Holy crap - the 2009 ESPYS is a surprisingly fantastic awards show! I’m not a bona fide American sports fan, but this show is really impressive. I’m only 1/2 way through an ESPN rerun right now, but I’m so taken by the tone of optimism, passion, and general hilarity. It’s pretty much a standout ‘who’s who’ showcase of Black America, even featuring an inspirational Obama address! He’s got quite a soft spot for ESPN promos… which I would never have classified as “deep” media engagement until now.

The video above tells an incredible South African story with which I was barely familiar, embarrassingly. Nelson Mandela’s rugby experiment is an incredible achievement - so if you’re not familiar then watch this! Now, I’m even more jealous of my quartet of dental friends spending the summer exploring oral health issues in that country! Keep fighting the good fight, gals.

Back to the show.