The 2019 ESPY Awards was all about the past and the present as comedian Tracy Morgan hosted the gala affair before some of the biggest names in sports and film.
Though each person who was called upon the stage was indeed a winner, it is the individual moments that comprise the whole that make award shows worth watching in the first place.
Among the biggest winners of the evening were the United States Women’s National Soccer Team, who won the Best Team award.
Alex Morgan of the USWNT won the award for Best Female Athlete while Serena Williams won Best Women’s Tennis Player.
The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance went to Prospect JV head football coach Rob Mendez.
Born without arms and legs due to a rare condition, Mendez’s zest for life and fiery disposition were noticeably inspiring to an audience filled with people who have achieved on an extraordinary level. To inspire the overachiever to want to stand at attention?
"When you dedicate yourself to something and open your mind to different possibilities … you really can go places in this world."
Rob Mendez's acceptance speech is everything. pic.twitter.com/32n7wP9BP3
— ESPN (@espn) July 11, 2019
Man, that’s inspiration on another level.
He was so inspiring that Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rodriguez invited Mendez to hang out during the season.
The Pat Tillman Award for Service went to former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Kirstie Ennis, who lost part of her right leg during a helicopter crash while deployed in a combat zone.
"I am one of the lucky ones who came home. Broken, but I'm still here and I still can. So I will continue everyday for those who can't."
Kirstie Ennis, winner of the Pat Tillman Award for Service 👏 pic.twitter.com/gojaAEMqVQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 11, 2019
Former Marine Corps Sergeant @KirstieEnnis was injured in a helicopter crash serving in Afghanistan in 2012.
Her achievements and dedication to serving others are why she's won the Pat Tillman Service Award.
(📍@MassMutual) pic.twitter.com/vuiPnFStgG
— ESPYS (@ESPYS) July 11, 2019
University of Saint Joseph head basketball coach Jim Calhoun was awarded the Best Coach Award.
After decades coaching big-time college basketball at UConn, Calhoun retired in 2012 before returning to coaching as the first coach ever at Division III St. Joseph in 2018, leading them to a 16-12 record in his first season.
11-time NBA champion and all-around Odin-figure of the National Basketball Association, Bill Russell has to be one of the most celebrated sports figures of all-time. But that don’t mean he doesn’t deserve every accolade society wishes to bestow upon him. He was introduced by Kobe Bryant as he received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtLgwcPuJvk
You can click here to see the full list of 2019 ESPY Award winners
