Relative Something

I will admit being a classic channel surfer when it comes to commercial breaks in programs on television. Maybe that is another reason I like watching soccer so much. There are no commercial interruptions during play. Anyway, Wednesday night I stumbled onto the ESPY Awards Show, and once there, I ended up staying to the end.

You need to realize that I have hardly noticed the ESPY Awards even exist, with the one exception of when Hopkins High School basketball player, Blake Hoffarber, won an award for “the shot.” I hadn’t realized the ESPYs were even on this week, let alone who any of the nominees were. It was a very pleasant surprise to find myself watching the 2010 version, live, as it happened. There were several moments that I judge as better than average.

The first scene I stopped to see was Tracy Morgan doing an audition for “Invictus” in the role of Nelson Mandela. When Will Ferrell appeared, as Jeff Vuvuzela, the inventor of the annoying horn, I knew they were on to something good. With Seth Meyers as host of the awards show, I almost forgot it was for the recognition of athletes and sports. The parody of Sandra Bullock’s movie, “The Blindside,” done with Peyton Manning in a trailer for a movie called, “The Darkside,” was top-notch.

Those were excellent entertainment. But the most precious segment of the night was the presentation of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to the Thomas Family. This alone makes seeking out a replay of the broadcast of the award show a task worth doing, as the bulk of the story is presented prior to the acceptance speech that can be seen in the current youtube videos available. The story of what the family of Ed Thomas have been through and how honorably they have done so, is something that deserves to be known and taken to heart by all people, far and wide.

Such success as this, finding a rewarding program I had no idea was on, by surfing during commercials, does nothing but further ingrain my habit. I’m sure glad I was doing it last Wednesday night. I hope you get a chance to see the entire piece on the story of Ed Thomas and his family. It is worth noting.