By David Jordan
You get one life. What you do with it is determined by opportunity, decisions and fate. The legacy that you leave on this earth after you complete your life’s journey is what does or does not live on forever. Stuart Scott lost his 7 year battle with cancer on January 4th 2015. The legacy Scott left in this world is not only outstanding but transcending and it’s a legacy that will continue to empower individuals for years to come. One can’t think about ESPN without thinking Stuart Scott and one of his game changing catch phrases that frequented the broadcasts of not only SportsCenter, but also any other ESPN show. Stuart Scott began his career with ESPN in 1993 and forever changed the broadcasting landscape in the world of sports with his originality and fervor for making you feel the greatness displayed in all of the highlights which he was describing. Prior to Scott’s arrival at ESPN many of the sports shows, in particular SportsCenter had the feel of a traditionally scripted newscast; word for word, segment for segment. The only excitement seen within an episode of SportsCenter was in the highlights of sports being talked about, not so much from the commentators. 
Stuart Scott described the exploits of athletes in a newscast the way people describe plays at the barber shop, outside at the park or in a school cafeteria. The terminology which Scott used was essential to describing a move by Michael Jordan, a cross over by Allen Iverson, a game changing hit in an NFL game or a homerun hit in an MLB game. Scott made it cool to watch SportsCenter. As a black man, he brought a different flavor to ESPN that hadn’t been seen in broadcast on the network prior to his arrival. As with any trailblazer he was met with a great deal of opposition to his broadcasting style mainly by those that did not understand, didn’t try to understand and weren’t open to understanding. “As cool as the other side of the pillow, Ray Ray and Pookie and nem, Call him bus driver because he took them to school and of course the forever transcending Boo-Yow; Stuart Scott trademarks. Somebody getting dunked on has to be described with a “BOO-YOW” because that’s the only way the viewer is going to feel it; Stuart Scott was given this natural understanding from God.
He was being authentic in his approach and that is why he changed the game. His uniqueness provided many the inspiration to enter the world of sports broadcasting. Many blacks that had not previously seen black sportscasters, in particularly those that may have talked like them, using the same words and colloquialisms as they used in everyday conversations saw that they too could be a professional in the world of sports broadcasting and be themselves without having to reinvent themselves for the camera. Stuart’s unique style and personality is what allowed many of the world’s top athletes and entertainers to connect with him on a level in which many are reluctant to engage in with people from the media. Many athletes and entertainers have a comfort zone that they will not allow themselves to get into when speaking with many members of the press because of the fact of how so many people in media interview to create a story; not get a story. Scott’s loyalty to himself and his respect and admiration for the sports and people that he covered is why he was truly able to cross many of the barriers he did during his broadcasting career.
At any given time you could see Stuart Scott interviewing the biggest names in the world of sports; Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Lebron James, Serena Williams, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and even playing basketball with the President of the United States, Barack Obama; an invisible trust was present between Scott and all of these individuals and this is why he was able to get these stories. It takes a special person to not only commentate but also “Raise The Roof” as Scott did in Uncle Luke’s “Raise The Roof” music video. This is why we all identified and loved Scott. He brought realness in character and everyday dialogue that all people that watched sports could identify with; black white, purple yellow, if you loved sports loved being entertained you were a Stuart Scott fan.
Scott became as much of a celebrity as the individuals that he covered. He indeed was as cool as the other side of the pillow and his mark left on the “Worldwide Leader In Sports” will remain forever. We thank you and we miss you Stuart Scott. BOO-YOW!
