Home » Blog » Positive Living » Entertainment » Stuart Scott: Remembering a Game Changer

Author

Tags

Share this story

Stuart Scott: Remembering a Game Changer

The ESPN sportcaster passed away at age 49 after a long battle with cancer but it's his fighting spirit that still lives on. 

Stuart Scott
Credit: 2014 Getty Images
Ready to create a more joyful and fulfilling life? Guideposts' Positive Living offers practical tools and uplifting stories to help you on your journey. Sign up for our newsletters today and unlock a world of inspiration delivered directly to your inbox. Get uplifting insights, powerful stories, and expert advice to cultivate a positive mindset and live your best life!

Most sports fans know the name of ESPN's Stuart Scott. 

The legendary Scott worked the sidelines, then the anchor desk for over two decades at ESPN's SportsCenter and ushered in a new breed of sportscasters, one that used humor and his signature catchphrases, like "Booyah!" and "cool as the other side of the pillow" to make the audience love sports commentating as much as they loved sports. 

But Scott's legacy doesn't end there. The on-air journalist, who sadly passed away this weekend at 49, had an even greater story to tell; his own. The father of two daughters was diagnosed with cancer in 2007. Upon being diagnosed, one of Scott's first actions was to team up with charities dedicated to fighting the disease aiming to take his life. The anchor raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for both the Livestrong Foundation and V Foundation — organizations whose goals are to raise awareness and further research for those with cancer. He participated in charities and tournaments geared towards the very disease he was  fighting despite rigorous treatment programs and his full-time duties with ESPN.

Determined to fight his illness, Scott went through several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries and suffered recurring bouts of the disease before it eventually took his life. Still, his spirit endures. 

While friends, co-workers and even the President of the United States remember Scott as a man full of life and positivity, the world will remember him as a beacon of hope for anyone suffering from some form of cancer thanks to his famous ESPY's speech. The anchor received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance during last year’s awards program and in his speech, he detailed why it's how you fight, not whether you win or lose, that really matters: 

"When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer," Scott said after receiving the honor. "You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live. So live. Live. Fight like hell.”

Share this story

Walking with Jesus Advent Christmas 2024 Right Rail Ad

Community Newsletter

Get More Inspiration Delivered to Your Inbox

Donate to change a life together

Scroll to Top