ESPN anchor Stuart Scott has passed away.
Scott had been battling cancer for several years. He was 49 years old.
At the 2014 ESPY Awards held in July, the longtime SportsCenter host won an award for perseverance that had been named in honor of legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and fellow cancer fighter Jimmy Valvano.
Scott's moving speech had the audience in tears and remains a potent reminder of the eloquence and wit that made him a fan favorite at ESPN for over 20 years:
A fighter until in the end - in the most literal sense - Scott had been engaging in intense MMA training sessions between harrowing bouts of cancer treatment.
His trainer tells TMZ that Scott refused to allow any of his sparring partners go easy on him and had earned a reputation at his gym as a "battle horse."
Joining the network in 1993, Scott was instantly a perfect fit for ESPN's flagship show.
Catchphrases such as "Boo-yah," and "Cooler than the other the side of the pillow" made Scott a household name among sports fans and are still often quoted to this day.
But it may be Scott's words at last year's ESPY Awards for which he would most like to be remembered:
"When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live."
Scott is survived by two daughters. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of a man who will have a place in the hearts of a whole generation of sports fans.
No comments:
Post a Comment