Freddie GIbbs Says ESPN’s Stuart Scott Was A Hero
On Sunday (Jan. 4), ESPN's Stuart Scott passed away. Scott had been fighting a difficult battle against cancer, and his courage warmed the hearts of many. To many people, including Freddie Gibbs, thought Scott was more than just the a likeable guy on ESPN.
"Coming up in America in the '80s and 90's, we were not too far removed from slavery," said Gibbs to Billboard. "People forget that. Those effects and that tone during those times in America lingers on in the Black community, so to see a Black man excel in something is always an achievement. For me to get up every morning and look at this guy on the TV...Stuart Scott was a hero"
Seeing African American men on television excited the Gary, Ind. native. Like many other fans, Gibbs appreciated Stuart Scott's contribution to sports culture. "Stuart revolutionized being a sports anchor," said the former XXL Freshmen member. "He brought hip-hop culture into it. Nobody else was saying what he said on air, and sometimes he pushed the envelope when he said the newest Jay Z line with a Michael Jordan highlight. But Stuart Scott was an artist."
Known for his whit and effortlessly merging hip-hop with sports culture, The Tar Heels alum brightened fans' days whenever they would tune in to SportsCenter. In what was his last public appearance, Stuart Scott accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2014 ESPY Awards and delivered an important message. "When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer," said Scott. "You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live."
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