Proud Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal & Co. Celebrate TNT Legend’s “Unsullied” Legacy, Leaving HoF Hall in Spilts

It was the day many decades in the making. Ernie Johnson is finally inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. It was a moment his best mates weren’t going to watch on a screen. The Inside the NBA analysts were in New York today cheering for The Godfather. While Adam Lefkoe, Grant Hill, Vince Carter, and Jamal Crawford, kept the show going in Atlanta, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley were in New York.

They’ve made this high point in Ernie’s career extra special with their presence. And with a healthy dose of their signature humor. The TNT quartet was on the stage showering Johnson with love and sweet words. Shaq swooped in with a reminder of why Johnson is the long-running TNT star by breaking into one of his signature one-liners, “Unsullied by sponsorships…” and let Johnson continue, “1989.”

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That’s not a Taylor Swift reference. That’s the phrase that accompanies “Presented by… no one…” for ‘EJ’s Neat-O Stat of the Night’ on Inside the NBA. It’s a segment that testifies Johnson’s outstanding career.

For the uninitiated, ‘EJ’s Neat-O Stat of the Night’ is one of the many ending segments Inside the NBA has had. It shows the most unusual (not necessarily the best) statistic in humorous visuals like comic book references.

Despite the catchphrase, some sponsors like Dave & Buster’s and Taco Bell have got into the action. It remains “Unsullied”  because it’s authentically Ernie in style and fun. Appreciation for The Godfather has been pouring in since July, when Ernie learned of his induction. It was one of his own who broke the news to Johnson, the 1993 NBA MVP, Charles Barkley.

TNT Crew surprises Ernie Johnson

Chuck and Ernie were doing a golf broadcast in July when the former NBA pro interrupted his friend to let him know he’s going to be one of the Sports Broadcasting HoF inductees in the 2023 class. Ernie, who has been the face of TNT and Inside the NBA since 1990, got emotional upon hearing the news as fans have been campaigning for this moment for a long time.

Clearly, among his biggest fans are his co-hosts, who wouldn’t miss the occasion at any cost. Johnson thought the trio was holding the fort in Atlanta while he received his award in New York. Shaq, Kenny, and Chuck entered holding the ‘trophy’ under a cloth but dropped it. Ernie was not scandalized, he knew they’d never break the real trophy, which Kenny did present.

Though, it’s quite telling that this workaholic’s first concern was who is covering the games at TNT today. Wait till he finds out all the action they missed.

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