Ernie Johnson Jr.
 | This poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. )Find sources: "Ernie Johnson Jr." – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2021) |
Ernie Johnson Jr. | |
|---|---|
Turner Sports | |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse |
Cheryl Johnson (m. 1982) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent |
|
Ernest Thorwald Johnson Jr. (born August 7,
Early life
Johnson was born in 1956 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father, Ernie Johnson Sr. (1924–2011), was a Major League Baseball player who later became a television sports commentator. Johnson's family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, after his father's retirement from professional baseball in 1964 when Ernie was eight years old.
Johnson attended high school at the Marist School, a private Catholic school in Brookhaven, Georgia, and graduated in 1974. He then went to the University of Georgia and majored in journalism.[4] Johnson played first base on the Bulldogs baseball team his freshman year.[5] He graduated from Georgia in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude.[4][5]
Career
During college, Johnson got his first sportscasting job as the news and sports director for the radio station
In 1979, Johnson was hired as a news anchor at
From 1993 to 1996, Johnson called Atlanta Braves baseball games for SportSouth (now Bally Sports South) with his father, Ernie Johnson Sr.[3]
TNT Sports
NBA on TNT
.jpg)
Known as "E.J.", Johnson works as the studio host for TNT's coverage of the NBA, including pregame and halftime shows, and the network's famous postgame studio show that airs after each NBA doubleheader, Inside the NBA. He has hosted the show since 1990.[6][7]
At the end of each broadcast, Ernie presents "E.J.'s Neat-O Stat of the Night", which has become a popular part of the show but is sponsored by no one, hence the sign that says "Your logo here". This changed in May 2007 when
For all NBA-related shows, Johnson is joined by former NBA stars
Johnson is also the host of Tuesday Fan Night on sister station NBA TV, alongside Webber and Greg Anthony. He is also the host and moderator of NBA TV's Open Court, a basketball-panel show featuring Johnson and a rotation of six panelists (all of whom are made up of TNT's NBA analysts) discussing various topics, ranging from the history of the NBA to the current day scene of the league.
In October 2022, Johnson signed a long-term contract extension with
Non-NBA assignments
In addition to working basketball, Johnson is also the
Johnson's past work at TNT included roles as studio host for
In 2015, Johnson won his third Sports Emmy for Best Studio Host, and gave his award to the daughters of the late Stuart Scott, who died in January 2015.[9]
Johnson is also a sportscaster on NBA Live 98, and the NBA 2K franchise since 2014.[10]
Career timeline
- 1977–1989: various local news outlets () – sports/news anchor and reporter
- 1989–present: Inside the NBA – lead studio host
- 1990: 1990 FIFA World Cup on TNT– lead studio host
- 1992: 1992 Winter Olympics on CBS/TNT – speed skating play-by-play
- 1993–1996: Atlanta Braves on SportsSouth – play-by-play
- 1994: 1994 Winter Olympics on CBS/TNT – speed skating play-by-play
- 2002–2020: Golf on TNT – lead play-by-play
- 2002–2006: College Football on TBS – lead studio host
- 2006–2010, 2020-present: MLB on TBS – studio host
- 2010–present: MLB on TBS – play-by-play (lead play-by-play 2010, 2012–2018), (regular season 2020–present)
- 2011–present: NCAA men's basketball tournament on CBS/TBS/TNT/TruTV – lead studio host
Personal life
| This section of a poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. )Find sources: "Ernie Johnson Jr." – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2015) |
Johnson and his wife, Cheryl, a licensed professional counselor, live in Braselton, Georgia. The Johnsons have two biological children (Eric and Maggie) and four adopted children: a son named Michael, who was adopted from Romania, had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and died in 2021;[11] a daughter named Carmen, who was adopted from Paraguay; and daughters Ashley and Allison, adopted domestically through foster care.
Raised Catholic,[12] Johnson now identifies as Protestant and works on a regular basis with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Athletes in Action (AIA), and Samaritan's Feet.
Johnson is a devoted Atlanta Braves fan. Though he was born in Milwaukee, Johnson's family moved to the Atlanta area when he was nine, and he considers it to be his hometown. He attended high school at the private Marist School in nearby Brookhaven, Georgia.
On the November 10, 2016, edition of Inside the NBA, Johnson and co-hosts were discussing the
In April 2017, he released his memoir, Unscripted: The Unpredictable Moments That Make Life Extraordinary.[1]
Health
In 2003, Johnson was diagnosed with
On October 1, 2018, Johnson announced that he would not be a part of the 2018 MLB postseason on TBS after being diagnosed with blood clots in both of his legs, which affects his ability to travel by air.[13]
Awards and honors
- Six-time Sports Emmy Award winner – Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Host
- 2021 National Sports Media Association National Sportscaster of the Year (with Scott Van Pelt)[14]
- better source needed]
- 2023 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee[16]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8010-7410-3.
- ^ Ernie Johnson, Jr [@turnersportsej] (August 7, 2018). "Thanks Turner family— it's the only place I've ever wanted to work—29 years and counting" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ CNN Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 21, 2004 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b Rangus, Eric. "Ernie Johnson Jr.: Writing the script". UGA Today. University of Georgia. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ a b "ERNIE JOHNSON, JR. - HARTMAN AWARD RECIPIENT". georgiadogs.com. February 24, 2016.
- ^ "Ernie Johnson Jr". erniejohnsonjr.com.
- ^ Williams, Madison (June 29, 2023). "Charles Barkley Heartwarmingly Surprised Ernie Johnson With Broadcasting Hall of Fame News". Sports Illustrated.
Johnson has worked with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports for 34 years, he said, and has worked in broadcasting for over four decades. He's hosted Inside the NBA on TNT since 1990.
- ^ Chavkin, Daniel. "TNT Announces 'Inside the NBA' Crew's Future Amid Charles Barkley Contract". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ "Ernie Johnson of TNT gives Sports Emmy Award to Stuart Scott's daughters". ESPN.com. May 6, 2015.
- ^ "Ernie Johnson". IMDb. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ Sanchez, Mark W. (October 30, 2021). "Michael Johnson, son of Turner Sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson, dead at 33".
- ^ Romano, Jason (April 5, 2017). "TNT Host Ernie Johnson – "Trust God ... Period"". SportsSpectrum.com.
- ^ Yomtov, Jesse (October 1, 2018). "Announcer Ernie Johnson will skip MLB playoffs due to blood clots". USA Today. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- ^ Brown, Kirkpatrick, MacMullen, and Scott voted into NSMA HOF – NSMA
- ^ "Ernie Johnson Jr. inducted as 2019 IWU World Changer". www.indwes.edu.
- ^ "Watch: Charles Barkley surprises Ernie Johnson with news of Hall of Fame induction". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 26, 2023.