Humanitarianism Awards are the best part of the ESPYs

7 months ago - Sportingbase

The 2025 ESPY Awards took place on Wednesday evening in Los Angeles, California. NBA legend Oscar Robertson of Charlotte, Tennessee won the Arthur Ashe Award Courage Award and tennis star Sloane Stephens of Plantation, Florida won the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award.

We all know about Robertson’s triple-double success. It was fitting that it was Russell Westbrook, the all-time leader in triple doubles, who presented Robertson with the award. ESPN deserves credit on raising awareness of the impact Robertson had off the court. Not many, including me, was aware of the story of Robertson’s commitment to giving all professional basketball players an opportunity to decide where they could or could not play. As the president of the NBA Players Association from 1965 to 1974, Robertson succeeded in fighting for free agency, and the Oscar Robertson Rule, which prevented NBA franchises from controlling the contract of players for life.

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We also learned about the impact that Stephens has had to the game of tennis. Many know Stephens as the winner of the 2017 United States Open. What you may not know is that Stephens started the Sloane Stephens Foundation. Through this charitable endeavour, tennis courts were built in California and Florida for underprivileged students.

On Wednesday when Stephens accepted her award, my dad asked me, “has Stephens retired yet?” My answer, was I am not sure. That is what many tennis fans are wondering. Stephens has not played since February, when she lost 6-2, 6-3 to Petra Martic of Croatia. Even though Stephens is ranked 237th in the world, she has not formally announced her retirement.

At a time when athletes are praised for their athletic excellence, once in a while the humanitarian attributes need to be recognized. Stephens and Robertson are well deserving of their awards.