On Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 9 p.m. ET, ESPN will premiere “Boo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott” – the newest installment in the 30 for 30 series that will take an intimate look at the late trailblazing SportsCenter anchor who transformed sports broadcasting, brought hip-hop culture to ESPN and inspired millions through both his work and his courageous public battle with cancer.
Ahead of the film’s debut, we spoke with Marquis Daisy, Senior Director & Producer, who helped bring the project to life.
What inspired you to tell Scott’s story now, and why through the 30 for 30 lens?
It is simply the right time to tell this story. All too often, some of our greatest heroes become forgotten, though their work has transcended decades and inspired millions. For ESPN Films and 30 for 30, we did not want this to happen to one of our very own. We knew that sharing both Stuart’s personal and professional journey was important.
(Melissa Rawlins/ESPN Images)
How did Scott’s personal footage shape the narrative and bring authenticity? What stood out to you?
Stuart’s personal archives were pivotal to the overall arc. It afforded us the opportunity to see Stuart in the most intimate of settings, away from the bright lights of network television and into his own living room. Through this unprecedented access, we saw him grow in real time before our very eyes. It is rare that documentaries have this treasure trove of personal archives to work from, and for that, this film gives us a unique window into the man, Stuart Scott, and not just the celebrated figure that we all came to love on television.
What do you hope viewers take away from Scott’s legacy after watching “Boo-Yah?”
I am hopeful that the younger generation will come away from this film with a better understanding of Stuart’s significance and the impact he has had on the current landscape of sports journalism. He celebrated being different at a time when people who looked like him had a challenging road to do so, and for that, Stuart helped lay the foundation for the celebration of individualism in sports journalism.
