A little bleary-eyed and trying to wake up Sunday morning, I watched TV like normal, until I heard the news of the passing of Stuart Scott.

Scott, age 49, died Sunday morning, leaving a legacy of hard work, constant enthusiasm and a joy that will never be matched on screen.

Scott worked as an anchor for ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” He was hired as the sports channel launched ESPN2.

There, he brought a plethora of catch phrases that redefined what it meant to give sports highlights on a daily basis.

A few of my favorites over the years are the most popular: “Boo-Yah!” “As cool as the other side of the pillow.” “Just call him butter cuz he’s on a roll.”

Colleagues and other prominent dignitaries took to the airwaves, Twitter, Facebook and other means to send their farewells to Scott.

Many were heart-felt, but none could match Scott’s former co-anchor and better half, than Rich Eisen. Scott and Eisen were teamed up on “SportsCenter” in the 1990s.

Eisen gave a tearful farewell to Scott on air just minutes after learning of his best friend’s death.

It was an amazing tribute and brought a shimmer to this sport enthusiast’s eyes.

Eisen paid tribute right at the beginning of the NFL Network’s “Gameday” segment.

The most hard-hitting part during his speech was when Eisen said, “One of the most joyful, full of life individuals I have ever come across. (He) Lived his life the way his parents wanted him to live it, the way he felt he should live it.”

Eisen later said that Scott was a ground breaking broadcaster to sports television.

That’s exactly right.

Even though he may have been giving the highlights on screen, Scott was a highlight in living form.

I’ve never met Scott, but I’ve felt as if I’ve known him for years.

Since 2007, he had been battling cancer after an appendectomy revealed a malignant piece of suck.

Though he may have changed in physical appearance through chemotherapy and cancer treatments, Scott’s heart and will was to never give up.

He didn’t let cancer defeat him.

For his perseverance through it all, Scott was awarded the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS on July 16, 2014, days after reportedly undergoing surgery.

Scott was a machine, but anything but a machine.

He was the embodiment of someone who I will aspire to be.

I’d like to think Scott is above, watching over his two daughters — Taelor, 19, and Sydni, 15 — and loved ones giving them a smile, saying “And the Lord said you’ve got to rise up!”
Don’t worry, Stuart,we all will rise up in your memory.