Marcello Hernández takes aim at Jake Paul, Tiger Woods in ESPYS monologue
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The ESPYS brought some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment to New York on Wednesday night, which is usually among the slowest days of the sports calendar.
But before this year’s ceremony there was the World Cup semifinal match in Atlanta, which has already been described as a classic. Lionel Messi and Argentina beat England and booked their ticket to the second World Cup final in a row. The reigning champions will face Spain on Saturday near New Jersey, a short trip across the Hudson River where comedian Marcello Hernández opens the ESPYS.
The “Saturday Night Live” star wasted little time taking a few jabs at Jake Paul, Tiger Woods and other sports figures.
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Marcello Hernández speaks on stage during the 2026 ESPY Awards at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
“Mike Tyson stole my watch. Welcome to the ESPYS!” Hernández joked after making a boxing-style entrance in a bathrobe with Tyson as part of his entourage.
“I have to say, it’s an honor to be here among so many great athletes and Jake Paul,” Hernández began his nearly 10-minute monologue.
Paul didn’t seem to take the joke seriously, laughing and clapping as cameras moved toward him in the crowd. Hernández then stayed with the YouTube star-turned-boxer and filled him in on his history of fighting former opponents.
“Jake, it’s just a joke. Don’t fight me,” Hernández continued. “My father and my stepfather are here. They are over 50 years old and I know you love them that way. So fight them instead.”
Paul continued laughing as Hernández’s part was performed, eventually ending with the comedian turning the attention to his father and stepfather, who were shown in the audience.
The atmosphere of the 2026 ESPYS held at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Square on July 15, 2026 in New York City, New York. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Hernández then used Caleb Williams’ cover of “Madden 27” as an introduction to Woods.
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“I want to congratulate Caleb Williams, the quarterback of the Chicago Bears, who will be on the cover of the new Madden video game. Congratulations to Caleb,” Hernández said, “And Tiger Woods will be on the cover of Grand Theft Auto.”
Woods was arrested in Florida in March on drunken driving charges following a car crash. The arrest report said a deputy found pain pills in his pocket and observed signs of impairment at the scene. Woods later announced that he would be stepping away from golf to receive treatment.
Hernández also included North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick in the monologue, using the 74-year-old’s relationship with Jordon Hudson as part of a joke about the New York Knicks’ championship drought.
“The Knicks won their first championship since 1973. And to understand how long ago that was, in 1973 hockey players didn’t wear helmets, there was no three-point line in basketball. And in 1973, Bill Belichick was the age his girlfriend is now.”
The Knicks later took home the ESPY award for Best Team.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and other members of the 2025-26 Knicks championship team took the stage to accept the award, but Josh Hart was noticeably absent. Brunson laughed as he joked: “I want to thank the ESPYS for rescinding Josh Hart’s invitation.”
Earlier in the night, Brunson also received the “Best Championship Performance” award.
Jalen Brunson accepts the award for Best Championship Performance onstage at the 2026 ESPY Awards held at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 15, 2026 in New York City. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)
Former NBA player Jason Collins, who died in May at the age of 47 from stage-stage glioblastoma, received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award posthumously. Former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award, while Scott Ruskan was honored with the Pat Tillman Service Award.
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The ESPYS is held every summer and brings together top athletes and other stars to celebrate the past year’s best moments in sports while honoring those recognized for courage, service and impact. In previous years, the ceremony was held in Los Angeles, but this year it was moved to New York.
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