Boston Red Sox: Will David Ortiz Be the Next ESPYs Icon Award Winner?
Every July Maggie Vision Productions and ESPN carry out the lasting legacy of Jim Valvano by making us all laugh, think, and cry while celebrating another fantastic year in sports during the annual ESPY Awards.
One of the biggest awards established in 2015 was the ‘Icon Award’ to commemorate the brilliant career of a sports figure who not only transcended on the ball field, but also in their community, in front of the fans and by the legacy they leave behind in the world of sports.
Naturally, the first ever ESPYs Icon Award winner was none other than the New York Yankees’ former Captain, Number Two Derek Jeter, Number Two.
Last night during the 2016 ESPYs, we watched Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant and Abby Wambach honored with the 2016 Icon Award, respectively, and as I watched these three illustrious sports figures join the ranks of Derek Jeter, I couldn’t help but wonder whether or not ‘Big Papi’ David Ortiz would be next in line to receive the award next July during the 2017 rendition of the ESPYs.
David Ortiz will hang up his cleats at the end of the 2016 season after 20 years in the big leagues. Ortiz will leave the game a 10-time All-Star, a six-time Silver Slugger Award Winner, a member of the 500 Home Run Club and perhaps a four-time World Series Champion if Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, David Price and company can continue to streak through the second half and into the playoffs.
But similar to Derek Jeter, Abby Wambach, Kobe Bryant and Peyton Manning, David Ortiz’s accolades far exceed the dimensions of historic Fenway Park.
When you think of David Ortiz you don’t just think of him as the biggest Yankee killer of this era or as one of the most clutch postseason performers this game has ever seen.
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When you think of David Ortiz you also think about the figure who has been there for the city of Boston for 14 straight seasons. Not only has he been a staple in the Boston Red Sox organization, but he’s been a symbol of hope and prosperity for greater New England.
When the Tsarnaev brothers cowardly killed three people and injured 264 others during the Boston Marathon, it was David Ortiz who was the ‘strong’ in “Boston Strong.”
With the foundation of Boston dented and the community distraught, fans came to good ol’ Fenway Park to try to escape some of the horrid events of days past, and it was David Ortiz who offered some words of encouragement.
"“This past week, I don’t think there was one human being who wasn’t affected by what we got going on down here,” Ortiz said. “This past week for me, myself, I was very emotional and angry about whole situation and got to get that out of my chest and make sure our fans and everyone in the nation knows that this is a great nation and part of it was supporting each other when everything went down.”“This is our [expletive] city, and nobody is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.”"
When you think of David Ortiz you also think of the face behind the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, whose mission is aiding children in New England and the Dominican Republic who do not have access to the critical pediatric services they need. Since its inception in 2005, Ortiz and his charity have raised over $2 million for children in need and saved over 500 lives in the Dominican Republic as well as helping countless others in the New England area.
But, playing devil’s advocate here, though he was never found guilty or suspended for performance-enhancing drugs, the 40-year-old Ortiz is unfortunately tied to steroids dating back to 2003 when both Ortiz and former teammate Manny Ramirez tested positive for steroids during Spring Training.
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Might this affect Ortiz’s chance at being named the 2017 ESPYs Icon Award recipient?
You just never know, especially when it comes to ESPYs Executive Producer Maura Mandt and her outstanding vision to push the boundary of sports far beyond the limit.