Daily Gossip, Sunday 4/1/15

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We begin the gossip column mourning the loss of one of broadcast journalism’s finest reporters.

STUART SCOTT PASSES AWAY, AGED 49

Legendary SportsCenter presenter Stuart Scott passed away this morning, at the age of 49. He unfortunately lost his battle with cancer.

Via ESPN:

Among the features of the new ESPN studio in Bristol is a wall of catchphrases made famous by on-air talent over the years. An amazing nine of them belong to one man — from his signature “Boo-Yah!” to “As cool as the other side of the pillow” to “He must be the bus driver cuz he was takin’ him to school.” 

That man is Stuart Scott, and his contributions to the sports lexicon are writ large. But they are only one aspect of his legacy. When he passed away, he left behind so much more. He inspired his colleagues with his sheer talent, his work ethic and his devotion to his daughters, Taelor, 19, and Sydni, 15. He defied convention and criticism to help bring this network into a new century. He spoke to the very athletes he was talking about with a flair and a style that ESPN president John Skipper says, “changed everything.”

“He didn’t just push the envelope,” says sports radio host and former ESPN anchor Dan Patrick. “He bulldozed the envelope.”

Scott was remembered through an outpouring of tributes by athletes, colleagues and fans on Twitter and statements from his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, which said that “his legacy will live on in many ways — as a friend, a son, a father, a professional and forever, a Tar Heel,” and President Barack Obama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl_0ieqSi7Q

CAVS GM: BLATT ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE

Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin has said that veteran coach David Blatt is staying with the Cavs, and denies a rift between Blatt and the team.

Via ESPN:

“This narrative of our coaching situation is truly ridiculous,” Griffin told reporters on Sunday. “It’s a non-story, it’s a non-narrative. Coach Blatt is our coach, he’s going to remain our coach. Do not write that as a vote of confidence. He never needed one. It was never a question. So don’t write it that way.”

League sources told ESPN.com last week that there is a growing level of worry within the Cavaliers organization about Blatt and his ability to reach the team. Sources told ESPN.com that there is rising concern in team circles about the level of response that Blatt is getting on the floor, with Blatt himself acknowledging that the team “lost our energy and we lost our competitiveness” in last Sunday’s embarrassing home loss to Detroit.

Griffin rejected the notion that Blatt’s job is in jeopardy, saying, “No change is being made, period.”

VINCE CARTER CAN STILL DO A JOB

Even though the Grizzlies lost 114-85,  37-year-old Vince Carter is still getting up. Watch how the Memphis Grizzlies veteran crossed up Wilson Chandler before throwing it down on rookie Jusuf Nurkic.

Take the rookie to school, VC.

DEANDRE JORDAN SKIES FOR THE DUNK VS SIXERS

The Los Angeles Clippers hammered the lowly Philadelphia 76ers 127-91 last night. There were many highlights – especially this one from DeAndre Jordan.

Sorry, Sixers fans, because the build up to the alley-lop is embarrassing.