Category: Opinion

I made sure I stayed up to see these young ladies(Larry Nassar Victims) be honored for their courage and perseverance. Not because I’m a proud MSU alumnus. But because I’m the father of a 12yr old daughter, who’s an aspiring gymnast. We needed to watch this TOGETHER. #ESPYAwards

— Ike Reese (@Ike58Reese) July 19, 2018

Since 2008, the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, aka the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage or Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award, is presented as part of the ESPY Awards. The Award is named for the American tennis player, Arthur Ashe, to those whose contributions “transcend sports”. According to ESPN, the organization which presents the Award, “recipients reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost.”

This year the women who suffered at Michigan State University’s Dr. Larry Nassar won the prestigious award for their courage, persistence and resilience off the field as well as on the field. Nassar, who is not worthy to be called a doctor for a doctor swears to do no harm, sexually assaulted over 100 women during his tenure at MSU. Nassar could have destroyed these young ladies, but they excelled on the field and in life despite Nassar.

These brave ladies banded to together and consistently complained until a prosecuting attorney finally took their stories seriously. They survived this ordeal together like so many other women struggling during this #MeToo movement. Over the past year, they have given hope to those who have lost hope while facing sexual assault and harassment. And not just to women, but to men like Terry Crew and Ike Reese as well.

And Reese is right, we did need to watch the Arthur Ashe Courage Award together last night. Further, we need to keep discussing this topic until everyone understands that harassment and sexual assault is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. The sentiment that sports is medicine is repeated over and over again in this blog, because it’s true and last night was a big helping of it.

We need to listen to what our children, friends, colleagues and even enemies are telling us. It may be ugly but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the truth. If someone had listened, really listened, to those young ladies year after year, then Nassar could have been stopped. We know over 100 ladies were assaulted, but how many more are still too ashamed to come forward . . . and what damage has been done to their lives?

The journalist/suffrage/anti-lynching activist known as Ida B. Wells said, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” These young ladies have shed a light on the truth and survived together. Now it is up to us to do the same and prevent Nassar’s behavior from happening to another soul.

Source: ESPN

#MeToo