The media industry lost a giant this past weekend, and over the days, weeks and months to come, stories of how this person touched so many lives in one way or another will surface — each one unique, yet ultimately familiar.
Here's mine.
ESPN anchor Stuart Scott died Sunday at the age of 49. Battling his third bout with cancer, the disease finally consumed him. His time was cut short, ending what many people my age would consider the genesis of a passion for sports journalism.
I wouldn't say that Scott was necessarily my inspiration for getting into the business, mostly because our professions are slightly different.
He was on TV, going over highlights in his own style which transcended the normal voice once thought of as standard for networks like The Worldwide Leader.
His use of phrases like "Boo-Yah," and "Cool as the other side of the pillow," among others, made him stand out as a pioneer of sorts, taking "SportsCenter" to another level of entertainment.
He was cool, and we all wanted to be like him.
While he wasn't the first African-American sportscaster, he was still in the minority, and I can't imagine the type of obstacles he faced as he advanced in his career.
Thankfully, things have changed since then, and Scott helped in that cause.
He rose to the occasion, choosing not to waste a single beautifully crafted sports soliloquy in the process. Hired by ESPN in 1993, over the years, he put in countless hours of work that spanned the network's various programming installments — from NFL Primetime, to NBA coverage, along with his usual spot on "SC."
At the same time, there I was, a white kid from Westminster, glued to the television, marveling at the way this man worked. His lexicon was inspiring, even if I didn't understand all the references. The way he effortlessly broke down content for the masses in that smooth style was hard to emulate.
We came from different backgrounds. He was a father of two daughters. He bled Carolina blue, while I'm a Terp for life. Heck, the man was 26 years older than me.
I will never face the types of roadblocks he may have come up against in my career, and I realize how lucky I am for that. Because of my race, gender and the socio-economic status I was born into, likely the only reason I could be held back from advancing in this industry will be based on talent alone. I don't know for certain what Scott was up against in his younger years, but I'm sure he never had to worry about that last bit. It seemed like that was the easiest part of all.
Despite our differences, I couldn't help but feel connected to him throughout all these years, and the messages he left behind on this planet have all stuck with me.
To start, the sheer fact that he made it to the peak of the sports journalism industry — being one of the faces of ESPN, all the while taking on a debilitating disease — proves that, even with the odds stacked against you, anyone can move mountains.
He battled cancer with grace and a positive attitude — beating it multiple times until it claimed his life. There was an eye injury sustained on the job that could have gotten the best of him as well.
Scott could have let his race, his health, or his distinct energy that some found inappropriate for the subject matter, be reason enough to settle for second-, third- or fourth-best. But he didn't.
It didn't matter. He took the hand he was dealt, and he played it brilliantly.
The most important thing to remember is that my connection to Stuart Scott is not special.
Upon hearing of his passing, I reached out to many of my friends in the sports media industry throughout the country, as well as those who were simply just fans. The reactions were the same; we were broken by the news, and we knew there would never be another like him.
Thousands — including President Barack Obama, who issued a statement sharing what Scott meant to him as well — share in feeling the pain of loss this week.
As Scott said when accepting the Jimmy V Award at the 2014 ESPYs over the summer, "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."
Don't worry, Stu, I won't be remembering you solely for your battle with cancer. While it was a valiant fight, I think it only defined one part of your life. I will choose to remember that you meant a lot to a little kid who loved sports from a small city in Maryland. Others like me around the country — and, quite possibly, the world — felt like you were speaking directly to them all these years.
And for that, I thank you.
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Reach staff writer Matt Owings at 410-857-7893 or matt.owings@carrollcountytimes.com
