Stuart Scott, the veteran ESPN anchor who captivated sports fans with his signature catchphrases and later inspired many with his long fight against cancer, has died. He was 49.
Scott joined ESPN in 1993, and proved to be one of its defining personalities at the helm of SportsCenter. His knowledge and passion -- embodied by exclamations such as "Booyah!" and "Cooler than the other side of the pillow" -- helped him stand out from the pack, and made him a beloved sportscaster.
SportsCenter announced Scott's death early Sunday morning.
We are heartbroken to report that Stuart Scott has died after a long fight with cancer. He was 49. pic.twitter.com/aI0TGwFqGU— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 4, 2015
Scott's fight against cancer would rival any of the sports matches he covered as an anchor. He was first diagnosed with cancer in the abdomen in 2007. The cancer went into remission multiple times, but eventually came back, forcing Scott to take time away from EPSN. He continued chemotherapy treatments, and even took up mixed martial arts to rejuvenate himself afterward.
“When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer," Scott said in an emotional acceptance speech for the Jimmy V Perseverance Award last year. "You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”
Scott's will to fight came down to family: his two daughters, now 19 and 15. In an interview with The New York Times, he recalled the moment, right after his first diagnosis, when one of his daughters asked if the cancer would kill him.
“I said: ‘It could, and that’s why we’re doing everything we can. That’s why I’m taking every medicine I can, and that’s why I keep working out so we can keep traveling the way we do, and so I can act silly and goofy and keep embarrassing you,'" Scott told the publication.
In November, Scott pushed back against those who suggested he had given up in his battle with cancer.
Rumor bout me in hospice. Not True. Airball. Swing & a miss. I continue treatment for C & missed some work but Hospice?No. Fighting? YES!— Stuart Scott (@StuartScott) November 11, 2014
Fans and colleagues quickly took to Twitter to mourn Scott's passing on Sunday, with many using the hashtag #booyah.
OMG - I feel miserable as I just learned of the passing of STUART SCOTT 49 - Just breaks my heart as #CANCERESUCKS http://t.co/4UulUcYM6J— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 4, 2015
R.I.P STUART SCOTT MY MAIN MAN YOU WILL BE KISSED.. pic.twitter.com/MW2rtIMoNp— BIZ MARKIE (@BizMarkie) January 4, 2015
Stuart Scott didn't give other broadcasters a style to emulate. Rather, he showed us it's alright to have a style all your own. #ESPN— T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) January 4, 2015
There will never be another #StuartScott He revolutionized Sports Broadcasting and made it enjoyable for all. #Booyah @SportsCenter— Sam Friedman (@sdfriedman) January 4, 2015
Words cannot express the grief. #RIPStuartScott— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 4, 2015
#StuartScottSayings changed the game #BOOYAH #donthatetheplayerhatethegame R.I.P to a sportscasting Legend— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 4, 2015
Rest in peace Stuart Scott , you will be terribly missed. Thank you for everything, love u brother pic.twitter.com/nbqrsm8ejr— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 4, 2015
UPDATE 1:56 pm ET Sunday: U.S. President Barack Obama, a longtime fan of ESPN's SportsCenter, issued a statement Sunday afternoon, saying "I will miss Stuart Scott."
"Over the years, he entertained us, and in the end, he inspired us—with courage and love." —Obama on Stuart Scott pic.twitter.com/OJn4jcgSCN— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 4, 2015
At least one sports team also plans to have a moment of silence for Scott:
The Cowboys will have a moment of silence before the game for @StuartScott.— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 4, 2015