Following the death of ESPN’s Stuart Scott, here’s his speech after receiving the Jimmy V Perseverance Award.
ESPN confirmed Scott died from cancer at age 49 on Sunday.
Scott gave the speech on ESPN during the ESPY Awards over the summer.
“When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer,” Scott said to the audience. “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”
He also recalled his hospital stay.
“I just got out of the hospital this past Friday. Seven day stay. Man, I crashed. I had liver complications. I had kidney failure. I had four surgeries in the span of seven days. I had tubes and wires running in and out of every part of my body. And guys when I say every part of my body — ev-er-y part of my body. As of Sunday I didn’t even know if I'd make it here. I couldn’t fight.”
Scott adds that battling cancer can’t be done alone.
“This whole fight, this journey thing is not a solo venture. This is something that requires support,” he said.
ESPN President John Skipper said in a statement that Scott was “a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure” and that his “energetic and unwavering devotion to his family and to his work while fighting the battle of his life left us in awe, and he leaves a void that can never be replaced.”
Scott accepted the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYs in July. During his speech, he told his teenage daughters: “Taelor and Sydni, I love you guys more than I will ever be able to express. You two are my heartbeat. I am standing on this stage here tonight because of you.”
On Sunday morning, NFL Network broadcaster Rich Eisen’s voice broke as he reported the death of his good friend, with whom he worked on “SportsCenter” broadcasts.
“I love this man,” Eisen said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
