Actors Billy Crystal and Ken Jeong have served as celebrity hosts in the 34-year history of ESPN’s primary news show, but no sports star has ever done so.
“I don’t know if SportsCenter knows what they are getting themselves into,” Johnson said. “It’s probably a good thing I’m there pretty much all day preparing.
“I’ve got some tough shoes to fill with Billy Crystal and Ken Jeong but I’ve met most of the anchors and I am really looking forward to becoming the first athlete to ever guest host.”
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Johnson said it was something that had been in the works long before winning his sixth Sprint Cup trophy, which he hoisted Sunday night after a ninth-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But with the birth of his daughter, Lydia, in September, Johnson and ESPN could never find a date that worked well.
“I’m honored to do it,” Johnson said. “I have a hard enough time at the podium reading a simple acceptance speech. To be on a live show trying to read a teleprompter is one of the most nerve wracking things I'll do.”
Johnson will get a bit of a warmup Monday afternoon when he does a sit-down interview on the SportsCenter set. He also will appear Monday night on “Late Show with David Letterman” and Tuesday morning on “LIVE! with Kelly and Michael” before beginning work at ESPN. “We’re always looking for opportunities to change it up and give SportsCenter viewers a different take on the day’s news, have some fun and do some memorable television,” said Jack Obringer, SportsCenter senior coordinating producer. “And having a six-time champion like Jimmie Johnson on your set is pretty cool.”
