ESPYS 'In Memoriam' Tribute Leaves Out William Clay Ford Sr.
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Four NFL owners died in the last year, and ESPN honored two of them at the ESPYS Wednesday night.
When ESPN's Chris Berman introduced the "In Memoriam" slideshow-style tribute, which featured three-second video clips of more than 20 sports figures, he mentioned that the league had lost four owners in the past year.
Included in the tribute were clips of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson and Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams, but Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford Sr. and Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer - who also owned Manchester United - were not recognized.
Tony Ortiz of 97.1 The Ticket, who also works as the sideline reporter for the Lions, was baffled by ESPN's choice to omit Ford.
"It's shortsighted and stupid," Ortiz said. "I don't understand it."
Ortiz was not the only one who reacted to the lack of recognition for the longtime Lions owner.
A number of fans took to Twitter to express their surprise and, for some, disappointment.
Neither ESPN nor the Lions immediately responded to requests for comment.
