ESPYs 2014: ‘SportsCenter’s’ Stuart Scott rules the night with emotional speech

While the ESPYs are traditionally an award show that is largely about celebrating athletes and their world, it was very surprising, interesting, and also wonderful this year that the person who ended up stealing the show was actually a “SportsCenter” personality in Stuart Scott.

Scott was brought on stage by Kiefer Sutherland in order to receive the Jimmy V Perseverance Award, and he proceeded to deliver one of the most fantastic and stirring speeches that we’ve ever seen on the show. Known for being a big, fun personality on ESPN over the years, Scott has been battling cancer for some time and has seen much of his own perspective change. This speech was almost entirely about determination, and a different sort than what you see athletes going through every time they put on a jersey.

The reaction to Scott’s speech seemed to almost be universally well-received online, which plays in part back into the sort of nostalgic factor that he brings to things as one of the old-school anchors of the ESPN show. This is a guy that a lot of people out there remember watching when they were teenagers, and some of his catchphrases were things that you would use or impersonate. He’s also someone who few have ever seen on TV out of his familiar context, so that made this speech all the more significant in that way.

You can see Scott’s speech in its entirety below, and of course we wish him all the best along with his family.

If you want to get some more news right now related to the ESPYs, all you have to do is head over to the link here. Also, you can sign up today in the event that you want to get some further TV news and updates via our CarterMatt Newsletter.

Photo: ESPN