On Tuesday, many people took to Twitter to express disappointment, if not outrage, that ESPN picked Jenner over Galloway. The problem is that there is no indication that ESPN was ever weighing the merits of Galloway, or anyone else, against those of the former Bruce Jenner.
The sports network’s press release announcing that Jenner would receive the Courage award makes no mention of any other nominees. The myth-busting Web site Snopes.com traced the misconception that Galloway was passed over to a tweet posted by Gerry Callahan, a Boston Herald columnist and co-host of the “Dennis and Callahan” radio show.
Caitlyn Jenner wins Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
— Gerry Callahan (@GerryCallahan) June 1, 2015
And the runner-up is .... pic.twitter.com/DKUdnPT8Gx
In this and other tweets, Callahan revealed a mocking attitude toward ESPN’s decision to honor Jenner. Nevertheless, the premise that she had been selected over Galloway became a meme:
Sure enough, plenty of folks ran with it:
Bruce Jenner won the Arthur Ashe courage award over Army Veteran Noah Galloway? I am disappointed in ESPN's values. Let the boycott begin!
— Larry Cox (@CoachLarryCox) June 2, 2015
@espn is a joke and everyone knows it. Giving Jenner courage award over Galloway is a travesty.
— Ryan (@ryangentry4) June 2, 2015
@ espn Jenner over Galloway????? You should be ashamed!!! Truly appalling! !!!
— VsNFLfilms (@TenVs) June 2, 2015
Questioning ever watching the @ESPYS after picking Jenner over @Noah_Galloway. he fought to make those choices possible for Jenner to make
— Maria (@MariaJordan23) June 2, 2015
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with taking issue with ESPN’s choice of Jenner, as compared to other potential honorees. Tuesday also saw many tweets claiming that would-be college basketball player Lauren Hill, who raised money to fight cancer before dying from her own rare condition this year, would have been a better choice.
And a case can certainly be made, as well, for Galloway, on his own inspiring merits. But it’s simply not correct to criticize ESPN for relegating the veteran to “runner up” status to Jenner.