Stuart Scott Tribute

Yesterday, as I scrolled through my Twitter Timeline I can across some very devastating news that rocked my world. My heart was broken, and it was hard for me to think of the right words. I searched for different ideas to pay tribute to a hero of mine all across Social Media. This will be my ultimate Tribute. I received the tragic news that ESPN Hall of Fame Sportscaster Stuart Scott passed away from his long battle with Cancer at only age 49. Stuart Scott meant everything to me as a Sports fan, because he was the main reason why I became a fan of ESPN and SportsCenter. Fun fact: Stuart's birthday was the day before mine. His was July 19, mine is July 20. I guess that is another reason why he connected with me. Stuart made his debut on the worldwide leader in Sports Network in 1993 just in time for the launch of ESPN 2. Before he arrived, there was no one like him. Stuart changed the voice and face of Sports Broadcasting, as he created his own dictionary for commentary. My favorite Stuart Scott catchphrase was "Boo-yah"(Clearly, Cyborg from the Teen Titans was a fan of his). Scott would also be known for other lines like "Cooler than the other side of the pillow", "Can I get a witness from the Congregation" and others. Stuart changed the culture of Journalism, bringing an urban, hip-hop element to the mainstream. He would never be afraid to represent his Alma Mater of North Carolina by giving them shoutouts whenever they would play. Stuart was a trendsetter in every way imaginable, as he raised the bar for how Sports Broadcasting should be done. He was never afraid to improvise either. However, it has been said that his delivery was originally met with hesitation, because of how unfamiliar his approach was. In the end, his style was clearly a success, as he won over many for years to come. His chemistry with the likes of Rich Eisen, Dan Patrick, Scott Van Pelt and Steve Levy was brilliant. Players are often measured by how they elevate the game of others around them. Stuart was the master of that. For me, he became the measuring stick for which Sports Anchors, and news anchors in general will be measured by. Stuart showed that in order to broaden your audience, you have to keep up with the times and be versatile. At first, some people could not understand the package, but learned to appreciate the information that was inside. You could not argue with the facts that he brought to the table. The success on SportsCenter opened the door for him to move on to other projects, such as NFL Countdown, NBA on ESPN, etc. His SportsCenter commercials were the best. He even made a cameo in "Any Given Sunday". However, the laughs would come to cease in 2007, when Doctors discovered that Stuart had a tumor. He was soon diagnosed with Cancer. The Cancer would be treated and put in remission for a brief time. However, it would come back even stronger in 2011. Stuart would fight even harder than ever before. He would even train in Kickboxing and MMA to keep himself in shape. His journey has been an incredible inspiration to others, and motivates people to battle everyday. It was tough to see him battle this disease when he was broadcasting on SportsCenter alongside his colleagues. You could go back and see that he was in serious pain. In July 2014, Stuart Scott was honored at the ESPY's with the Jimmy V Courage Award. Many people were not sure if he was healthy enough to make the trip. However, he proved them wrong as he gathered the strength to walk up the steps to accept his award. Stuart's speech will live on forever, and be played for years to come like Coach Jim Valvano's (Jimmy V) speech in 1993. His message resonated for everyone who is in the same fight that he was in. "When you die, that doesn't mean you lose to Cancer. You beat Cancer by how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live." There was not a single dry eye on SportsCenter or anywhere else. Hannah Storm and former ESPN Anchor Rich Eisen could not finish their sentences without having to hold back tears. This is something that will take a long time to recover from. Without Stuart Scott, there would be NO Stephen A. Smith at all. Stuart Scott brought integrity, respect, quality and life to the world of Sports Commentary. He has left giant shoes to fill. Mr. Scott, your legacy will transcend the tests of time. In Closing, I want to say that Stuart Scott is the Greatest SportsCaster of all-time. Not because he just passed away, but with what he brought to the table. His contributions are endless. That's the bottom line.