The artist formerly known as Aubrey Graham
Last week, rapper Drake was named the host of the 2014 ESPY awards, ESPN’s attempt at an awards show that will air for the 22nd time July 16. The hire was surprising, as it will be Aubrey Graham’s first awards show hosting gig here in the U.S. As with any Drake-related news, Twitter immediately exploded with jokes and insults. Whether the Canadian rapper will shed tears of joy at some point in the ceremony or hug every athlete present remains to be seen, but what’s clear is the worldwide leader in sports television made quite the splash by choosing him.
Many sports fans reacted angrily at the news — understandably so, considering Drake’s history with the industry. A self-proclaimed sports enthusiast, Drake, like so many actors and musicians before him, has done everything he can to get involved in the sports world. He goes to games, hangs out with athletes and even played a basketball star on Degrassi: The Next Generation (which gives him serious credibility). The problem is, besides his hometown Toronto Raptors, Drake has no loyalty. He follows success, having been photographed wearing gear of just about any popular team in any popular sport. This is a mortal sin in the sports community and hasn’t endeared him to die-hard fans.
But the ESPYs aren’t exactly sports. They’re a weird hybrid of athletics and entertainment, ESPN’s greedy grab at something it’s not. The show premiered in 1993 and has never been a huge success,but the network hasn’t given up on it yet.
ESPN’s search for a host who appeals both to entertainment and sports fans has been an arduous one. Last year’s choice, actor Jon Hamm, did all right, but picks such as actor-comedian Rob Riggle in 2012 and actor Matthew Perry in 2005 signify the network’s desperation in finding someone who fits. It is undoubtedly a tough gig, but selecting Drake marks a hopeful turning point for both the rapper and the show.
Drake’s impressive turn hosting Saturday Night Live in January most likely inspired his selection. It was the first step in expanding his brand and establishing himself as entertainer instead of just a rapper. The ESPYs gig should be another huge stride in that direction. Considering Drake’s SNL performance along with his previous acting experience on Degrassi, this expansion should be a successful one. He’s outgoing, funny and, no matter how much social media heckling he gets, very popular. It would not be surprising if he’s seen as more of a Queen Latifah-type double threat in the near future, someone who’s defined more by personality and broad appeal than his association with any one industry.
The ESPYs themselves are also hoping to turn a corner. ESPN sits at the center of the sports universe — so why attempt something as Hollywood as an awards show? Probably money. ESPN’s parent company, ABC, makes a boatload of cash each year from broadcasting the Oscars, so why not extend the formula to their cash cow subsidiary?
But it just doesn’t work, plain and simple. Awards such as “Best Play” and “Best Game” are too broad and subjective to be of any value, and the athletes present at the show always come off as uncomfortable. The whole broadcast is just awkward. Two decades after its inception, the ESPYs are struggling to be anything other than a punch line.
No matter what happens when Drake takes the stage for ESPN this summer, it should be interesting to witness two pop culture mainstays trying to change lanes, one in the midst of an ascension and the other on a downward slope, meeting somewhere in the middle.
