We woke up to the terrible news on Sunday morning that longtime ESPN anchor Stuart Scott passed away at the age of 49.
Scott had been entrenched in a lengthy battle with cancer, fighting several bouts since first being diagnosed in 2007. Although the cancer took his life, he didn’t lose his battle because – as Scott said himself at the ESPYs last year – “when you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”
Scott’s defining legacy at ESPN will one as great that anyone in the media (or anyone in life, in general) could ask for – he was always himself…his energetic, enthusiastic self…and he never apologized for it. He brought a very unique and groundbreaking voice to sportscasting and he never backed down or changed who he was despite those who denounced his style, and most people loved him for it.
Though he held several roles at ESPN over the past decade or so, I’ll always remember Scott from his days on SportsCenter in the 90s, when it was still must-see TV for sports fans. I used to wake up early every morning to catch an edition of SC and pray that Scott was one of the anchors on duty and, when I was lucky enough to have my prayers answered, he never disappointed. All I needed to hear was one of his amazing signature catchphrases and my day was already made.
ESPN will seriously miss Stuart Scott – one of their biggest and brightest on-air personalities – but they’re far from only ones. We’re all going to miss him, because he was great. The man was taken from us way, way too soon.
Rest in peace, Stu.
