Bob Costas Says ESPN Honoring Caitlyn Jenner Is A ‘Gimmick’

Bob Costas is the latest to publicly weigh in on ESPN’s decision to award Caitlyn Jenner the 2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award next month, calling it a gimmick and slamming the reality star for not “deserving” an honor of that caliber.


“It strikes me that awarding the Arthur Ashe Award to Caitlyn Jenner is just a crass exploitation play — it’s a tabloid play,” Costas said in an interview on The Dan Patrick Show. “In the broad world of sports, I’m pretty sure they could’ve found someone — and this is not anything against Caitlyn Jenner — who was much closer, actively involved in sports, who would’ve been deserving of what that award represents.”

That’s not to say it doesn’t take some measure of personal courage to do what Caitlyn Jenner has done.” he added.

Costas said he believes Jenner’s honor was merely a stunt to boost ratings.

“I think this is just a play to pump up [the] audience. The way lots of things are put on television to attract eyeballs, not because of the validity, but because of whatever the kind of gawker factor is.”