Stuart Scott has lost his battle with cancer. ESPN announced on Sunday morning that the 49-year-old has passed away.
“ESPN and everyone in the sports world have lost a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure in Stuart Scott,” ESPN president John Skipper said in a statement. “Who engages in mixed martial arts training in the midst of chemotherapy treatments? Who leaves a hospital procedure to return to the set? His energetic and unwavering devotion to his family and to his work while fighting the battle of his life left us in awe, and he leaves a void that can never be replaced.”
Scott was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer back in 2007 after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. Since that time, he had gone through several surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy and other procedures. Scott announced roughly a year ago that his cancer had returned.
It’s difficult to imagine any sports fan who did not feel a connection to Scott on some level. Phrases like “boo yah” and “as cool of the other side of the pillow” have become common in households across America thanks in large part to Stuart. His passing is a true tragedy for the sports community.
