Okay..so Ricci & The Professor are suckers for sports. We love 'em. And you gotta believe The Professor especially has a soft-spot for "sports chicks". ..Kournikova, Sharapova (any "Ova" will do), Solo, Morgan, Serena, Venus, Danica..you name it..I like 'em..on principle.
So it was only a matter of time before a "sports chick" hit the BSG's "Baddest Women" HOF. But not just "any" girl in sports will do. No sir. Induction requires you have something special..something different.
Sure, anybody can look good when they have to, but can you hold your own every day with the likes of an auditory warrior like Stephen A. Smith? Can you consistently wrangle with, and share the same set with a 30-year veteran, sports-journalist like the wily, Skip Bayless? How foreboding does all that sound!
Well, the latest inductee to the BSG: Baddest Women on the Planet pantheon does this every day. And does it WELL. The BSG proudly presents Ms. Cari Champion of ESPN's First Take.
This UCLA alum has been electrifying sports fans all throughout 2013 with her charm, wit, "political" savvy, professionalism, and all-around awesomeness in holding down the "host" chair for the uber-hetero, sports roundup show: First Take. There aren't many MEN that can hold this position down, let alone a thin, sultry, ultra-feminine, African-American, WOMAN. In layman's terms, the girl is putting her thing DOWN.
Just dealing with Stephen A. every day is almost too much to ask from ANYONE. The only person I know who can do it and keep their wits about them..is SKIP BAYLESS..and he's a piece of work himself(!)
So, here's the situation.. Cari Champion has to deal with these 2 larger than life, Alpha-Male personalities on a DAILY basis, and still remain calm, beautiful, and professional. But here's the kicker..she has to remain "visible", but not "intrusive". How hard must this be? Can you imagine the pressure this woman is under? She has to deal with millions of viewers who are WAITING for her to say something either "stupid", inappropriate, non-(sports)sensical, or vapid. She KNOWS that most sports fans see her as "eye-candy", or a "gimmick", to keep the male demographic glued to the set; instead of having to watch Skip and Stephen A's ugly mugs..!
And to a certain extent, that's "kind of" what she's there for..
But the intelligent sports fan, and the wise television executive, HAS TO understand that "eye candy" only lasts for a minute. ESPN viewers tune in for the SPORTS info. ..and THAT'S ALL we tune in for. If she were to act like she doesn't belong..or more significantly..make us feel that her presence is a hindrance to the "real talk" that sports fans come to expect..we'd turn her long-haired butt off in a New York minute! And that's REAL.
But Cari Champion remains true to her namesake. She boasts a "champion's" heart and holds it down with the best of them. Always eloquent and confident, Cari makes us feel that she has control of the arena, but never with a heavy-hand that might make everyone feel "uncomfortable". Her money is not made by being "hot", but by being a competent, likeable, host of a highly rated sports talk show.
And, oh by the way, she just so happens..to be hot as $#*%..!
THAT..is true talent.
WE SALUTE YOU, Cari Champion. Go on wit' ya bad self!
