The legacy of Stuart Scott and memories of his 2014 ESPYS speech

Five years ago, Stuart Scott delivered a heartfelt moment when he accepted the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the 2014 ESPYS for his courageous fight against cancer. The longtime sports anchor died Jan. 4, 2015, at the age of 49.

His contributions to sports solidified a legacy that will live on in the lives of many people who were touched by aspects of his life. He inspired his colleagues with his work ethic and his devotion to his daughters, Taelor and Sydni.

The 2016 ESPYS will air Wednesday on ABC at 8 p.m. ET. Although Scott will not be in attendance, his memory lives on.

Taelor and Sydni Scott join Mike & Mike to look back on Stuart Scott’s speech at the ESPY Awards.

SportsCenter’s Cari Champion shares how former anchor Stuart Scott touched her life and affected her career in a positive way.

Stuart Scott built a legacy will remain in our hearts.

Below are excerpts from Scott’s 2014 ESPYS speech.

“You know tomorrow all my boys are gonna be like, ‘Oh, man, I saw you at the ESPYS with Peyton Manning, ‘Money’ Mayweather, and KD.’ I’m gonna be like, ‘Yeah, whatever. Jack Bauer saves the world and he introduced me.’

’24’ is my favorite TV show of all time, so, Kiefer Sutherland, thank you very much, I am very honored.

Every day I am reminded that our life’s journey is really about the people who touch us. When I first heard that I was going to be honored with this reward, the very first thing that I did was, I was speechless, briefly. I’ve presented this award before. I mean, I’ve watched in awe as Kay Yow and Eric LeGrand and all these other great people [have] graced this stage and although intellectually, I get it. I’m a public figure, I have a public job, I’m battling cancer, hopefully I’m inspiring – at my gut level, I really didn’t think that I belonged with those great people. But I listened to what Jim Valvano said 21 years ago. The most poignant seven words ever uttered in any speech anywhere. ‘Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.’ Those great people didn’t. Coach Valvano didn’t. So, to be honored with this, I now have a responsibility to also not ever give up.

I’m not special. I just listened to what the man said. I listened to all that he said, everything that he asked of us. And that’s to build the V Foundation. And – and let me tell you, man, it works. I’m talking tangible benefits. You saw me in that clinical trial. Now, here’s a thing about that. Coach Valvano’s words 21 years ago helping me and thousands of people like me, right now, direct benefits, that’s why all of this, why we’re here tonight, that’s why it’s so important. I also realized something else recently. You heard me kind of allude to it in the piece. I said, ‘I’m not losing. I’m still here, I’m fighting. I’m not losing.’ But I’ve gotta amend that. When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live.

So, live. Live. Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight, then lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for you. That’s also very, very important. I can’t do this ‘don’t give up’ thing all by myself. I’ve got thousands of people on Twitter and on the streets who encourage me. I’ve got these amazingly wonderful people at ESPN. I’ve got corporate executives, my bosses, this is true – who would text message me. They said, ‘Hey, I heard you had chemotherapy today, you want me to stop by on the way home from work and pick you up something to eat and bring it to you?’ Seriously? Who does that? Whose boss does that? My bosses do that. But even with all that the fight is still much more difficult than I even realized.

What you didn’t see in the piece is what’s gone on probably the last 10 days. 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 a 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: every part of my body. As of Sunday, I didn’t even know if I’d make it here. I couldn’t fight. [applause] But doctors and nurses could. The people that I love and my friends and family, they could fight. My girlfriend, who slept on a very uncomfortable hospital cot by my side every night, she could fight. The people that I love did last week what they always do. They visited, they talked to me, they listened to me, they sat silent sometimes, they loved me. And that’s another one of the components of the V Foundation. This whole fight, this journey thing, is not a solo venture. This is something that requires support.

I called my big sister Susan a few days ago. Why? I needed to cry. It was that simple. And I know that I can call her, I can call my other sister Synthia, my brother Stephen, my mom and dad, and I can just cry. And those things are very important. I have one more necessity. Eh, it’s really two. Two very vibrant, intelligent, beautiful young ladies. The best thing I have ever done, the best thing I will ever do, is be a dad to Taelor and Sydni. (Yeah) [applause] It’s true. I can’t ever give up because I can’t leave my daughters. Yes, sometimes I embarrass them. Sometimes, they think I’m a tyrant. That’s a direct quote. There is an adjective that describes tyrant too, but I’m not going to go there. But 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. (YEAH!)

My oldest daughter, Taelor, I wanted her to be here, but college sophomore, summer school, second semester’s starting this week. Baby girl, I love you, but you go do you. You go do that. My littlest angel is here. My fourteen-year-old. Sydni, come up here and give dad a hug, because I need one.

I want to say thank you ESPN, thank you ESPYS, thank all of you. Have a great rest of your night and have a great rest of your life.