The N.B.A.'s Worst Job

If you consider the probable pay scale of just about anybody involved in the Association there really is no "bad" job. Yet if you put all that scratch aside and focus on the other factors involved in the workplace, it seems to me that one man far and away has the worst assignment in basketball. That man is TNT analyst and talking head Ernie Johnson.



A LITTLE HISTORY



For years after graduating with a BA in journalism from the University of Georgia (class of 77) , Mr. Johnson worked as a local news anchor and reporter for WAMZ-TV in Macon, Georgia. He then traveled to Spartanburg , South Carolina to do much the same work before returning to Georgia to become the weekend sports anchor for Atlanta's WSB-TV in 1983. Mr. Johnson held that spot for six years before taking a job with Turner Sports in 1989.



From 1993 to 1996 Johnson called Atlanta Braves games with his father Ernie Sr. (a former Major League ballplayer) on the SportSouth channel before it became FSN South. Over the years Mr. Johnson has worn several hats in regard to sports broadcasting. Three times he has worked the Olympic games in one capacity or another as well as some work on the PGA Tour , and the NFL. Johnson even won a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Host for his work on TBS and TNT. Well to be honest he was a CO-WINNER of that award. From 2000 to 2005 Bob Costas either won that award ....or he won that award.

so good , they made a card out of me

******AUTHORS NOTE****************

Now would probably be a good time for me to go ahead and waive all personal claims of journalistic integrity as I am gleaning this information via Mr. Johnson's Wikipedia page. Sorry E.J. If any or all of this information is false I sincerely apologize , but I'm trying to paint a picture before I pass out, and that means I just don't have the time for .....you know ......the facts.

******AUTHORS NOTE****************



At any rate my point is this. Ernie Johnson , despite being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2003, has done the work that it takes to reach a very high standing in his chosen field. He completed the schooling , worked the crappy jobs , battled through cancer , and still managed to find his way into the upper reaches of sports broadcasting. He deserves the respect of his peers , his friends and family , you , me , and everyone who aspires to be a broadcaster. So what does Mr. Johnson get for all his hard work ? Three verbally handicapped ex-ballers to share the studio with.



Seriously , Chriss Webber , Kenny Smith , and the quote machine Charles Barkley ?????



Come on TNT how can you do this ? Granted all three were awesome basketball players. C-Webb was great at Michigan and damn good in the NBA. Kenny Smith won multiple championships (on Hakeem's coat tails) but still , he was great himself. No question. Hell , Charles Barkley is one of my favorite players in the history of Basketball! So it goes without saying that all three would have some insight on the NBA today and probably forever.



But how in the name of all that is holy and good can these three idiots be given jobs as "analysts" ? Further more how can they be holding these jobs down ? As much as I love Charles Barkley (and I do love me some Chuck) the man's grasp of the English language is actually worse than his golf swing ! Now that's saying something! C-Webb and K-Smith are slightly better but by no means will they ever be considered eloquent in any way. Sometimes I question if they are even literate. Not to mention the fact that Webber and Barkley have both had some run ins with the law. Who hasn't ? I know, but Barkley , a man who has no trouble blasting anyone for any reason, has been in trouble more times then we can count. Yet somehow still seems to be loved by all. Hypocrite or not.



Now I could ignore all of that , the horrible speech, the bad decisions , and the hypocrisy. Because after all , as humans , we all do some dumb ass shit from time to time . Life seems to demand it of us. I could deal with all of that , if it weren't for the fact those three goons , especially Smith and Barkley , didn't spend every second of the show trying to undermine and embarrass Ernie Johnson. Every single time I see this foursome on TV I feel for E.J. I don't how he gets through a show without blowing up. I really don't. It's a testament to his professionalism.



Barkley and Smith continually talk over Johnson. Interrupting him at every chance, and even go so far as to team up and poke fun at his knowledge of the game. Granted these ex players know the game far more intimately than does Johnson but come on. The man watches Basketball for a living! It's his freakin job!



I have never been of the opinion that a non-ballplayer is destined to be ignorant on any given sport. He may not have played , but I would be willing to bet that Ernie Johnson has watched enough Basketball in his life to put 99% of the population to shame. You don't have to have played the game to recognize the things that are clearly happening before your eyes.

So hang tough Big Earn. Someday the masses will get tired of these three a-holes and maybe , just maybe , TNT will not stick you with three more "all eyes on me" former basket jockeys.

Maybe they will give you Magic Johnson this time...........Oh wait .....they did that already , and it was even worse.