After a long bout against cancer, beloved ESPN anchor Stuart Scott has passed away at the age of 49.
Prior to joining the sports network, Scott worked at local stations in Orlando, Florida; Raleigh, North Carolina and Florence, South Carolina. A graduate from the University of North Carolina in 1987, the charismatic announcer and dedicated family man had one of his most proudest moments when he served as the commencement speaker at his alma mater in 2001.
A statement recently released by ESPN noted Scott’s work as being signature and inspiring. Scott, who joined the company back in 1993, was brought on to help launch their new ESPN 2 network. His style utilized Hip-Hop lexicon, silly catchphrases, and over-the-top delivery which changed the way SportsCenter was made and solidified him as an iconic personality.
Terms such as “Cool as the other side of the pillow,†and “boo-ya,†were just some of the phrases Scott used to relate to his audience. “ESPN and everyone in the sports world have lost a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure in Stuart Scott,†said ESPN president John Skipper. “Who engages in mixed martial arts training in the midst of chemotherapy treatments? Who leaves a hospital procedure to return to the set? His energetic and unwavering devotion to his family and to his work while fighting the battle of his life left us in awe, and he leaves a void that can never be replaced.â€
Scott bravely battled through three bouts of cancer, which was first discovered during an emergency appendectomy in 2007. He went through several surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and clinical trials to stay strong and ward off cancer for as long as humanly possible. This past July, he championed enough strength to serve as a living testimony of strength and resilience when he accepted the Jimmy V Perserverance Award at the 2014 ESPYs. It was there where he said that “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.â€
Scott not only interviewed most of the world’s top athletes, he held a slew of jobs within the ESPN campus. From anchoring the 11pm show to hosting the trophy ceremony for the NBA Finals to even playing a televised game of one-on-one basketball with President Barack Obama, Scott was one of the hardest working analyst to ever grace the ESPN stage.
Scott is survived by his longtime girlfriend, Kristin Spodobalski, who cared for him every step of the way; his two daughters, Taelor, 19, and Sydni, 15; his parents, O. Ray and Jacqueline Scott; and his three siblings Stephen Scott, Synthia Kearney, Susan Scott and their families.
Many personalities on Twitter were shocked by the passing of Stuart Scott and took to social media to offer fond memories and condolences, which you can see for yourself below.