Last year, the acting world lost Robin Williams. Sunday morning, the sports world lost Stuart Scott. And though they took separate paths and chased different dreams, both men, by all accounts, were cut from the same cloth.
Professionally, Scott, like Williams, was an original. When the red light glowed, his charisma, even throughout three bouts with cancer, followed suit.
On camera, viewers saw him as an old friend. Off of it, Scott, a selfless celebrity, treated them like one.
That, along with countless other reasons, is why the sports community collectively grieved when ESPN broke news of the anchor’s passing.
We are heartbroken to report that Stuart Scott has died after a long fight with cancer. He was 49. pic.twitter.com/aI0TGwFqGU
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 4, 2015
Obviously, cancer doesn’t discriminate. No walk of life is safe from its reach, which is a reality that ambushed the Kansas City Chiefs last November.
Pro Bowler Eric Berry, who has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, paid tribute to Scott:
A host of Berry’s teammates did the same:
RIP to one of the worlds greatest...Stuart Scott your mark will live on but you will forever be missed. #GodFirst
— Dwayne Bowe (@moneybomusic) January 4, 2015
R.I.P. To the Legend! This just rips my heart out.... Praying for the family and friends to stay strong. #StuartScott pic.twitter.com/MIIYOt3hMR
— Travis Kelce (@tkelce) January 4, 2015
Prayers up for Stuart Scott and his family! #Legend
— Cyrus Gray (@CyrusGray32) January 4, 2015
R.i.p Stuart Scott
— Albert Wilson II (@iThinkIsee12) January 4, 2015
You can’t summarize a life in 140 characters.
However, if Scott’s own character proved anything, it’s that actions speaker louder than words anyway—even “Boo-Yahs!”