NEW ORLEANS — Former New Orleans Saints special teams player Steve Gleason was honored at the ESPYs Thursday night for his years-long battle against ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Gleason received the Arthur Ashe Award for courage for the battle during which he has fought for more access for those suffering from ALS, a degenerative disease that usually claims a person's life within a period of a few years.
There were few dry eyes as Gleason, after being introduced by teammate Drew Brees, talked about the fear he felt when he received his diagnosis.
“I suppose if you have never experienced fear, isolation, or suffering, you can roll your sanctified a** right out of here. The truth is no human is immune from fear or adversity. Not even super athletes, royal princes or most holy saints.”
Gleason played 8 seasons for the Saints and had one of its most memorable plays, blocking a punt against the Atlanta Falcons that led to a touchdown in the team's first game back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.
He played one more season with the team and shortly after received his diagnosis and began a battle that he chronicled with a documentary that received much acclaim.
"When I learned I was receiving this award, I started reflecting on what that word, 'courage,' means. To be courageous, we must first experience loneliness, unworthiness, or any of the faces of fear."
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