'I love you, Stuart': News anchors are breaking down reporting the death of colleague Stuart Scott

Scott referred to himself as Eisen's 'TV wife'

ESPN's Rich Eisen and Hannah Storm paying tribute to Scott (ESPN)

Long-serving ESPN hosts Stuart Scott died on Sunday morning from cancer (a battle he insists he didn't lose but won) and sports casters and fans were in mourning.

His co-anchor Rich Eisen took time out of scheduled NFL discussion to pay tribute to Scott's legacy as a "ground-breaking broadcaster".

"I love this man, I still love this man," he told viewers, fighting back tears.

"The fact that he has passed away is absolutely mind-boggling and a travesty - he battled cancer as bravely as anybody else."

"I know there are many people out there battling cancer themselves, and Stuart would want you to know to keep fighting.

"He didn’t lose the battle to cancer, he fought it as bravely as he possibly could."

He finished the speech by saying how he couldn't believe he was talking about his colleague and friend in the past tense, adding: "I love you Stuart, wherever you are, God speed, rest in peace."

Meanwhile during another ESPN programme, another of Scott's colleagues, Hannah Storm, also became emotional announcing his death, echoing his sentiments that "You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live."

Known for his catchphrases "Boo-Yah!", "As cool as the other side of the pillow" and "He must be the bus driver cuz he was takin' him to school", Scott was said to have "changed everything" about sportscasting by ESPN president John Skipper.