Obama pays tribute to Stuart Scott

President Obama praised the late sportscaster Stuart Scott on Sunday, saying he "helped usher in a new way to talk about our favorite teams and the day's best plays" through his work on ESPN.

"I will miss Stuart Scott," the president said in a written statement.

Scott, 49, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer.

Obama, a sports and ESPN fan, said in his statement:

"For much of those twenty years, public service and campaigns have kept me from my family -- but wherever I went, I could flip on the TV and Stu and his colleagues on SportsCenter were there.

"Over the years, he entertained us, and in the end, he inspired us -- with courage and love. Michelle and I offer our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and colleagues."