'I Will Miss Stuart Scott' Says President Barack Obama; Rich Eisen, Hannah Storm, Star Athletes Deliver Moving Tributes
It was an emotional morning for the sporting world Sunday as news spread quickly of the death of beloved and iconic ESPN anchor Stuart Scott.
"God gained one hell of a talent in Stuart Scott…" said former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson in a tweet that quickly went viral.
The news that cancer had claimed one of their own triggered a tidal wave of condolences from some of the most notable names in the sports world like basketball hall of famer Magic Johnson.
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"Stuart, my brother you have left a positive lasting impression on not only the sports world, but the entire world as a whole," Johnson tweeted to his 2.4 million followers Sunday.
Even President Barack Obama, an unabashed sports fan, was moved to publicly acknowledge the impact of Scott's life.
"I will miss Stuart Scott," said Obama in a statement released by ESPN PR Sunday. "Twenty years ago, Stu helped usher in a new way to talk about our favorite teams and the day's best plays. For much of those twenty years, public service and campaigns have kept me from my family -- but wherever I went, I could flip on the TV and Stu and his colleagues on SportsCenter were there. Over the years, he entertained us, and in the end, he inspired us – with courage and love. Michelle and I offer our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and colleagues," said the President.
Some of the most moving reactions however came from those who had worked closest with him, like sports journalists Hannah Storm of ESPN and Rich Eisen who is now on the NFL Network but had worked with Scott on SportsCenter for a long time.
"Since 1993, those of us here at ESPN fortunate enough to work with him saw how he lived and in the past seven years as he fought cancer we saw why he lived. For his daughters, Taelor and Sydni. And so today we choose not to say that Stuart lost to cancer at the age of 49. Instead we'll simply say that we all lost Stuart," said Storm fighting back tears.
"I loved this man. I still love this man," said Eisen remembering Scott Sunday.
"The fact that he has passed away is absolutely mind-boggling and a travesty. He battled cancer as bravely as anybody else and I know that there are many people out there who are battling cancer right now and Stuart would want you to know to keep fighting and that he didn't lose the battle to cancer. He fought it as bravely as he possibly could. And as you go to bed tonight, flip your pillow over to the cool side and before you go to sleep as Stuart would say, you hit your knees tonight and pray to the big man for his beautiful daughters who he loved," he added.
See more reactions below:
The cancer survivor community lost a great fighter today. Stuart Scott's courage throughout his fight will strengthen others to overcome....
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) January 4, 2015He was as cool as the other side of the pillow & will be missed. Prayers up @StuartScott & family#RIPStuartScottpic.twitter.com/HXuf7qcbMy
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 4, 2015Stuart, my brother you have left a positive lasting impression on not only the sports world, but the entire world as a whole.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 4, 2015#StuartScottSayings changed the game #BOOYAH#donthatetheplayerhatethegame R.I.P to a sportscasting Legend
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 4, 2015Stuart wasn't covering heroes & champions, it was the other way around. Thinking of my friend & his daughters.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) January 4, 2015Can't believe you're gone from us! I am deeply saddened because not only will not be replaced as a… http://t.co/2MMLgFR6lf
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 4, 2015
