HOLLYWOOD—Stuart Scott, sportscaster and anchor on ESPN, passed away on January 4 at the age of 49. The cause of his death was cancer. Scott was first diagnosed with appendix cancer in 2007.
He started his career as a sportscaster for several different local television stations before entering ESPN in 1993. He was known for his catchphrases “Boo-Yah!,” “As cool as the other side of the pillow,” and “He must be the bus driver ’cause he was takin’ him to school.”
Scott accepted the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance in July. He admitted in a statement, “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”
Several celebrities wrote about the passing of the longtime ESPN anchor via social networks.
Basketball star LeBron James shared via Instagram, “Can’t believe you’re gone from us! I am deeply saddened because not only will you not be replaced as a anchor or reporter but more than that as a genuine cool person. What u did for our culture, bringing that Swag to reporting can only be copied (which I hear it today on tv watching sports). I would say not because they stealing your swag, it’s all out of RESPECT! It was always a breath of fresh fun air when u would show up and we’d chat up. Thank you so much for being u and giving us inner city kids someone we could relate to that wasn’t a player but was close enough to them.#RIPStuartScott.”
Basketball star Kobe Bryant tweeted, “#StuartScottSayings changed the game #BOOYAH #donthatetheplayerhatethegame R.I.P to a sportscasting Legend.”
Professional golfer Tiger Woods tweeted, “Stuart wasn’t covering heroes & champions, it was the other way around. Thinking of my friend & his daughters.”
Basketball star Blake Griffin tweeted, “RIP Stuart Scott you inspired many and changed the way people looked at sports… Forever as cool as the other side of the pillow.”
Actor and comedian Kevin Hart tweeted, “RIP Stuart Scott U will truly be missed. I’m sending so many prayers & love to your family this morning. UR were the definition of STRENGTH.”
Singer Nick Jonas tweeted, “Devastated by the news about Stuart Scott. You will be missed. #RIPStuartScott.”
Scott leaves behind two daughters Taelor, 19, and Sydni, 15, with his ex-wife Kimberly.
