Latest news with #JamesJohnson
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rick Carlisle recalls what James Johnson said about fighting in the NBA: "We don't start things, we finish them"
Rick Carlisle recalls what James Johnson said about fighting in the NBA: "We don't start things, we finish them" originally appeared on Basketball Network. In recent seasons, the Indiana Pacers have steadily climbed the NBA ranks, earning their place among the league's elite. However, with greater success comes increased competition, as rival teams now approach them with more intensity than before. Despite this, head coach Rick Carlisle remains unfazed about his team's ability to handle the pressure, particularly with veteran forward James Johnson on the roster, a veteran player suited to diffuse any heated situations and bring stability when it's needed most. Not the kind of guy an NBA player wants to test their luck with Although James is already in the twilight of his career, his reputation as the player opponents would least likely wish to fight is intact. After all, with a nickname like "Bloodsport," a black belt in karate, and a supposed perfect 20-0 record in kickboxing, it's not surprising that James exudes an aura of calm confidence on the court, especially when things become dicey. His presence alone is enough to make opposing players think twice before getting too physical or aggressive. And while he may not put up huge numbers on the stat sheet, his contributions go far beyond mere statistics. "We don't have problems because we have him sitting over there — James Johnson," Carlisle confidently declared. The veteran coach shared there was a time when an opponent began chirping at Johnson. However, Carlisle said the latter kept his cool and decided not to engage in the verbal banter. "One time I heard someone talking to him, saying, 'Hey, don't be starting stuff,' or whatever. And he said to me," Rick shared. "'Coach, in my discipline, we don't start things. We finish things.'" "That's all I really needed to hear — if I even needed to hear anything at all," he than just an enforcer Although Johnson is more popularly known for his quiet toughness, Carlisle stressed that he was a versatile player who caught his eye. He believed in the 6'7" forward so much that he traded for him in November 2020, when he was still the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. And when Carlisle sensed the Pacers were on the verge of taking the next step in their journey towards relevancy, he knew which player he had to acquire. "Then I came to Indiana, and he was still playing somewhere — I forget where exactly — but going into our second year in Indiana, I told Kevin Pritchard and Chad Buchanan, our president and GM, 'If we're looking for a great locker room guy to help this team grow, you may not believe this, but James Johnson is one of the best I've ever seen,'" he disclosed. "James had been in a lot of different places. He had become kind of a high-level journeyman player. And they were like, 'Really?' But we ended up bringing him in." "James has been a huge part of our team's growth. He gives us a lot of substance, a lot of confidence, and strong leadership in the locker room," Rick emphasized. Johnson hasn't seen much action on the court lately. Over three seasons with Indiana, he has appeared in just 39 regular-season games, averaging a modest 1.7 points and 1.0 rebound in six minutes per game. Yet, his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. It's no coincidence that the Pacers have reached the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons. As a 16-year veteran, Johnson brings invaluable stability and leadership to the locker room and bench, enabling this young Indiana team to surpass expectations and compete at the highest story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Five-star recruit James Johnson flips his commitment from Georgia to Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns have added another five-star recruit to their 2026 class. On Tuesday, James Johnson flipped his commitment from Georgia to Texas. It is a significant win for Texas as the Miami native is ranked as the top defensive lineman in his class by Rivals. During the recruiting process, Johnson made two stops to the Forty Acres. His most recent visit came this past weekend. That trip was a very good sign for Texas as Johnson was initially supposed to visit Syracuse, which he canceled so he could be in Texas. Following the trip, Johnson raved about the coaching staff and culture. Over the last few months, the Northwestern High School product has drawn interest from some of the top programs in the nation. That included Florida State, Florida, and Miami. While he was committed to Georgia, the Longhorns made Johnson an offer he could not turn down. After a frustrating few weeks on the recruiting trail, the Longhorns have been busy bringing in elite talent over the last ten days. Texas also secured commitments from four-star cornerback Samari Matthews and five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson. They will join a 2026 class that also includes five-star quarterback Dia Bell and five-star cornerback Jermaine Bishop. Due to their recent additions, Texas is poised to extend their playoff run. Their defense, which was one of the best in the nation last year, has only gotten better. With Atkinson and Johnson now in the mix, there should be no drop-off after this upcoming season for a program with national title aspirations. Currently, Texas now has one of the best 2026 classes in the nation. They have the potential to make life difficult for quarterbacks and give offensive coordinators nightmares. With the start of the 2025 campaign just a few months away, Texas is heating up on the recruiting trail. This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: 5-star recruit James Johnson flips his commitment from Georgia to Texas
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texas moves to No. 6 in Rivals industry rankings after flipping five-star DL James Johnson
The Texas Longhorns are on cloud nine after winning the recruiting battle for five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson and pulling off the flip of five-star defensive lineman James Johnson from Georgia on Tuesday. The addition of Johnson catapulted the Longhorns up the recruiting rankings. Texas is No. 6 per Rivals industry team rankings. Johnson is joined by Atkinson, five-star quarterback Dia Bell and five-star edge Richard Wesley atop Texas' class. Other big-time pledges include four-star offensive lineman John Turntine, four-star athlete Jermaine Bishop, four-star cornerback Samari Matthews and four-star defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland. Bell is the only one of those who hasn't committed since May; he committed last June. Kudos should be given to coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff for landing so much premium talent over the last few months. Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on X (Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Five-star flip puts Texas at No. 6 in Rivals industry rankings
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour's Islamophobia law could hand Reform 100-seat majority
Angela Rayner's proposal for an official definition of Islamophobia would hand Reform a 100-seat majority at the expense of Labour, a poll has found. The Deputy Prime Minister has appointed a panel to draw up a new definition to be applied across the public sector, despite fears it will prevent politicians speaking up about Asian grooming gangs. Now a survey of 2,000 people has found that Labour polls significantly worse among voters who are told about the Islamophobia plan. Before voters were told about the proposal, Reform polled 29 per cent, Labour 23 per cent, Conservatives 17 per cent, and the Liberal Democrats 14 per cent. But when the people polled were asked how they would vote if Labour brought in a definition of Islamophobia, Reform rose by one point to 30 per cent and Labour fell three points to 20 per cent. If replicated at a general election, that would be the difference between a Reform majority of 20 without the Islamophobia definition, and 106 if it were brought in. Bringing in the definition would cause a loss of one million votes to Labour, and a fall in its seats in the Commons from 155 to 103. The poll was carried out by J L Partners, whose founder, James Johnson, said: 'This polling shows that if Labour introduces a new definition of Islamophobia, it would be like setting off a tinderbox under what remains of their working-class vote. 'With Reform nipping at Labour's heels in hundreds of seats, that is not something they can afford.' Critics have warned that some proposed definitions of Islamophobia would make it impossible for people to raise concerns about Asian grooming gangs. And the Tories have accused Ms Rayner of appointing a committee with 'extreme' views to come up with the official definition. The working group – chaired by Dominic Grieve, a former Tory cabinet minister – is meeting in secret and members of the public will not be able to offer their views. Mr Grieve has praised a 2019 report which called the discussion of 'grooming gangs' an example of 'anti-Muslim racism'. Claire Coutinho, the shadow equalities minister, has said a 'culture of secrecy around matters relating to race and religion' was a key factor enabling 'gangs of men to groom, rape, and torture young girls with impunity'. Last month, Baroness Casey's report on grooming gangs found that hundreds of girls had suffered unimaginable sexual abuse in part because some in authority had not tackled the issue because they feared appearing racist. Ministers insist the definition of Islamophobia will be written in such a way as not to stifle free speech. The J L Partners poll of 2,035 British adults was conducted between July 16 and 18. It found that 37 per cent of respondents felt that protections against hate speech have gone too far – while 28 per cent believed they have not gone far enough, and 19 per cent said they were at about the right level. Some 30 per cent said protections against Islamophobia had gone too far, compared to 28 per cent who thought they had not gone far enough. When asked to compare the issue of Islamophobia to other issues facing the Government, 54 per cent said it was relatively unimportant, with 30 per cent saying it is relatively important. When Labour voters were asked, 45 per cent said it was relatively unimportant. Across all voters, just 37 per cent said a definition of Islamophobia was necessary in Britain today, and 45 per cent said it was unnecessary.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia Bulldogs lose five-star gem as Johnson picks Texas Longhorns late
College football recruiting can change in a heartbeat, and Georgia just got an ugly reminder of how unpredictable things can be. Less than a month after grabbing a commitment from five-star defensive lineman James Johnson, the Bulldogs are now back to the drawing board. Johnson, a standout prospect from Miami, originally committed to Georgia on June 28. But on Tuesday, he made waves by flipping that commitment to the Texas Longhorns. The timing couldn't be worse for Georgia, as the news broke during the height of SEC Media Days. Advertisement MORE: Big Ten program rumored to be adding Tom Skipper in senior advisory role This wasn't just a quiet switch either. Johnson had picked the Bulldogs over several powerhouses, including Texas, Florida, Florida State, and Miami. But Texas never backed off. The Longhorns kept pushing behind the scenes and eventually convinced Johnson to head to Austin instead. Texas scores big while Georgia searches for answers Losing Johnson stings, but it wasn't the only tough blow Georgia suffered on Tuesday. Texas also managed to land five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson, another elite prospect out of Georgia's own backyard. That makes two five-stars headed to Texas in a matter of hours, giving the Longhorns one of the hottest recruiting stretches of the summer. Advertisement With the latest additions, Texas now owns the No. 6 recruiting class in the country and has three five-star players committed. Georgia, on the other hand, is now left with just one five-star recruit in quarterback Jared Curtis. Johnson's decision is a major win for Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns staff, who continue to show they can go head-to-head with the SEC's best in the recruiting game. For Georgia, the sudden flip is a gut punch, but there's still time left in the cycle. More College Football
