'All I Can Say Is Thank You' - Charles Barkley Getting Emotional While Talking About Ernie Johnson Retiring Is Why That Show Can't Go On Without EJ

We all saw the news yesterday afternoon. Ernie Johnson retiring and quite frankly it sucks. It's one of those rare things where it hit me more than I expected. Not talking death or anything like that, but a voice that is just going to be gone from my life in terms of what I'm used to. It's like when Jim Nantz retired from the Final Four. I listened to Jim Nantz call the Final Four my entire life. That was, just, weird to watch a Final Four game without him. This is obviously different because we're talking a studio show. 

That said, there's no one who has a higher approval rating than Ernie Johnson. He's beloved by anyone and everyone. There's not a soul, basketball fan or not, who doesn't love Ernie. So last night is the first show since the announcement and, well, take it away Charles: 

And that right there is why this show should just end. You can't do this show without Ernie Johnson. Look at how the other 3 of them talk and the reaction to news they had to know about. It's not like Ernie would ever surprise these guys with a retirement. The fact is there's no one else that can do this. I'm not saying that because of longevity or anything like that but it's the chemistry between the 4 of them. You can't just put someone else in there and assume it's going to work. It's not the show. Rebrand it to something else, start new, because these 4 are forever linked together. 

Feels like we're a couple days away from Charles Barkley saying he's leaving too. He always said once Ernie is done, he's done. This almost felt like Chuck's goodbye to everyone too. Quite frankly, all 4 of them should walk off at the end of the year together. Go find something else, but I don't want to see any spinoffs with someone filling in here.