And ESPY for Dullest Sports Night of Year Goes to …

OK, so there’s not much happening in the world of sports the night after baseball’s All-Star Game. Which is precisely why that is the night ESPN holds its annual ESPY Awards show. Once upon a time (bascially when the Bulls were winning NBA titles in the mid-to-late 1990s), the show was must-see TV to find out whether Michael Jordan and/or the Bulls won. Not so anymore, so some of us opt for other programming (unsolicited recommendation: “Suits” on USA Network).

Chrissy Teigen attended the ESPYs (not in this outfit, however).

* Because of the length of the ESPYs, your humble correspondent did chsnnel-surf and click onto the show for a few minutes here and there. Luckily, one of those times was when former Missouri football star Michael Sam — the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL — received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award (video below). And to those small-minded folks who don’t think he merits anything more than homophobic, vile insults, here’s hoping you realize you are the ones who provided the reason for Sam being the recipient of the Ashe Award.

* Speaking of the ESPYs, one of the highlights of the evening (especially for those of us who did not watch most of the ESPN program) was model Chrissy Teigen being one of the presenters for woman athlete of the year. And because MMA fighter Ronda Rousey was unable to attend the event, Teigen also played the role of Rousey accepting the honor. Something says Teigen will have a future in acting. Hey, if fellow model Brooklyn Decker can do it, no reason Teigen — who displays wonderful wit — cannot.

* Still speaking of the ESPYs, ESPN anchor Stuart Scott received the Jimmy V Award at the ESPYs (video below). He has battled cancer since 2007. He gave a moving speech that did occasionally sound as if it was crafted so that the words lived on after his days on Earth are over.

Speaking of health, as if the season hasn’t been bad enough for Chicago Sky fans, the team announced Wednesday its star player — and 2013 WNBA rookie of the year — Elena Delle Donne will miss the league’s all-star game Saturday. Delle Donne, the leading Eastern Conference vote-getter, has been sidelined for much of the season so she could receive treatment for Lyme disease. She did win WNBA Player of the Month for May but has played in only nine of the team’s 21 games. After starting the season 5-1, the Sky is 8-13. Forward Jessica Breland will represent the Sky in the all-star game as a reserve. Here’s hoping Delle Donne regains full health and returns to the court (in precisely that order).

* The guest on Thursday’s “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris at noon Central time on Talkzone.com is former Tennessee football star Johnny Majors, who went on to become a successful college coach at Iowa State, Pitt and Tennessee. That show also will be available later Thursday via podcast at Talkzone.com.

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