Pat Tillman's mother is amongst a growing number of individuals questioning whether “controversial” Prince Harry deserves an award named in honor of the San Jose-raised NFL star and war hero who was killed in Afghanistan.

Mary Tillman said in an announcement that she was not consulted by ESPN in the choice to present the estranged son of King Charles III with the 2024 Pat Tillman Award for Merit at this 12 months's ESPY Awards. Harry is scheduled to simply accept the award at a televised ceremony on July 11 hosted by former tennis player Serena Williams – who happens to be good friends with Harry's equally controversial wife, Meghan Markle.

“I am shocked why they chose such a controversial and polarizing person as the winner,” Mary Tillman said of Harry in an announcement to the Daily Mail.

Mary Tillman said organizers must have chosen a less famous honoree, as they’ve done for the reason that award was created in 2004 as a tribute to her son, the 27-year-old Leland High School graduate who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in April 2004. The Fremont native was a star football player at Arizona State University and, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, walked away from a $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals to affix the Army Rangers.

Mary Tillman said there are people who find themselves “far more suited” to the award, individuals who “don't have the money, the means, the connections or the privilege that Prince Harry has.” She said: “I think those kinds of people deserve recognition.”

Harry didn’t reply to a request for comment from People Magazine about Mary Tillman's testimony.

ESPN said the Tillman Award is given to “an individual with a strong connection to the sport who has served others in a way that reflects the legacy of the former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger.”

Yet, as Mary Tillman said, Harry has turn out to be a polarizing figure in popular culture. Many people all over the world love him for his decision to step away from royal life and take a look at to construct a life in California as a media mogul, philanthropist and mental health advocate. ESPN said Harry is receiving the Pat Tillman Award due to his service within the British armed forces, which included two tours in Afghanistan, and his work in founding the Invictus Games, a world sporting event for wounded, injured and sick lively duty soldiers and veterans.

Harry's decision to simply accept the Pat Tillman Award was also met with disdain by Pat McAfee, ESPN's star sports analyst, and Organizers of a petition, which have up to now collected greater than 28,000 signatures calling on ESPN to reconsider awarding the prize to Harry.

In his show on Friday, McAfee asked: “Why are the ESPYs doing this (curse word)?” He criticized the ESPYs for appearing to pander to Harry, “who I don't even think is a prince anymore.”

“Did (Prince Harry's) people know that you simply publicly nominated me for this award? You ask principally anybody who considers themselves an American and say, 'That's nonsense…' Especially at a sports awards ceremony. I assume Harry knew that, right?” McAfee continued.

baseball

First League

No. 1 Granada 11, No. 9 James Logan 1 (five innings)

The Matadors defeated James Logan by mercy rule within the fifth inning to advance to the NCS Division I semifinals, where they’ll face Acalanes within the semifinals.

Nathan Canilao was in Livermore and has the entire story here.

#3 College Park 3, #11 Castro Valley 2

The Falcons held off a seventh-inning comeback from Castro Valley to win their first NCS semifinal since 2017.

Hunter Pelayo's third-inning sacrifice fly that brought home Tino Vasell gave College Park its largest lead of the sport.

At the beginning of the seventh period, the Trojans made their run.

Junior outfielder Arthur Sims hit a two-run home run to left field to bring Castro Valley inside one run. But College Park relief pitcher Diego Emerling retired three of the following 4 batters to finish the sport and secure the Falcons a date with De La Salle on Tuesday.

Pelayo allowed five hits and two runs on 78 pitches. Senior Nathan Leffel was 2 for two with an RBI double.

No. 2 De La Salle 13, No. 7 Heritage 3 (five innings)

Junior Alec Blair had one among his best games of the season, delivering a monster game with three hits, six RBIs and two home runs – one among which was a grand slam – to guide De La Salle past Heritage and into the semifinals, where it is going to face College Park at home.

The two teams were tied after the primary inning, however the Spartans took a 7-2 lead after scoring five runs within the second inning.

Senior Jamie Mullin was 2 for 3 with three RBIs. De La Salle pitcher Tommy Curran struck out five and allowed two hits and one earned run in five innings.

Heritage finished its season at 20-6-1.

No. 4 Acalanes 1, No. 5 Casa Grande 0

The Dons scored only one run, but that was all they needed to beat the 2023 NCS runner-up in a detailed quarterfinal game.

Acalanes pitchers Peter Thorn and Henry Souza combined to pitch a shutout, striking out two and allowing six hits.

Gavin Bender's RBI single within the sixth inning that scored Keegan Goddard was the deciding factor as Acalanes advanced to the NCS semifinals, where they’ll play Granada on the road.

Department V

No. 2 Head-Royce 9, No. 7 St. Bernard's 3

Matthew Wong and Kento Tsuji each had two RBIs because the Jayhawks defeated St. Bernard's at home and advanced to the Division V semifinals.

Head-Royce scored five runs in the primary inning and 4 within the sixth.

Wong played an entire game, striking out 4 and allowing three runs on two hits.

Soft ball

NCS Division I

#3 College Park 5, #6 Granada 1

College Park pitcher Keira Pfeiffer cooled Granada's red-hot bat Friday night by allowing only one earned run and striking out five in an entire game.

The Falcons will host Liberty within the semifinals.

Avery Rodriguez went 2 for 3 with two RBIs for College Park, and teammate Abby Wood drove in three runs. Granada senior Saskia Raab scored three goals in the ultimate game of her highschool profession.

Granada finished the season at 13-10, while College Park will bring a 14-8 record into the sport against visiting Liberty.

No. 7 Liberty 8, No. 2 Vintage 3

The visiting Lions pulled off one among the most important upsets of the night after they traveled to Napa and defeated their No. 2 seed.

Liberty has relied on its performance all season, and Friday was no expectation. Savannah Page went 3-for-3 with a house run, and freshman Taylor Jennings also hit a house run as a part of a 2-for-4 day.

Madison Tuttle didn't hit a ball out of the park, but she went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, and pitcher Kate Skinner struck out 10 and allowed just two hits in an entire game.

Liberty improved to 20-3 and can travel to Pleasant Hill to face College Park within the semifinals.

No. 1 California 9, No. 8 San Ramon Valley 4

In a rematch of last season's NCS Division I title game, California also won the sequel. Against the small-ball enthusiasts from Danville, California beat the Wolves at their very own game.

The victorious Grizzlies hit 11 singles and stole three bases to enhance to 18-8 and advance to a matchup with fellow East Bay Athletic League opponent in Amador Valley.

Cal's Hailey King was 3 for 3 with two RBIs and Reese Stiner was 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Kayla Steel joined her teammates within the two-RBI club after going 1-for-3, and regular senior pitcher Kaitlyn Le struck out five in an entire game.

San Ramon Valley's Ava Lyons shot 3 for 4 and Addie Layous and Sophia Jin each had two goals because the Wolves finished the season 13-12.

NCS Department II

#3 Benicia 10, #6 American Canyon 0

Benicia has not yet been challenged within the postseason and have become the second consecutive opponent to defeat American Canyon in five innings.

Benicia improved to 23-1 and can face No. 2 Livermore in a matchup of Bay Area News Group's top NCS teams.

Alana Robinson was 2 for 4 with a team-high three RBIs for Benicia, and teammates Suae Beatty, Kyra Mason and Morgan Kacalek each had two hits for the Panthers.

Sinead Maas allowed only one hit and struck out seven in a brief, complete game.

#2 Livermore 8, #10 Alhambra 0

Livermore took advantage of the long ball to blow past Alhambra and advance to the semifinals. Annie Polaski, Payten Williams and Sophia Gerochi each had a house run for Livermore.

Minnesota transfer Jae Cosgriff had one of the best day of all, hitting a house run as a part of a 4-for-4 day with two RBIs. Cosgriff and Gianna Willes also stole two bases each.

Savanna Froke and Kaci Norton shared pitching duties and combined for five strikeouts as Livermore improved to 23-5.

Alhambra's Keira Sullivan scored twice because the Bulldogs finished the season 10-13.