(Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)
Editor’s note: Welcome to Off Camera with. . ., a Front Row series that introduces you to some of the studio anchors who have recently joined ESPN. Today, we meet Cassidy Hubbarth, who joined ESPN in August 2010 as a studio anchor and host for college football, basketball and NBA on ESPN3.
Favorite Team/Sport Moments: I am a die-hard Chicago Bulls fan. I grew up during the Michael Jordan era. We were that family screaming at the TV that you could hear from down the block whenever the Bulls were playing. My favorite Bulls/Jordan memory is when he won his fourth title in 1996. It was the first championship since his return and first since his father was murdered in 1993. Led by Jordan, the Bulls capped off the best season in NBA history on Father’s Day. The shot of Jordan lying on the locker room floor sobbing, in my opinion, is one of the most iconic sports images of all time.
Thankful for: I am thankful for my Lola. Lola means grandmother in Tagalog (Filipino dialect). She moved from the Philippines to help my parents raise my brothers and me. The impact she had on my life is invaluable. She supported me in every way possible. She never once missed a game or event of mine. Just the thought of her makes me smile. Her spirit was contagious. All she did was laugh hard and love hard. I feel so fortunate for the time I had with her. I see so much of my lola in my mom right now and know she will be the most incredible lola to my kids when that time comes.
A favorite tradition: My favorite tradition is Christmas breakfast with my family. My dad worked as a chef for 35 years and can definitely “throw down” in the kitchen. I love any time I get to eat my parents’ cooking, but there’s just something so special about Christmas morning that warms my soul.
Pet Peeve: I am on trains a lot, so I have quite a few public transportation pet peeves. But I think the biggest one I have is when I can hear someone else’s music through their headphones. A little bit [of volume] is fine, but if it sounds like I’m wearing their headphones, it just irks me.
