Shortly after Caitlyn Jenner made her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair, it was announced that she would receive the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at this years ESPY Awards.
It struck some as an odd move, as while Caitlyn is undeniably courageous, she hasn’t been involved in the world of sports in almost 40 years, and she’s most famous these days as a reality star and parent of Instagram celebrities.
It seems that’s why famed sportscaster Bob Costas felt the need to speak out against the decision in a recent interview with Dan Patrick:
“It strikes me that awarding the Arthur Ashe Award to Caitlyn Jenner is just a crass exploitation play — it’s a tabloid play,” Costas said.
“In the broad world of sports, I’m pretty sure they could’ve found someone — and this is not anything against Caitlyn Jenner — who was much closer, actively involved in sports, who would’ve been deserving of what that award represents.”
While Costas has a point in that Caitlyn has not been involved in the sports community in several decades, this would not be the first time that the award has gone to an athlete who’s been retired for several decades (Muhammad Ali in 1997) or who is better known for other pursuits (Nelson Mandela in 2009, and no, we’re not comparing raising Kylie Jenner to ending apartheid).
Many suspect that Costas’ feelings regarding Caitlyn have less to do with her achievements and more to do with his distaste for reality TV, an opinion that’s supported by comments Costas made later in the interview:
"It feels like ‘let’s buy into the Keeping Up With The Kardashians culture’ that has overtaken a good part of the cultural landscape," Costas said. "That’s a train that’s left the station, and you and I can’t slow it down no matter how we feel about it."
Predictably, Costas has experienced some backlash on social media, but while his comments may be ill-considered, if he demonstrated any prejudice, it’s against the Kardashian clan as a whole, not against Caitlyn or the transgender community.
Caitlyn was no doubt aware that the mixed public opinion regarding her family would complicate her coming out, which only makes her transition all the more courageous.
So there’s no questions she’s brave, and to anyone who doubts her love of sports – sources say Caitlyn has been dying to hit the links ever since the completion of her latest surgical procedures.
Courageous? Check. Athlete? Check. Sounds like we’ve got ourselves a winner, Bob. Kardashian Fatigue is a serious condition, but don’t let it cloud your judgment.