The ESPY openings are often stuff of comic legend, but after a week that saw the deaths of two black men at the hands of police officers then the deaths of five police officers in Dallas, the annual sports awards show took a somber turn.
As the lights came up on the Microsoft Theater stage in Los Angeles Wednesday, NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade and LeBron James began to talk about what had happened, the racial issues the plague the country, and the necessity for change.
“The problems are not new, the violence is not new, and the racial divide is definitely not new. But, the urgency to create change is at an all-time high,” Anthony said.
"We stand here accepting our role in uniting communities to be the change we need to see..." Paul added.
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