I’ve received quite a few emails and sms’s and calls about this ESPY Awards vibe that was on TV a couple weeks back. People were really “touched” by their Nelson Mandela “tribute.” For the uninformed, the ESPY Awards is an annual sports awards event created and broadcast by American cable television network ESPN.

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award was given to Nelson Mandela and accepted by his daughter and grandson. It was accompanied by a short documentary that linked Mandela’s already extraordinary life story to a signature sporting event, the 1995 Rugby World Cup .

Here it is. We’ll discuss further afterwards.

Look, it’s a very “moving” vibe which we, as South Africans, are obviously well aware of and proud of and all that. But I’m fascinated that they (ESPN) SUDDENLY do this 15 years after the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

And is it mere radical coincidence they (Hollywood) happen to be releasing a movie this year about the 1995 Rugby World Cup, called “Invictus” – starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. God, such unbelievable timing!

And isn’t it EVEN MORE astounding to learn that Morgan Freeman did the voiceover for the footage at the ESPY Awards?

I smell a red herring here. Could it be that ESPN is in bed with Hollywood?

Look, that’s all business, I suppose – and it was Mandela weekend, or thereabout. But to rope Barack Obama into it as well, to essentially sell a movie!?

Come on, guys….[frowns]…very naughty.

Tsk, tsk.

* Previous 2oceansvibe articles about the Rugby World Cup and movie “Invictus” with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, some of which were reprinted in the Boston Globe, can be seen here, here and here.

* Find out more about this courageous Arthur Ashe fellow here.

[thanks dave]