Shane Gillis to Host ESPYs: A Comedic Twist on Sports Awards!

BREAKING: Comedian Shane Gillis Stuns ESPN with Hosting Gig, But Will His Humor Fly with Sports Fans?

Get ready for a wild ride as ESPN takes a bold step by announcing comedian and Notre Dame die-hard fan Shane Gillis as the host of this year's ESPY Awards! The 37-year-old Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania native is set to bring his signature humor to the coveted hosting gig on July 16 in Los Angeles.

The annual ESPY Awards, affectionately known as the "Sports Oscars," has traditionally featured a comedian or athlete at the helm. But Gillis' appointment marks a first for the network, and fans are going wild! In a statement, Gillis expressed his excitement: "'I'm excited to be at The ESPYS this year. I like sports so this should be a good time.'"

But what makes Gillis an easy choice for ESPN? According to Craig Lazarus, Vice President and Executive Producer of the ESPY Awards, it's not just his comedic prowess that sets him apart. "Shane is not only one of the top comedians today, but also a huge sports fan," Lazarus gushed in a statement.

As news of Gillis' hosting gig spread like wildfire, fans took to social media to congratulate ESPN on what they're calling an "absolute genius move." One enthusiastic fan wrote: "Best decision they could've ever made!" Another chimed in: "This is going to be a good one! Nice!"

However, not everyone is convinced. A single skeptic seemed puzzled by the choice, writing: "Uh oh woke ESPN won't like this one." But what's behind this tweet? As it turns out, Gillis has been vocal about his criticism of Donald Trump's military intervention policies in the Middle East.

In a candid conversation on his podcast "Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast," Gillis unloaded on Trump's threat to send troops to war-torn Gaza. "'He was talking about sending our boys over there,' Gillis said, incredulous. 'The whole point of electing him was not to send our guys overseas... Day (expletive) 20. I was watching [the press conference], and I was like, '(expletive) idiot.'"

But what's next for this rising star? As one of the stars of Netflix's "Tires," which has just been renewed for a second season, Gillis is about to take his talents to new heights.

This isn't his first rodeo with ESPN either. Fans may recall his hilarious appearance on College Football GameDay from South Bend, where he playfully mocked Alabama coach Nick Saban. In an interview with co-host Pat McAfee, Gillis revealed his hopes for Notre Dame's late-December showdown against Indiana: "Now that everybody can pay their players, Notre Dame has a shot – not just the SEC and Coach Saban." But don't worry; it was all in good fun... or so he claimed.

Saban, however, didn't find it amusing. In a thinly veiled jab at Gillis, he quipped: "I do believe in integrity... I always tried to run the program that way, so that players had a chance to be more successful in life. That was how we cheated. We developed players."

This year's ESPY Awards has already made headlines for its omission of Buffalo Bills legend O.J. Simpson from the "in memoriam" segment last year. Although acquitted of murder charges, Simpson was later found responsible for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman in a civil trial.

In a darkly comedic moment from the 1998 ESPY Awards, host Norm Macdonald referenced Simpson's infamous Heisman Trophy, which he was forced to auction off to pay damages to victims' families. "And there's Charles Woodson!" Macdonald quipped during his monologue. "How about that? What a season he had. He became the first defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy. Congratulations, Charles, that is something that no one can ever take away from you."

Macdonald paused for comedic effect before adding: "Unless you kill your wife and a waiter, in which case, all bets are off." The Canadian comic passed away in 2021 at age 61, but his infamous ESPY performance lives on as a cringe-worthy moment in comedy history.

As Gillis prepares to bring his unique brand of humor to the ESPY Awards stage, fans can't help but wonder: Will he push boundaries and ruffle feathers like Macdonald before him? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure – it's going to be a wild ride!