Ernie Johnson Is Leaving ‘Inside The NBA,’ And Now We’re All Getting Emotional
Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Ernie Johnson retires from hosting 'Inside the NBA' after 36 years, citing health concerns and desire to slow down while continuing other broadcasting work.
Black News 
There are a few things you can always count on in this world: someone bringing potato salad to the cookout, someone asking, “if they can be honest,” about being rude as hell, and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Ernie Johnson on your television.
For over 50 years, Johnson has worked in television, starting as a news anchor in 1979 and, for the past 36 years, hosting “Inside the NBA” with a revolving cast of guests that settled on Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.
On Wednesday, Johnson announced in a social media post that he will retire from hosting the show that has become as much a part of the NBA as basketball itself.
“It’s just time,” Johnson, 70, said, adding that he would keep working, including covering the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for CBS and Turner Sports.
“Just to be clear, I’m not retiring,” Johnson said. “Just cutting back. … So this is by no means the end. It’s just a turning of the page. And I’ll forever cherish every chapter we have written with ‘Inside the NBA,'” ESPN reports.
Johnson noted that he’s had some heart issues in recent years, but pointed out that he’s doing well and his health helped him realize that maybe he needed to step back from doing so much, adding, “I just want to slow down a bit.”
One would be hard-pressed to find a person who has a bad word to say about Johnson. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro called Johnson “one of sports media’s most respected and beloved figures,” in a statement to ESPN.
“For more than three decades, he has been the heart of ‘Inside the NBA,’ helping create one of the most iconic and entertaining studio shows in sports. We are grateful for Ernie’s extraordinary contributions and look forward to celebrating him throughout the season.”
Johnson began his work with Turner Sports in 1989, where he began hosting “Inside the NBA” a year later.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” an emotional Barkley said during Wednesday night’s broadcast. “You’ve been our unquestionable leader. … The question I’m probably asked the most is: Is Ernie Johnson as good as a person as he seems? And I say, man, he’s better than that.
“So I just want to say thank you, thank you for being our leader for all these years. Even though I knew it was coming, it’s still hard, brother.”
Barkley also announced that this would be his final season, but he’s said that before and still found his way back to the “Inside the NBA” set.
And while they still have more shows together, the cast, and the rest of us, will be a wreck when Johnson says his final goodbyes.
