As we were about to board our long flight home Amber checked her phone one last time. She pulled us out of the line and all she had to say to me was…Stu. The news we were dreading and not at all prepared to hear. Stuart Scott has died.
This picture was taken shortly after Stu was presented the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at last year’s ESPYS. He gave a speech that still had me in tears as we chatted backstage. Tears of admiration and profound gratitude. Grateful that this beautiful, strong man was a dear friend. Grateful that he had the strength that night to deliver such a powerful, meaningful message. Admiration for how he valiantly faced cancer..again and again.
As I stared out the window on the flight home tears again streamed down my face. By the time we landed so many had posted wonderful tributes to Stu. President Obama, LeBron James, Tiger Woods…and our ESPN family. I’m still struggling to find the words to express my feelings. But then I think of Stu’s own words at the ESPYS. He was right. “You beat cancer by how you LIVE, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”
He closed his speech, with his sweet daughter Sydni by his side on stage, by saying “have a great night and a great rest of your life.” That was Stu, always thinking of others.
Bless you, my friend, for showing us how to live and how to love. Tonight after I say my prayers and thank the good Lord for Stuart Scott…I’m going to climb into bed…and flip my pillow over to the other side. XO
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