What if we advised you Ernie Johnson is a mastermind?
The ESPN broadcaster “turned the best grandpa within the historical past of the world” on Wednesday by posing for a photograph with Taylor Swift throughout Sport 4 of the NBA Finals.
In the course of the picture on the court docket at Madison Sq. Backyard, the “Contained in the NBA” host and Swift smiled at one another with their arms round one another.
Johnson was dressed for the New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs sporting occasion, whereas the Grammy winner wore a customized “Stevie Knicks” t-shirt.
“My grandchildren are so excited and so is my daughter,” the 69-year-old exclaimed to viewers. “She couldn’t have been sweeter.”
“Thanks very a lot,” Johnson continued. “I actually admire that, Taylor Swift.”
His colleagues, nevertheless, criticized him for the hug, with one co-host insisting it was “pleasant” and never “a grandpa hug”.
The journalists then made enjoyable of the “smile [Johnson’s] face,” with Charles Barkley joking, “Mission achieved.”
In the end, they joked that Swift, 36, was “not Cheryl Ann,” referring to the sportscaster’s spouse of greater than 4 a long time.
At one other level within the night, Johnson once more introduced up his “second with Taylor Swift” – and was additionally criticized for his “smirk” and hand placement.
Johnson, in the meantime, advised viewers: “You must see the textual content thread. I despatched it to all my youngsters and grandkids.”
Her colleagues joked that Johnson ought to ask Swift and her fiancé, Travis Kelce, “for a marriage invitation.”
The couple, who began courting in 2023, will get married in July in the identical enviornment the place the New York staff gained 107 to 106 on Wednesday.
Swift attended the sport together with her mates Este Haim and Alana Haim, with the trio seated subsequent to “Legislation & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay within the superstar row of the venue.
The songwriter celebrated the victory enthusiastically with out Kelce, who was in Missouri for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ necessary three-day minicamp.
She averted an altercation with nemesis Scooter Braun, who was in attendance with girlfriend Sydney Sweeney, however made headlines for hugging Kylie Jenner regardless of her decade-long feud with Kim Kardashian.