He was one of the best sports anchors in history, working for ESPN from the time he replaced Keith Olbermann behind the network's SportsCenter desk in 1993, until 2014, when his battle with cancer forced him from the anchor slot on the network's flagship program, SportsCenter. Stuart Scott passed away on January 4th, 2015; but he would never say he lost his battle, he only ran out of time to fight the disease.

Stuart Scott was a public figure who fought a private battle. He developed many sports "catch-phrases", such as "Boo-yah", "hoooolllaaaah" and "cool as the other side of the pillow" that are entrenched in sports vernacular today. But Scott was more than a sportscaster who left behind millions of adoring fans. He was also a father, who left behind two daughters, Taelor and Sydni. Scott said that his biggest fear, was that he didn't want to leave his girls behind.

Dear Dad,

Growing up we thought all Dads worked “inside the television.” This last year, we realized the full impact you’ve had on the world, and how important you were to so many. A whirlwind year of appearances and accepting awards on your behalf, Lifetime Achievement Awards, Hall of Fame Inductions, your book launch and even a visit to the White House — has given us great insight into the mark you left during your lifetime. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to meet many people whom you profoundly impacted, share our grief and our memories while giving back on your behalf and continuing the legacy you started in raising cancer awareness.

 

You lived your life with a fierce sense of authenticity, passion and competitiveness, giving it your all and reaching for the best in everything you did. When you were diagnosed with cancer, you showed the world how to fight with that same fierce passion, instilling a sense of hope and inspiration to so many. And in the end you taught us all how to win – live or die – by how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live. From you Dad, we’ve learned to reach for the fight we possess inside and apply it with passion to our lives. It was through your vulnerability, that you taught us the real value of strength in never giving up.

 

Love, Tae & Syd

(Your heartbeats)

And though Stuart passed away one year ago today, it is obvious he hasn't left them behind. Scott's daughters wrote a letter to their father to honor the one year anniversary of their his death, paying tribute to the man that gave them their strength, taught them their values and made them the individuals they are. Along with a video they produced themselves, Taelor and Sydni paid tribute to a man that never gave up the fight; Stuart Scott won his battle, evidenced by the two young ladies that carry on the fight in his memory.

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