The PhinManiacs staff remembers Stuart Scott, ESPN TV personality

Stuart Scott, one of the most well-known television personalities, has died at the age of 49. He was a man who many had looked up to growing up in the 1990s. In the days before Twitter, Facebook and wide-spread internet access, it was his voice that we all woke up to each morning as he recapped the previous night's games. 

As Stuart became more entrenched in his role at ESPN, his duties expanded as he became the host of several shows, including NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. Scott will be best known for his catch phrases that he plugged into our heads over the many years he was at ESPN. Some of the best included:

• Booyah!
• Cool as the other side of the pillow
• You ain't gotta go home but you gotta get the heck outta here
• They call him the Windex man because he's always cleaning the glass
• Like gravy on a biscuit, it's all good!

We here at PhinManiacs.com are saddened by the loss of Scott and in memory of him, we look back on our fondest memories of one of the most exciting and inspirational television personalities in recent memory.

Matthew Cannata - Executive Director of Content and Production
Like many of you, I grew up in the 1990s turning on SportsCenter in the morning while getting ready for school. I have always been a Miami Dolphins fan ever since I started watching football and can recall some of his highlight calls for them. I was also a big Atlanta Braves fan for a while and remember him nicknaming several superstars, such as Fred McGriff, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and many more. However, my best memory of him wasn't back in the 1990s or the early part of 2000. Instead, it was the speech he gave at the ESPYs in 2014. 

Stuart was that guy who we all saw on television - the fun side. But, in the midst of battling cancer, with his daughter and girlfriend in attendance and millions watching around the world, he stood up there and gave one of the best speeches I've ever heard. He instilled inspiration in thousands who were battling cancer and thousands more who knew someone that was going through the same thing. He'll inspire thousands more when they are faced with hardships in their life. It was a genuine and touching moment and one that you cannot script. Just like Jimmy Valvano, I'll add Scott's speech to my list that I watch several times per year. It's one that will be played for decades to come and along with it, a heavy dose of inspiration.

Luis Sung - Assistant Director of Content and Production
Admittedly, I never watched Stuart Scott all that often, but I was aware of his battle with cancer and I was rooting for him. I got to see him cover the NBA playoffs once and I could tell he was a man full of life despite his illness. Now that he's gone, I see him as a reminder to us all that life is precious, and it isn't guaranteed. So with that in mind, let him be a reminder to you to give thanks for each and every day that we have on this Earth, because we never know when our time will come.

Eldon Jensen - Columnist
When I think back to the best of ESPN I will always be partial to Chris Berman, the guy that broke the original ground and put ESPN on the TV map. I will always remember Bob Ley, Keith Olberman, Dan Patrick, and Rich Eisen for breaking their own ground as the original tongue-in-cheek sports anchors, bringing sarcasm to the repertoire of sports commentary. Stuart Scott took things a step further, making you feel like he was right there in your living room, talking not just as a sports anchor, but as your friend, bringing sports stories and commentary to your life in ways that made you think, made you laugh, made you cry. RIP Stuart. 

Ryan Thyer - Columnist
I would say that my fondest memory of Stuart Scott would be watching him on Sportscenter and the fun that he seemed to have on Stump the Schwab.  He had the ability on any given night to be energetic, fun, almost goofy as he threw out "Boo Yah" and "Cool as the other side of the Pillow", but yet still be a serious source of information.  Then on the next segment he could take serious news or serious interviews and maintain a level or professionalism that showed no signs of the previous segment and the funny stuff he had just said.  He had the wonderful ability to go from fun to serious, yet always maintain credibility.

Justin Lemanski - Columnist
He was a local and used to come to the barber shop I went to in New Britain, Connecticut. It was called Blaze Barber Shop. I was only about 13 years old but I knew I recognized him, and one day I asked him why he looked so similar and he introduced himself. I realized who he was, he shook my hand and we talked a little bit about how I play baseball and he was just a really cool guy. I would see him from time to time at the barber shop, He always seemed like a good guy and he was a great analyst for SportsCenter, he will be missed! 

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