speech (2016)
Even though he spent the bulk of his career at Turner Sports, Craig Sager was beloved at ESPN. The “NBA on TNT” reporter lit up the stage in a rainbow bright jacket and yellow shirt before delivering a moving speech while accepting the Jimmy V Award. “I will continue to keep fighting -- sucking the marrow out of life, as the marrow sucks the life out of me,” Sager said. Sadly, he passed away from leukemia in December.
Lauren Hill's parents remember her (2015):
College basketball phenomena Lauren Hill succumbed to a brain tumor three months before the ESPYs but that didn’t deplete her presence on the big night. When her parents took to the stage to accept the Best Moment award on her behalf, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. "We are so thankful to everyone who helped make Lauren's moment possible," Lauren's mother, Lisa Hill, said.
Photo by Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images
Bill Murray sings the “SportsCenter” theme song (1994)
Diehard Chicago Cubs fan Bill Murray saw his dream come true last year with the World Series victory, but long before the Cubs’ curse was broken, Murray took to the stage to host the 1994 ESPYs, and put his sports knowledge and singing talent to the test by belting out the signature “SportsCenter” tune.
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Justin Timberlake sings “I Love Sports” (2008):
Timberlake really does love sports, and he wasn’t afraid to tell the world while hosting the 2008 awards. The former NSYNC singer put his obsession to music in the catchy song that reflected on the sports year, poked fun at celebrity couples Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo and Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, and mocked his role in Janet Jackson’s Nipplegate Super Bowl scandal.
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Norm Macdonald tries to offend everyone (1998):
In comparison to Timberlake’s love of sports, Norm Macdonald ripped out the hearts of every sports fan watching with his ruthless opening monologue. From the Dallas Cowboys stripper scandal and O.J. Simpson, to rape allegations against Anthony Mason, no topic was too sensitive for the “Saturday Night Live” alum.
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Justin Timberlake vs. the Kansas Jayhawks (2008)
Forever the performer, Tennessee native Timberlake couldn’t hide his love of the Memphis Tigers when he hosted the 2008 ESPYs – which meant ripping into Kansas Jayhawks star Mario Chalmers for beating his beloved team in the NCAA final. Unfortunately for the host, that victory earned Kansas the Best Game award.
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Caitlyn Jenner's tearful speech (2105)
The former Olympian captivated the audience when she accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. There was a hushed silence when she took to the stage in a sweeping white gown, but that soon broke into applause and standing ovations. “Trans people deserve something vital: They deserve your respect,” Jenner said.
ESPN
Robin Roberts is introduced by LeBron James (2013):
A legend in her own right, Robin Roberts got an introduction worthy of royalty from LeBron “King” James when she was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for her public handling of her battles with breast cancer in 2007 and myelodysplastic syndrome. The "Good Morning America" host got a standing ovation when she went on stage to receive the award from the NBA great.
Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN
LeBron James’ “LeBrogative” dance (2007)
The Cleveland Cavaliers star was also part of a far less serious memorable moment in 2007 when he wore a wig and baggy pants to dance to “My LeBrogative” during his 2007 hosting gig. MC Hammer, eat your heart out.

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Dewey Bozella following his wrongful imprisonment (2011)
Former amateur boxer Dewey Bozella's wrongful imprisonment for murder turned him into a national news story, and his appearance at the 2011 ESPYs to accept the Arthur Ashe Award following his release after serving a 26 year prison sentence turned him into a household name.
Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN
Drake performs two potential hits (2014)
Everything Drake touches turns to gold, and that includes spoof songs he performs while hosting the ESPYs. "Honorable Mention" and "Side Pieces" were both cool enough to be hit singles if the rapper ever released them -- even though they're meant to be cheeky jokes poking fun at sports stars and their other halves.
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Gronk hosts a dance party (2015):
What's better than one Gronkowski dancing at the ESPYs? Four, of course! Rob and his equally-as-hyped brothers Dan, Chris and Gordie Jr. did a joint shoulder-bumping, jumping celebration when the New England Patriots tight end won Comeback Player of the Year in 2015. Despite being a Seattle Seahawks fan, host Joel McHale even closed the show by thanking “everyone for coming, and Rob Gronkowski.”
ESPN
Will Ferrell accepts an award as Tiger Woods (2008):
Long before Tiger Woods began hitting the news for the wrong reasons, Will Ferrell played a caricature of the golf champion in a hilarious ESPYs skit. "People are always asking me, 'Tiger, how do you do it?' And my answer is, 'Shut up.' I ask the questions."
ESPN
NBA stars take a stand (2016):
Politics and sports often inevitably crossover, and in 2016 Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James opened the ESPYs by addressing the Black Lives Matter protests and recent police shootings. “We cannot ignore the realities of the current state of America,” Anthony said as the four NBA super stars stood on stage together.
YouTube
Destiny's Child twerk with Serena Williams (2005):
Beyonce and co. were twerking at the ESPYs long before Gronk made it cool again. Destiny's Child were joined on stage by Serena Williams and track star Allyson Felix for a special performance of "Lose My Breath." Williams went on to appear in Beyonce's video for "Lemonade" last year.
YouTube
Chance the Rapper's Muhammad Ali tribute (2016):
Tributes to the greatest of all time filled the 2016 ESPY Awards, with the event taking place just over a month after his death. But none was more tuneful than the Chance the Rapper's closing song, which left guests with a black and white image of the Ali as they left the show instead of the customary confetti.
ESPN
Pat Summitt defies the odds -- again (2012):
Despite battling Alzheimer's disease, University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt gave one of her signature inspiring speeches when she was presented with Arthur Ashe Award by fellow Tennessean Peyton Manning. "It is time to fight," the winningest D-1 coach in NCAA history said. "As I ask all of you to join me together so we will win."
ESPN Video
Stevie Wonder presents Best Team to the Lakers (2009):
Musical great Stevie Wonder got to celebrate the Lakers' glory years when he presented the Best Team award to Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and their teammates. While that was pretty cool, but it will be Wonder's awesome introduction -- which included a promised that he planned to become "a quarterback for the Steelers or a point guard for the Cavaliers," before breaking into song that sticks in most people's memories.
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TheWrap looks back at 25 years of hilarious and heartfelt highlights

Since the first ESPYs Awards in 1993, the show has celebrated the best sports action from throughout the year while honoring trailblazers from all realms. It was originally held in March or April from New York City, but has since moved to its regular spot in July following the MLB All-Star game and migrated west to Los Angeles. Check out some of the best moments from the last quarter decade.

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