Lauren Shehadi

Lauren Shehadi
Shehadi covering the 2009 BCS National Championship Game
Born
Julia Lauren Shehadi

(1983-05-23) May 23, 1983 (age 41)
McLean, Virginia, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Florida
OccupationSportscaster
Years active2007–present
Employer(s)MLB Network
TNT Sports

Julia Lauren Shehadi (born May 23, 1983) is an American sportscaster for the MLB Network and TNT Sports.

Career

Shehadi attended Langley High School in McLean, Virginia, graduating in 2001. In college at the University of Florida she served as the host of the online Gatorzone. She also worked as an intern for The Best Damn Sports Show Period and as a sports anchor for KXMC-TV in Minot, North Dakota.[1][2] She is of Lebanese descent.[3]

Shehadi worked for CBSSports.com and CBS College Sports Network.[4] In addition to serving as the host for many of the videos on CBSSports.com, Shehadi was the co-host of the SEC Tailgate show and the ALT Games with Jonny Moseley on the CBS College Sports Network. In 2010 she was a candidate for Playboy’s "Sexiest Sportscaster" contest.[5][6]

Shehadi joined the MLB Network in 2012.[7] She previously hosted The Rundown on MLB Network alongside Matt Yallof and currently hosts MLB Central alongside Robert Flores and Mark DeRosa.[7]

In January 2018, Shehadi started hosting a podcast called The Podium, a podcast between NBC Sports Group and Vox Media, which focuses on athletes and events at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.[citation needed] In October 2018, she worked as the on-field commentator during TBS's coverage of the 2018 American League Championship Series.[8]

On March 10, 2020, Shehadi was announced to be a sideline reporter for CBS and Turner's March Madness coverage for the first time. She was scheduled to work with Andrew Catalon and former Villanova head coach Steve Lappas, replacing Lisa Byington, who was promoted to the number 6 team, with Spero Dedes, Steve Smith, and Wally Szczerbiak, replacing Ros Gold-Onwude, who departed Turner Sports for ESPN. However, she, along with Dwyane Wade and Adam Lefkoe, had their NCAA Tournament debuts pushed back to 2021, as the 2020 tournament was cancelled two days later over concerns of COVID-19.

References

  1. ^ "KX News: Lauren Shehadi". KXnet.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2008.
  2. ^ Picture of Shehadi while working for KXMC-TV
  3. ^ "@LaurenShehadi". Twitter. April 8, 2013. @LaurenShehadi so I've been meaning to ask: what nationality is your last name? I've been trying to figure it out but I'm stumped! - @iDodgrMike lebanese
  4. ^ Snyder, Matt (January 21, 2009). "Sexiest Sportscasters of 2009 Narrowed to 5, Erin Andrews Still Around". Backporch. Fanhouse.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009.
  5. ^ Royal, John (January 28, 2009). "Playboy's Finalists for Sexiest Sportscaster: Erin Andrews, Bonnie Bernstein, Charissa Thompson, Lauren Shehadi and Molly Sullivan". Houston Press (blog). Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  6. ^ Daulerio, A. J. (December 4, 2008). "And Here Are Your Nominees For Playboy's Sexiest Sportscaster of the Year". Deadspin. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Meoli, John (February 10, 2017). "Q&A with MLB Network host and Orioles fan Lauren Shehadi". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  8. ^ "TBS to be Exclusive Home of 2018 American League Championship Series". turner.com. October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.