Ernie Johnson Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ernie Johnson Jr.
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Johnson in 2019
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| Born |
Ernest Thorwald Johnson Jr.
August 7, 1956 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Education | University of Georgia (BA) |
| Occupation | On-air personality / sportscaster for TNT Sports |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Cheryl Johnson
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent(s) |
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Ernest Thorwald Johnson Jr. (born August 7, 1956) is a well-known American sportscaster. He works for TNT Sports. He is famous for hosting Inside the NBA and for his work on Major League Baseball games for TBS. He also helps cover the NCAA men's basketball tournament for TNT Sports and CBS Sports. His father, Ernie Johnson Sr., was a professional baseball player and announcer.
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Early Life and Education
Johnson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1956. His father, Ernie Johnson Sr., was a Major League Baseball player. After his father stopped playing baseball in 1964, when Ernie was eight, his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia.
Ernie went to high school at the Marist School in Brookhaven, Georgia. He graduated in 1974. He then attended the University of Georgia and studied journalism. During his first year, he played first base for the Bulldogs baseball team. He finished college in 1978 with a high honor degree.
Ernie Johnson's Career
While in college, Johnson got his first job in sports broadcasting. He worked as a news and sports director for a radio station in Athens, Georgia.
In 1979, Johnson became a news anchor at a TV station in Macon, Georgia. He later worked as a news reporter in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and then in Atlanta. In Atlanta, he became the weekend sports anchor and reporter in 1983. He stayed in these roles until 1989, when he joined Turner Sports.
From 1993 to 1996, Johnson announced Atlanta Braves baseball games with his father for a channel called SportSouth.
Working at TNT Sports
Inside the NBA Host
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Ernie Johnson is often called "E.J." He is the main host for TNT's coverage of the NBA. This includes pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows. He has hosted the famous post-game show, Inside the NBA, since 1990.
At the end of each show, Ernie shares "E.J.'s Neat-O Stat of the Night." This part of the show became very popular. Johnson works with former NBA stars like Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal on these shows. Sometimes, other players like Chris Webber or Grant Hill also join them.
In October 2022, Johnson signed a new long-term contract. This means he will continue to host Inside the NBA for many more years.
Other Sports Assignments
Besides basketball, Johnson also announces PGA Tour golf events for TNT. He used to host college football coverage for TBS. In 2002, he won a Sports Emmy for being an outstanding studio host. He won this award again in 2006 and a third time in 2015. When he won in 2015, he gave his award to the daughters of Stuart Scott, another sportscaster who had passed away.
From 2007 to 2009, Johnson hosted Major League Baseball shows for TBS with Cal Ripken Jr.. In 2010, he started announcing the games themselves. He also announced many Atlanta Braves games. Since 2020, he has returned to hosting the pre-game and post-game shows for MLB on TBS, while still doing some play-by-play.
Johnson has also worked on other major sports events. These include Wimbledon tennis, NFL football, and the Goodwill Games. He also covered the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics. He was the studio host for the 1990 FIFA World Cup on TNT. He also announced weightlifting at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He is a studio host for the NCAA men's basketball tournament for CBS and Turner Sports.
Johnson is also a sportscaster in the NBA 2K video game series, starting in 2014.
Career Highlights Timeline
- 1977–1989: Worked at various local news stations as a sports and news reporter.
- 1989–present: Lead studio host for Inside the NBA.
- 1990: Lead studio host for the 1990 FIFA World Cup on TNT.
- 1992 & 1994: Announced speed skating at the Winter Olympics.
- 1993–1996: Announced Atlanta Braves baseball games.
- 2002–2020: Lead play-by-play announcer for TNT's golf coverage.
- 2002–2006: Lead studio host for college football on TBS.
- 2006–present: Studio host and play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball on TBS.
- 2011–present: Lead studio host for the NCAA men's basketball tournament on CBS/TBS/TNT/TruTV.
Personal Life
Ernie Johnson and his wife, Cheryl, live in Braselton, Georgia. They have two biological children and four adopted children.
Johnson was raised Catholic but now identifies as Protestant. He works with groups like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Samaritan's Feet.
He is a big fan of the Atlanta Braves. Even though he was born in Milwaukee, he considers Atlanta his hometown because his family moved there when he was young.
In April 2017, he released a book about his life called Unscripted: The Unpredictable Moments That Make Life Extraordinary.
Health Challenges
In 2003, Johnson was diagnosed with a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He continued to work while getting treatment. He returned to Inside the NBA in October 2006.
In October 2018, Johnson announced that he would miss the MLB postseason on TBS. This was because he had blood clots in his legs, which made it difficult for him to travel by plane.
Awards and Honors
- Six-time Sports Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Host.
- 2018 Black Masters Tournament Champion.
- 2021 National Sports Media Association National Sportscaster of the Year.
- Inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2023.
