Nine months after UNC grad and ESPN personality Stuart Scott died of cancer, he was honored with a ceremony and a place in the North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame.
“A recognition of this magnitude from an institution that Stuart wholly adored, maintains his place here materially and spiritually,” his sister Susan Scott said.
Scott says she never expected her younger brother’s career would be as successful as it was.
“There are several questionable images from which to choose,” she said. “The 3-year-old wearing nothing but Underoos and cowboy boots, the 85-pound weakling bench pressing to the theme from Rocky, the 14-year-old little brother who cried during basketball games or the broadcast journalism student with a very heavy lisp.”
Scott graduated from UNC in 1987 and is best known for his time as the host of Sportscenter at ESPN. He frequently mentioned the Tar Heels during Sportscenter highlights and other broadcasts. He was also known for his colorful descriptions and catchphrases such as “boo-yah” and “cooler than the other side of the pillow.”
He helped pave the way for African-Americans in sports broadcasting and was an inspirational figure to those fighting cancer.
UNC School of Media and Journalism Dean Susan King said letters nominating Scott for the honor came from across the country after his death. She said the testimonials made it clear the hall of fame had to do something different for Scott.
“Stuart Scott showed me that it was cool to talk about sports the way you talked to your friends,” King said, reading a letter from Charlotte Observer sports reporter Jonathan Jones. “He showed me it was possible for a young black kid from North Carolina to talk about sports nationally.”
Scott’s impact reached beyond sports when he publicized his battle with cancer.
“You know the hell of it is, I don’t know why some of us survive cancer and it takes others,” Susan Scott said.
“But I do know this, it is never about beating it physically because in the end, we’re all just dust. It is about beating it mentally and perhaps even more importantly spiritually. And on those two fronts, Stuart Scott was a boss. He was a rock star.”
Scott accepted the award on her brother’s behalf, which was given to her by another UNC legend, soccer superstar Mia Hamm.
“I wanted to give you more insight on Stuart Scott the man,” Hamm said. “But to be honest you already know him. You see Stuart was exactly who you saw on TV.
Hamm said delivering the speech in Scott’s honor was an emotional moment for her and she paused several times during the speech to gather herself.
“You go through different stages of grief,” Hamm said. “When it’s someone you love and care about and you see his family and his daughters it brings back a lot of that. That’s what hit me today.”
Also in attendance were Scott’s family, Chancellor Carol Folt and ESPN personality Sage Steele, among others.
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