NFL

See how Michael Sam, Stuart Scott brought ESPY crowd to tears

St. Louis Rams draftee Michael Sam, who announced earlier this year that he is gay, brought tears to eyes of a crowd of sports and entertainment luminaries with a speech accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs on Wednesday night.

The former Missouri defensive end will be trying to make the Rams’ roster when training camp opens. If he does, Sam would be the NFL’s first openly gay player.

Sam teared up throughout his speech and his voice faltered at times. He thanked members of the Rams organization and his boyfriend, Vito Cammisano.

“Great things can happen when you have the courage to be yourself,” Sam told the audience.

Hall of Famer Jim Brown hugged Sam on his way to the stage.

The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance was given to ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor Stuart Scott, who is fighting a recurrence of cancer first diagnosed seven years ago. He praised his two daughters for uplifting him in his fight against the illness, calling them his “heartbeat.”