Stuart Scott's speech at the ESPYs was nothing short of inspirational.
The SportsCenter anchor touched the crowd last night when he accepted the Jimmy V Perseverance award for his ongoing battle with cancer, delivering a moving speech after he received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Kiefer Sutherland presented the honor to the 48-year-old television personality, who joined ESPN2 at the network's launch in 1993.
Stuart began by paying tribute to Jim Valvano, the former North Carolina State University basketball coach who lost his battle with bone cancer in 1993, recalling "the most poignant seven words ever uttered in any speech anywhere."
"Don't give up, don't ever give up," he said. "So to be honored with this. I know I have a responsibility to never give up. I'm not special; I just listened to what the man said."
Before his speech, a video was shown which gave the audience an inside look at Stuart's battle with cancer, showing the lively anchor in the doctor's room as he vows to fight for his life.
"When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, while you live and the manner in which you live," Stuart told the crowd as the camera panned to a tearful Robin Roberts while the audience erupted with applause.
The TV personality also thanked those who have stood by his side, admitting he relies on his family, friends, fans and coworkers for support before he shared his private struggle that has gone on "in the last ten days."
"I just got out of the hospital this past Friday. Seven day stay. Man, I crashed. I had liver complications, I had kidney failure, I had four surgeries in the span of seven days," he revealed. "I had tubes and wires running through every part of my body....As of Sunday, I didn't even know if I could make it here. I couldn't fight. But the doctors and nurses could; the people that I loved and my friends and family, they could...This whole fight, this journey thing, is not a solo venture, this is something that requires support."
Stuart concluded his moving speech by honoring his two daughters and asked his "littlest angel" to join him on stage (his eldest was away at college).
"The best thing I've ever done, the best thing I will ever do is be a dad to Taelorand Sydni," he said. "I can't ever give up because I can't leave my daughters. Yes, sometimes I embarrass them, sometimes they think I'm a tyrant—that's a direct quote....Taelor and Sydni, I love you girls more than I will ever be able to express. You are my heartbeat. I am standing on this stage here tonight because of you."
Tissues, anyone?