Get ready for yet another award show to get hyped for over the summer. The ESPY Awards aired on Wednesday July 13, leaving sports fans in anticipation. The Prime time Emmy Award for Outstanding Picture Editing- Short-Form Segments and Variety Specials, or the ESPY Awards, has downtown Los Angeles flourishing with sports fan.

Tonight’s ESPYs was the designated place where athletes come together to spread the word on what needs to be done make a better future for everyone. After an inspiring speech on Social Change that shed light on the recent police shootings, the audience was in awe of all the statements being made tonight. With a team of four; Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, opened up the Award Show with a pressing speech involving how professional athletes need to become more involved and push for social change.

The Award show is more than just for recognizing talent but for recognizing determination, “I’m not a victim of circumstance. I’m not a victim of diagnosis. I can do it if I put my mind to it, and I have a wonderful support system. So, I’m not accepting this award for me, I’m accepting it for all the fighters out there,” commented Eric Berry, the winner of Best Comeback Player.

Celebrities of all genres appeared at the event, ranging from pop stars to professional athletes. RnB singer, Ciara appeared on the red carpet with her recently wedded husband Russell Wilson, the Seattle Sea-hawks Quarterback. “It is great to see celebrities mix with different genres of celebrities. It shows promise in the entertainment industry and can hopefully lead us down a more celebrated community,” said Mikayla Rubio (12).

Catlin Jenner delivered an inspiring speech about the issues that transgenders are still facing today after she accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Spectators released to the media that the speech given was an exact reason of why this award show exist.

The mother of Zaevion Dobson delivered a speech on a need for gun control and to end gun violence. The inspirational mother recently lost her son who played football after he shielded three young girls from an attacker. The audience was moved by the mother especially after she commented, “All the athletes in this room you have a lot of power. People look up to you. I know Zaevion did. I urge you to think tonight about why he died or what you can do tomorrow to prevent the next innocent young man or woman from being lost as well.” Her son was an honoree for the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

Professional athletes are beginning to push for a change. The ESPYs was a prime example of how professional athletes are becoming important leaders in society. Catch the ESPYs next year to find what other inspirational motivation is making the athletes work.