Cari Champion Is New ESPN 'First Take' Host, Joining Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith: REPORT

Has ESPN Found New 'First Take' Host?

By Matt Yoder, Awful Announcing

The Big Lead reports the soul sucking ESPN2 morning show First Take has finally selected a permanent new host after the transfer of Jay Crawford to SportsCenter. The lucky person who gets to sit between Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith every weekday morning is a relatively unknown face, Cari Champion, most recently of the Tennis Channel.

While the First Take assignment is a fate I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, the career trajectory isn't a bad idea for someone wanting to move up the ladder. It's no secret that Bristol thinks very highly of First Take and producer Jamie Horowitz. Horowitz is the man responsible for bringing you two hours of Skip Bayless every morning and was promoted to the new role of VP, Original Programming & Production earlier this year. While Dana Jacobsen left ESPN completely, Jay Crawford was given a legitimate SportsCenter slot, Jemele Hill has a new sideline gig, and the only thing that could cap off Stephen A. Smith's resurrection from the dead is the return of Quite Frankly. People associated with First Take have found additional successes at ESPN outside of First Take.

Until that day comes for Cari Champion, our thoughts and prayers are with her.

(via TBL)

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