John Cena to Receive SI’s Muhammed Ali Legacy Award
By admin
Published 5 years ago on
November 30, 2018

Share

WWE superstar John Cena is the recipient of this year’s Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award. The award, which was announced Thursday, is given each year to an athlete or sports figure who embodies the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy while using sports as a platform.

“To have a legacy award of any kind bestowed upon you is tremendous. To be in the company of people who have received this and to receive an honor named after Muhammad Ali is an honor that means so much to me.” — John Cena

Cena will receive the award at the Sportsperson of the Year Awards show on Dec. 11 in Los Angeles.

“To have a legacy award of any kind bestowed upon you is tremendous,” Cena said during an interview with The Associated Press. “To be in the company of people who have received this and to receive an honor named after Muhammad Ali is an honor that means so much to me.”

Cena, a 16-time WWE Champion, has become synonymous with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has granted nearly 600 wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses, which is more than anyone else involved with the program.

An Advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness

“It really is a wonderful match. I never try to downplay that experience because a family has been given one wish and that is to meet you or hang out for an afternoon,” Cena said.

Cena has been involved with the foundation since early in his career with WWE. He has also been an advocate for breast cancer awareness and WWE’s relationship with the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Cena’s younger brother is a survivor of Stage 4 brain cancer due to early detection. He went to WWE in 2012 after seeing what other sports were doing to raise awareness.

“I saw baseball doing the pink bats, football with the pink cleats and I asked why we weren’t doing anything. I pretty much established the connection and years later we have donated millions and helped a lot of people,” he said.

Cena joins Colin Kaepernick (who received it last year), Magic Johnson, Jack Nicklaus, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Brown and Bill Russell as those who have received the award, which was established by Sports Illustrated in 2008 and renamed to honor Ali in 2015.

Another Important Milestone for WWE

Lonnie Ali, Muhammad Ali’s widow, and Sports Illustrated’s editorial staff help select the honorees each year.

“I kind of see this as both WWE and I accepting this. Every accolade like this WWE has been receiving more attention and respect for what we do. WWE is my family.” — John Cena

Sports Illustrated executive editor Stephen Cannella said in a statement that Cena “might just be the most charitable person in sports, and his dedication to philanthropy richly reflects the spirit of the Ali Legacy Award.”

Cena also sees receiving the award as another important milestone for WWE. He is starring in the film “Bumblebee,” which opens in late December, before returning to the wrestling ring later this month.

“I kind of see this as both WWE and I accepting this. Every accolade like this WWE has been receiving more attention and respect for what we do,” he said. “WWE is my family.”

DON'T MISS

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

DON'T MISS

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

DON'T MISS

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

DON'T MISS

Hutson Is Done as Fresno State Basketball Coach After Tournament Loss

DON'T MISS

Aaron Donald Announces His Retirement After a Standout 10-Year Career With the Rams

DON'T MISS

Former 49ers DT Arik Armstead Agrees to a 3-Year, $51 Million Deal with the Jaguars, AP Source Says

DON'T MISS

Baseball Superstar Ohtani and His Wife Arrive in South Korea for Dodgers-Padres MLB Opener

DON'T MISS

Fresno’s Eric Kendricks Joins Cowboys After First Committing to Niners

DON'T MISS

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

DON'T MISS

Oscar Moments: Talk of War & Peace, a Coronation for Nolan, and Ken-Demonium for Gosling

No data was found

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

11 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Bitwise /

11 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

Environment /

14 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

15 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

15 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

15 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

15 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

News /

16 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

16 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

16 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

■Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. ■The Va...
Healthcare /

10 hours ago

Healthcare /
10 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

Local Education /
11 hours ago

3 Valley Schools Honored by State as Model Community Day Schools

Local Education /
11 hours ago

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

11 hours ago

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

Bitwise /
11 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Environment /
14 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

15 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

15 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend