Grab the Tissues: Stuart Scott Delivers Moving Speech on Battling Cancer
The purpose of the ESPY Awards (otherwise known as the ESPYS, as in Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) is to honor athletes for their amazing talents on the field. But at Wednesday night’s ceremony, it was a guy on the sidelines —sportscaster Stuart Scott, a 21-year-veteran of ESPN’s “Sportscenter” — who really stole the show.
“As of Sunday, I didn’t even know if I could make it here,” Scott revealed while accepting the Jimmy V. Perseverance Award, honoring determined folks in the business and inspired by the late college basketball coach Jimmy Valvano. Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2007, he’s been fighting hard ever since.
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"I just got out of the hospital; I had four surgeries in the span of seven days," Scott said during his emotional speech. "I had tubes running through every part of my body. I couldn’t fight. But the doctors and nurses could; the people that I loved and my friends and family, they could. This whole fight, this journey thing, is not a solo venture, this is something that requires support." And support he received, as there was not a dry in the house during a rousing standing ovation.
Actor Kiefer Sutherland, star of “24,” announced an introductory video about Scott, which clearly pleased the sportscaster (“Jack Bauer saved the world and he introduced me!” he exclaimed.) The short film detailed the broadcaster’s perseverance, joie de vivre, and devotion to family — especially to his two teenage daughters. “The best thing I’ve ever done, the best thing I will ever do, is be a dad to Taelor and Sydni,” he said.
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In his acceptance speech, Scott was sure to include Valvano's famous words, “Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up!,” while also adding his own: “I’m not losing. I’m still here fighting.” Booyah.
