Stuart Scott was not just another sportscaster for ESPN. He was a game-changing sports journalist that paved the way for future journalists like myself. He was someone that ignored the rules and played by his own. He knew being different was the ticket to his success.
Nobody had the stones to say catchphrase’s like “They must call him butter, ‘Cause he’s on a roll,” or “Booyah!” Nobody had the charisma to say the words, “He’s as cool as the other side of the pillow.” Scott didn’t just say words, he owned words. He made them his own. He brought a sense of personality and realness to broadcasts that audiences adored and could connect with.
And although he gets credit for bringing black America to the TV screen, he brought more than just the African American eye to the screen. Young people of all races were able see his brilliance as they grew up.
World History teacher Jason Stano remembers watching Scott growing up in the 90’s and loved the different personality he brought to the sports world. “He made it ok to be yourself even if it was unorthodox. He had a distinct personality and you could just tell he cared as a fan, and as a journalist,” said Stano.
Mr. Stano grew up in the 1990’s. I will graduate high school in 2015. Scott’s influence stretches across decades, and transcends time. He has impacted so many young journalists with his ability to be himself and not care what others think.
Despite a cross section of the nation not ready to see an African American with a lazy eye use lyrics from rap songs to do a highlight, he continued to be himself on air. He was not apologetic. He did not stop when he got the hate mail. He told himself he must be doing something right, and he was.
That “never quit” attitude was the same one he brought to his battle with cancer. Diagnosed with a rare cancer of the appendix in 2007, Scott struggled for seven years and went into remission on two separate occasions before passing on Jan. 4 2015.
However, daily ESPN watchers like myself could never tell how much pain Scott was in. He would show up to work and do the job right. He never stopped living life the way he wanted to. As Scott said in his infamous 2014 ESPY Award speech, “You don’t beat cancer by living, you beat cancer by how you live with it.”