Sports journalism is fun, but Stuart Scott made it that way.
It’s a simple statement that needs to be said.
I can recall sitting in my parents’ living room as a five-year-old thinking how neat it was to just be on TV and talk sports. I always remember seeing two guys in my youth: Rich Eisen and Stuart Scott. Both were great and Eisen was always a little more dry, but Scott was my idol in the business from the get-go.
For many reasons, Scott influenced me and many others who dreamed of covering sports at some point in their lifetime. First and foremost, he was a cool dude. Far too often, television anchors get sucked into their business so much that reading off the teleprompter becomes commonplace. Scott was never that type. Sure, he did read what was in front of him, but there was always an enthusiasm in his voice.
“Stu” always made it seem like he wanted to be there — he wanted to do more than show up to work. While ESPN had other great anchors who accomplished similar things, Scott always jumped out of the TV and connected with the audience. He made you seem like you were on the show with him and he was talking to you as if you were at a bar with your buddies.
His sense of humor kept things fresh. I can’t recall how many times in my youth — and even sometimes today — the phrase “boo-yah” left my mouth. Whenever I’m at the gym and someone does a really clean set or rep of an exercise, I unconsciously say, “Cooler than the other side of the pillow.”
That’s leaving a trademark. I know I’m not the only one who says both of those phrases.
But connecting with the audience was only part of why he was great. Scott connected with athletes as if he was one. Just look at what the NBA’s best player LeBron James said about the legend on his Instagram account:
“Can’t believe you’re gone from us! I am deeply saddened because not only will 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 #FuqCancer #GoneButSurelyNotForgotten”
Scott was such a staple in sports journalism, the NFL honored him with a moment of silence today before the National Anthem at the Cincinnati Bengals-Indianapolis Colts’ Wild Card game.
And he was more than just a great sportscaster… he was a great man. He fought the battle with cancer in 2007 and lived his life as if he was as normal as you and I. He was a family man who never stopped working and loving life until he physically couldn’t.
“When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live,” — Stuart Scott.
If that doesn’t inspire you to overcome any physical or mental adversities you may have in your life, you may not have a pulse… or a heart.
This one hearts… deeply. This was my generation’s childhood. Sitting in front of the television, finding out what’s going on in sports (all day and night long) and finding myself laughing at the inflection the one anchor was using to deliver stories and highlights. He did what he loved and that passion inspired me and my journey into the business of media production. His ability to not be a statue and be an enthusiastic, hip human being is the epitome of what being in this business means.
But the one thing Scott did for the world other than just provide entertainment was a simple message in a picture. No matter what you do, fight everyday.
Courtesy: New York Times
