Marcello Hernández roasts Jake Paul, Tiger Woods and Bill Belichick in ESPYS monologue

The ESPYS brought immoderate of the biggest names successful sports and amusement to New York City connected Wednesday night, a time that typically ranks among the slowest connected the sports calendar.

But this year’s ceremonial was preceded by a World Cup semifinal lucifer successful Atlanta that was already being described arsenic an instant classic. Lionel Messi and Argentina punched their summons to a 2nd consecutive World Cup last with a triumph implicit England. The defending champions volition conscionable Spain connected Saturday successful adjacent New Jersey, conscionable a abbreviated travel crossed the Hudson River from wherever comedian Marcello Hernández opened the ESPYS.

The "Saturday Night Live" prima wasted small clip taking a fewer jabs astatine Jake Paul, Tiger Woods and different sports figures.

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Marcello Hernández speaks onstage during the 2026 ESPY Awards astatine David H. Koch Theater astatine Lincoln Center successful New York City. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

"Mike Tyson ripped my ticker off. Welcome to the ESPYS!" Hernández joked aft making a boxing-style entranceway successful a robe with Tyson arsenic portion of his entourage.

"I indispensable say, it's an grant to beryllium present among truthful galore large athletes, and Jake Paul," Hernández began successful his astir 10-minute monologue.

Paul appeared to instrumentality the gag successful stride, laughing and applauding arsenic cameras chopped to him successful the crowd. Hernández past stayed connected the YouTube star-turned-boxer, needling him implicit his past of warring older opponents.

"Jake, that's conscionable a joke. Don't combat me," Hernández continued. "My dada and my stepdad are some here. They're implicit 50, and I cognize that's however you similar them. So, combat them instead."

Paul kept laughing arsenic Hernández’s spot played out, yet closing with the comedian shifting attraction to his begetter and stepfather, who were shown successful the audience.

Atmosphere astatine the 2026 ESPYS astatine the David H. Koch Theater astatine Lincoln Square connected July 15, 2026, successful New York, New York. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Hernández aboriginal utilized Caleb Williams’ "Madden 27" screen arsenic a pb into Woods.

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"I privation to congratulate Caleb Williams, the backmost for the Chicago Bears, who volition beryllium connected the screen of the caller Madden video game. Congratulations to Caleb," Hernández said, earlier adding, "And Tiger Woods volition beryllium connected the screen of Grand Theft Auto."

Woods was arrested successful Florida successful March connected charges of DUI aft a car crash. The apprehension study said a lawman recovered symptom pills successful his pouch and observed signs of impairment astatine the scene. Woods aboriginal announced helium would instrumentality clip distant from play to question treatment.

Hernández besides worked North Carolina shot manager Bill Belichick into the monologue, utilizing the 74-year-old’s narration with Jordon Hudson arsenic portion of a gag astir the New York Knicks’ rubric drought.

"The Knicks won their archetypal title since 1973. And to enactment into perceptive however agelong agone that was, successful 1973 hockey players didn't deterioration helmets, hoops had nary 3 constituent line. And successful 1973, Bill Belichick was the property his woman is now."

The Knicks aboriginal took location the ESPY for Best Team.

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and different members of the 2025-26 Knicks title squad took the signifier to judge the award, but Josh Hart was noticeably absent. Brunson drew laughs erstwhile helium joked, "I privation to accidental convey you to the ESPYS for pulling Josh Hart’s invite."

Earlier successful the nighttime Brunson besides received the "Best Championship Performance" award.

Jalen Brunson accepts the Best Championship Performance grant onstage during the 2026 ESPY Awards astatine David H. Koch Theater astatine Lincoln Center successful New York City connected July 15, 2026. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)

Former NBA subordinate Jason Collins, who died successful May astatine property 47 pursuing a conflict with Stage 4 glioblastoma, posthumously received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, portion Scott Ruskan was honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

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The ESPYS are held each summer, bringing unneurotic apical athletes and different stars to observe the champion moments from the past twelvemonth successful sports portion honoring figures recognized for courage, work and impact. In past years, the ceremonial has been held successful Los Angeles, but shifted to New York this year.

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