‘Far more fitting recipients’: Mother of war hero questions decision to give Pat Tillman Award to Prince Harry
July 1, 2024
NEW DELHI: The mother of a US war hero killed in Afghanistan has criticised the decision to present Prince Harry with the Pat Tillman Award for Service in Hollywood next month and questioned the selection process for the award. The Pat Tillman Award, named after the former NFL player and US Army Ranger killed in Afghanistan, is designed for individuals with strong ties to sport who have made significant contributions to others, honouring Tillman’s legacy.
The announcement has sparked controversy, including displeasure expressed on-air by television presenter Pat McAfee and the fallen soldier’s mother saying she was not consulted in the decision. “I am shocked why they have chosen such a controversial and polarising figure as the recipient of the award,” Mary told the Daily Mail.
“There are recipients who are much more appropriate. There are people who work in the veterans community and do amazing things to help veterans. These people don’t have the money, the resources, the connections or the privileges that Prince Harry has. I think those types of people deserve recognition.”
The ESPY Awards, presented by ESPN, typically honor unsung heroes with this special award. Last year, the award was given to the Buffalo Bills training staff for their heroic efforts in saving a player’s life on the field. Prince Harry is being honored for his “tireless work to make a positive impact on the veteran community through the power of sport,” particularly through his Invictus Games.
However, McAfee and others argue that Harry’s selection is inconsistent with the award’s intended purpose and have questioned the criteria behind his nomination. “There’s a lot of talk about Pat Tillman’s name as an American hero,” McAfee noted. “Now there’s an award named after him, as there should be in the sports world, because he’s someone who is the definition of selflessness. It goes to Prince Harry, who I don’t even think is a prince anymore.”
The announcement has sparked controversy, including displeasure expressed on-air by television presenter Pat McAfee and the fallen soldier’s mother saying she was not consulted in the decision. “I am shocked why they have chosen such a controversial and polarising figure as the recipient of the award,” Mary told the Daily Mail.
“There are recipients who are much more appropriate. There are people who work in the veterans community and do amazing things to help veterans. These people don’t have the money, the resources, the connections or the privileges that Prince Harry has. I think those types of people deserve recognition.”
The ESPY Awards, presented by ESPN, typically honor unsung heroes with this special award. Last year, the award was given to the Buffalo Bills training staff for their heroic efforts in saving a player’s life on the field. Prince Harry is being honored for his “tireless work to make a positive impact on the veteran community through the power of sport,” particularly through his Invictus Games.
However, McAfee and others argue that Harry’s selection is inconsistent with the award’s intended purpose and have questioned the criteria behind his nomination. “There’s a lot of talk about Pat Tillman’s name as an American hero,” McAfee noted. “Now there’s an award named after him, as there should be in the sports world, because he’s someone who is the definition of selflessness. It goes to Prince Harry, who I don’t even think is a prince anymore.”
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