Boo-Yah!

Earlier this month, a memory came up on my phone. It was from nine years ago. On social media, I had posted a mini-eulogy to someone I grew up with, but never met in person. When I was a kid, my alarm would go off, but I would need a knock on the door from one of my parents to actually force me out of bed.

I would saunter listlessly to the kitchen table where I would throw down six Eggo waffles and catch SportsCenter. And there he was: Stuart Scott. A man I thought to be the coolest on the planet. With his loud catchphrases, perfectly-timed humor, and a casual charm, he lit up the small TV that sat on the corner of our kitchen counter. It was a ritual. Most times, the highlights would be entertaining enough, but without the right anchor? No excitement. Scott was the perfect dude to start my day.

Whether it was “You ain’t got to go home, but you got to get the heck up out of here” after someone struck out in an important spot, “Just call him butter cuz he’s on a roll” when a player could not miss a shot, or one of his many other highlight reel recap sayings, Scott got my morning started. Every time he was the morning host, it felt like a holiday. My slow journey to breakfast became a much more energetic excursion getting ready for school.

As I grew older and would flip on a sporting event on ESPN, a smile would naturally creep onto my face when he happened to be hosting a pregame show or taking the anchor chair on the 11 PM SportsCenter. Scott unfortunately passed away at the all too young age of 49 from a very rare form of cancer.

What always blew me away about him was that he never let this undeniable obstacle take control of his life. I read his book, Every Day I Fight: Making a Difference, Kicking Cancer’s Ass, with such intensity because he wrote it from a place of incredible passion. The man refused to allow this disease to control him. He would often work out directly after chemotherapy treatments. He continued his work schedule, including 40+ shows the year leading to his passing.

“If I’m too weak to work,” Scott said, “I’m admitting that I’m too weak to live.”

My very favorite phrase that he used while hosting was “Boo-yah,” a phrase he heard from an older neighbor he would hang out with and soak up knowledge from in Chicago, where he grew up. While the phrase originated with West Coast rap, Scott reinvented its meaning in broadcasts, using it in moments to represent a blast of energy.

Mike, why are you telling us all of this?

“Everyday, I am reminded that our life’s journey is really about the people that touch us.” You guessed it…another Stu line.

That’s why. Stuart Scott will never know how much he impacted my life. We never met, but his energy is what got my day started as a pre-teen. Boo-Yah!

Live your life with that vigor. Live your life with the blast of energy that booms like thunder for those around you. Wake up each morning with purpose that you can’t ignore. BOO-YAH!

Smile more. Be grateful for the time you are given. Work toward a dream you never thought possible. Give compliments without reason. Experience the moments in front of you without distraction. Shift your mindset. BOO-YAH!

Eat what you want (in moderation of course). Do the workout you meant to do yesterday. Seek out the sun. Every once in awhile, feel the coolness on the other side of the pillow. Take a deep breath. Take another deep breath. Be confident. Give back. BOO YAH!

Enjoy the little things in your life. Surround yourself with people who bring more positive to your world. Write down the great moments…and the not so great moments to make them great the next time. Play music loudly and perform endless solos. Take naps and sleep well to do it…all over again. BOO-YAH!

And as my good friend, Stu, once said, “You have a responsibility to leave the world a better place than you found it.”

So go bring the energy. BOO-YAH!