[ot-caption title=”Stuart Scott received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award during the 2014 ESPY Awards this past summer. (AP Photo/John Shearer)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/stuscott.jpg”]

“Boo-yah!”

This catch phrase is just one of the countless building blocks that came together to formulate the legacy of Stuart Scott. As an anchor on ESPN, Scott transformed his art and constantly entertained his viewers with his legendary expressions and unique character. He represented a new generation of sports broadcasting, appealing to a different audience and representing himself in a manner that differed from anything that this sort of television had ever seen before. Unfortunately though, America heard its final “Boo-yah” as Stuart Scott passed away on January 4 at the age of 49, after enduring a vicious battle with appendix cancer. His presence on television will be greatly missed, but the passing of this legendary broadcaster is leaving something far more significant behind.

As a professional, Scott left a long list of accomplishments in the ESPN studios. After being hired in 1993, he  steadily climbed the broadcasting ranks, going from an occasional participant on ESPN2 Late Night to eventually anchor on the signature Sportscenter. His style was revolutionary. For the first time, an anchor on television was analyzing an event in the same way that a fan would comment on the game at home. The language he used appealed to a younger generation of fans.

He would use slogans such as “call him butter cause he’s on a roll” when an athlete was seemingly unstoppable or “he treats him like a dog. Sit. Stay” when a player was being toyed with on defense. Additionally, his upbeat demeanor and everlasting enthusiasm had the ability to lift anyone watching into the highest of spirits. Scott brought a flare to sports broadcasting that the world had never seen before, and his character will live on forever.

As gifted as a professional as Stuart Scott was, his death brought about a larger tragedy. Yes, it’s true that the world lost a magnificent trailblazer in his profession, but more importantly, the world lost a magnificent human being.

What Scott represented was a man who genuinely understood what it meant to appreciate every aspect of life. He dedicated his heart and soul to his family and friends, and his love for those important to him made him an endearing figure to everyone he encountered. Moreover, Stuart Scott showed the utter importance of never giving up.

After receiving the renowned Jimmy V Perseverance Award this past July at the ESPYs, Scott spoke emotionally to the audience, and his words will resonate forever. Stuart Scott said of his fight, “When you die, it does not mean you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”

Despite seemingly insurmountable adversity, Scott would not budge. He would not cave in. Scott fought until his final breath with his disease, and his courage and persistence will be an inspiration to anyone who will ever endure hardship and face challenges in their lives. While his career will be forever revered, Stuart Scott’s character and moral quality will be engraved in society for generations to come.

Stuart Scott is an inspiration to anyone in one-way or another. Filled with passion for his profession, Scott fully dedicated himself to everything from ESPN to his two daughters at home. The anchor transformed sports broadcasting with his unique twist on commentary and analysis. More importantly, Stuart Scott, demonstrated what it means to live a fulfilling life and what it means to live every second as if it were the last.

Source: ESPN.com