NEW YORK, N.Y. - Michael Sam has been selected the winner of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. The Missouri defensive end, who likely will be drafted by an NFL team this weekend, will receive the award given to individuals who transcend sports at The 2014 ESPYs on July 16. Sam, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, has announced that he is gay, making him set to become the first openly gay player in the NFL. ESPN is honouring Sam for "his courage and honesty that resonates beyond sports." "Im very honoured to be presented with the Arthur Ashe award," he said. "It is about courage. "You know I dont think there is anything courageous I did. I look forward to when we can live life in a world when gays dont have to come out in public." Sam said he has received support from athletes in all sports, "from football to basketball to softball to soccer, everyone." "I am thrilled to be living in a time when you can be accepted for how you live." Sam joins a prestigious list of winners ranging from Jim Valvano, the first recipient in 1995, to Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, Cathy Freeman, Nelson Mandela and Pat Summitt. The award, of course, is named for Ashe, the inspirational tennis star who died in 1993 after contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion. After learning he had the disease, Ashe campaigned to raise awareness about AIDS. "Arthur always believed in and practiced leading by example," said Ashes widow, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe. "When Michael Sam announced that he is gay, he courageously stepped forward to engage an issue that still remains a pervasive problem in many professional sports. Michael has displayed true leadership both on and off the field." Sam is one of eight children from Hitchcock, Texas. Two of his siblings have died and one disappeared and has not been found. Maura Mandt, executive producer of the ESPYs, calls Sam a "humble guy who isnt looking for any accolades." "In deciding to give Michael this honour, while his courageous act of coming out is a part of it, the story is about the life he led growing up," Mandt added. "A man who has consistently lived his life with integrity, is never afraid of living this truth." Cheap Custom Jerseys Online . Karlovic of Croatia used his big serve to beat Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7). Kohlschreiber had lost all of his three previous matches against Istomin but the German broke serve for a decisive 3-2 lead in the third set and held on to reach his first final of the year. Custom Jerseys Sale . Follow all the action live on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto, TSN Radio 690 in Montreal, TSN Radio 1260 in Edmonton and TEAM 1410 on Friday at 3pm et/Noon pt. http://www.baseballjerseyscustom.com/ . The England international raised his middle finger toward Manchester City supporters during Saturdays game at Etihad Stadium, which Arsenal lost 6-3. The incident was not seen by match officials at the time but the FA charged Wilshere retrospectively after a study of video footage. Custom Baseball Jerseys . New York City FC introduced Frank Lampard in Brooklyn on Thursday after signing the 36-year-old former Chelsea midfielder to a two-year contract. Custom Baseball Jerseys China . Vonn flew back to Vail, Colo., last week after hurting her surgically repaired right knee at a downhill race in France. "Her knee was swollen again after Val dIsere," U.S. womens head coach Alex Hoedlmoser told The Associated Press.SAN DIEGO -- It was an emotional day for Shelby Miller, who said goodbye to friend and teammate Joe Kelly and then went out and helped the St. Louis Cardinals rebound from their ugliest loss of the season. Miller and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Oscar Taveras hit a two-run homer for the St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 Thursday to avoid a three-game series sweep. The victory came hours after the Cardinals traded Kelly and Allen Craig to Boston for right-hander John Lackey. Miller teared up afterward while talking about Kelly. "Thats a tough one for all of us, to lose two guys like that, especially Joe for me," Miller said. "I grew up with him and came up through the farm system with him. Hes going to do well there. I wish him all the best." Miller (8-8) held San Diego to two runs and three hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked none in his first win since June 7. St. Louis roughed up rookie Odrisamer Despaigne a day after playing what manager Mike Matheny called the teams ugliest loss of the season, a 12-1 defeat Wednesday night. "Theyre pros," Matheny said. "I mean, things are going to happen in our lives that weve just got to be able to compartmentalize. These days here I think prove the toughness that these guys develop through the season. You have to put it aside and get the job done." Taveras connected with two out in the second, sending a drive to right for his second homer. But St. Louis 2-0 quickly evaporated. Jedd Gyorko, on a tear since returning Monday from a 44-day stay on the disabled list, homered to right off Miller with one out in the bottom half. It was Gyorkos second in two games and seventh overall. Will Venable homered to right with two outs, his fifth. "There were a couple of solo homers there that got him on the edge a little bit, and then he stepped in and started making some really nice pitches," Matheny said. "I saw him driving the ball down through the bottom of the zone. He pitched a little more." Said Venable: "I didnt see a pitch fromm him other than a fastball and it was a good one.dddddddddddd He just pitched well. When you are aggressive with your fastball you have the option of going to your off-speed stuff. It wasnt like we were beating him on his fastball. We hit a couple of them but he was doing what he wanted really." St. Louis jumped in front again on Matt Hollidays two-run single in the third, and Peter Bourjos added an RBI single in the sixth. Despaigne (2-3) allowed six runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings. He won his first two starts but is 0-3 in his last five outings. TRADES Cardinals: St. Louis got Lackey in exchange for Kelly and Craig. Lackeys first start with the Cardinals will come during a series against his former Red Sox teammates in St. Louis from Tuesday through Thursday. Padres: Outfielder Chris Denorfia was traded to Seattle for outfielder Abraham Almonte, who will report to San Diego on Friday, and right-hander Stephen Kohlscheen, who will report to Triple-A El Paso. Almonte was Seattles opening-day starter in centre. TRAINERS ROOM Padres: Catcher Yasmani Grandal was scratched because of some fluid that built up in his right knee, which was surgically repaired last year after a collision at the plate. "When he squatted in the bullpen, it shifted to the back of the knee and it sort of buckled him a bit," manager Bud Black said. "He was in quite a bit of pain squatting." Black said Grandal should be fine to catch Friday night against Atlanta. ON DECK Cardinals: Adam Wainwright (13-5, 1.92 ERA) gets the ball in the opener of an important home series against NL Central-leading Milwaukee on Friday night. Wainwright Is 10-6 with 2.19 ERA in 27 career games against the Brewers. Padres: Eric Stults (3-13, 5.22 ERA) pitches in the opener of a weekend set against Atlanta. The left-hander has won only once in last 13 starts. SURGING GYORKO Gyorko is 7 for 14 in five games since being reinstated from the DL, including two homers, a double and six RBIs. He has 30 career homers, tying him with Mark Loretta for the franchise record by a second baseman. 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