Cari Champion, a renowned American broadcast journalist, has served as an anchor for ESPN’s top program, SportsCenter. Additionally, she has held roles as a reporter for the Tennis Channel and as the host of ESPN2’s First Take.
Cari Champion Bio Summary
Full name: Cari Champion
Gender: Female
Date of birth: 1st June 1978
Age: 46 years old (as of 2024)
Zodiac sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pasadena, California, USA
Current residence: Los Angeles, California, USA
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: African-American
Religion: Christianity
Sexuality: Straight
Height: 5 ft 10 in (177 cm)
Weight: 132 lbs (60 kg)
Hair color: Dark brown
Eye color: Dark brown
Relationship status: Single
Father: Dylan Champion
Mother: Mariah Champion
Siblings: 2 brothers and 1 sister
Education: University of California, Los Angeles
Profession: Broadcast journalist and TV personality
Early Life & Education
Cari Champion was born on June 1, 1978, to Dylan and Mariah Champion as their daughter. She spent her childhood with an older sister and two younger brothers in Pasadena, California. Following her graduation from high school, she pursued a degree in English and minored in mass communications at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
During her time as a student, she contributed articles to the university’s newspaper, the “Daily Bruin.” This opportunity sparked her interest in pursuing a profession in journalism, and she received support from peers such as Mateo Gold, who served as the “Daily Bruin” editor-in-chief at the time and later went on to work at the “Washington Post.”
Champion’s motivation for pursuing a career in journalism stemmed from her desire to uplift the African American community and advocate for marginalized individuals. In her third year, she spent time in Washington, D.C., and completed an internship at Voice of America, a global radio station. In 2000, she obtained her English degree from UCLA.
Career
Cari Champion‘s broadcasting journey began after completing her degree, as she landed jobs at various television stations. Her first reporting position took her to West Virginia, where she took on multiple responsibilities and even brought her own camera to capture on-location footage.
She then moved on to work as a reporter at the Orange County Newschannel in Santa Ana, California. In 2002, she joined WPTV-TV in West Palm Beach, Florida.
After relocating to Atlanta, Champion began her job as an anchor at WGCL-TV. However, in November 2007, she was terminated for reportedly using a swear word on live television.
She contested the decision and explained in an interview that she was not given the proper cue after a commercial break, causing her microphone to capture a private conversation with her co-anchor in which she called someone a ‘mothersucka.’
She insisted that she had never used profanity and was hired again in January 2008. However, she departed from the station in March to pursue a broadcasting position outside of Atlanta.
Champion became a part of ESPN in October 2012 as the latest host of the network’s live discussion program “First Take” on ESPN2. In this role, she oversaw debates between sports analysts Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, while also pitching her own story ideas to the network.
She first appeared as a journalist for the network in November 2014, where she featured and spoke with American football player Cam Newton in an episode of “E:60.”
On the same day, she faced discriminatory and derogatory tweets from comedian Artie Lange. Lange later apologized to Champion, and ESPN released a statement to “Sports Illustrated” condemning Lange’s tweets.
Personal Life
Cari Champion maintains a low profile when it comes to her personal and romantic affairs. Despite being a well-known figure, speculations have arisen about her possible relationships with Ryen Russillo or Stephen A. Smith, but there has been no official confirmation. She is a devoted supporter of the Los Angeles Lakers and the UCLA Bruins.
Net Worth
Cari Champion, an American journalist and TV personality, has a total net worth of $4 million and earns an annual salary of $1 million.
She has been a host for various sports shows, including her own program “The Cari Champion Show” on Amazon Prime Video. In addition, she has served as a reporter for the Tennis Channel and an anchor for ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
