May 26--Being prominently featured on a site named "AwfulAnnouncing.com" probably would not top the wish list of most sports broadcasters, but ESPN anchor and Evanston native Cassidy Hubbarth can relax -- the blog doesn't just harp on analysts' worst TV moments, it profiles up-and-comers too.
Hubbarth falls in the latter category in this case, and the Northwestern graduate recounts her unsual path from Chicago traffic reporter to a jill-of-all-trades at CSN Chicago and the Big Ten Network to host of ESPN's "NBA Tonight" and "NBA Coast to Coast."
Sports Illustrated also recognized her this month as one of 20 outstanding women in sports media. She "does a great job bringing the silliness without watering down the content," the magazine wrote.
She told Awful Announcing, however, that her background in production and digital broadcasting likely held her back from becoming an on-air talent at ESPN at first, but it helped her in the long run.
"I actually probably got more experience hosting a plethora of shows than, I think, some of the other anchors here because of my experience of trying to get in where I could fit in," said. "How else can I get better? How else can I gain more trust from the people that are decision makers?"
Hubbarth, a multiple sports star at Evanston Township High School, grew up rooting for the Bulls, Bears and Cubs, but remembers one NFL sideline reporter who drew her to a career in sports: Pam Oliver.
"I just remember watching her and thinking 'wow, that's something that I would love to do,'" Hubbarth told Awful Announcing. "Interact with players and cover them, tell interesting stories about these athletes that I so enjoy watching."
plthompson@tribpub.com
