ESPN anchor Stuart Scott dead at 49

Stuart Scott, a longtime SportsCenter anchor, died Sunday morning after a lengthy battle with cancer, ESPN announced. He was 49.

"ESPN and everyone in the sports world have lost a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure in Stuart Scott," said ESPN president John Skipper. "Who engages in mixed martial arts training in the midst of chemotherapy treatments? Who leaves a hospital procedure to return to the set? His energetic and unwavering devotion to his family and to his work while fighting the battle of his life left us in awe, and he leaves a void that can never be replaced."

Scott was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2007, but the disease was in remission as late as 2012. He announced in 2013 on Twitter that he had been diagnosed with cancer once again and spoke about his fight with the disease during an emotional speech at the 2014 ESPYs, where he was awarded with the Jimmy V Perseverance Award.

In 21 years with ESPN after joining the network in 1993, Scott became synonymous with catchphrases like "boo-ya" and "as cool as the other side of the pillow." He was a father of two daughters, Taelor, 19, and Sydni, 15.

This makes me so sad. He lives in my area and I don't know the family, but I keep thinking of his daughters. Also, I just lost a favorite aunt to cancer, so it resonates. And one of my good friends from college works at ESPN and has been battling cancer, too. So overall, this strikes me on a personal level. He was definitely an inspiration.