Jelani Johnson

Final look back: My favorite columns

At its core, writing a personal column is a solitary act. I have always believed that a columnist shouldn’t cater their writing to what they think people want to read, but rather that they should simply write what they want.

By Jelani Johnson | Apr 27 12:38 am ET

Love, sports: It’s all just a game

It is striking how many sports-related words have entered the English language in relation to courting the opposite sex—“strike-out,” “score,” and “home-run,” for example.

By Jelani Johnson | Apr 15 01:49 am ET

Touching moment in Final Four

West Virginia's Da'sean Butler's horrific injury versus Duke is a stark reflection of some negative aspects of being a student-athlete.

By Jelani Johnson | Apr 4 03:01 pm ET

All you need is a team to root for

March Madness is much more interesting when you have a team to cheer for.

By Jelani Johnson | Mar 24 07:58 pm ET

Mr. Johnson’s Intramural Hoops Odyssey

Last weekend, my intramural basketball team traveled to Boston University to participate in the National Campus Championship Series Eastern Regional basketball tournament.

By Jelani Johnson | Feb 24 07:09 pm ET

With season underway, NBA picks stand

Before the season, I selected Houston, Phoenix, and Miami as my sleeper teams. So far I’m 2-for-3.

By Jelani Johnson | Feb 12 02:02 am ET

The journey of a male cheerleader

Senior Charles Green of the cheerleading team shares several moments of his life story.

By Jelani Johnson | Jan 31 06:24 pm ET

Reading week: Columbia’s two-minute warning

After considering the topic, I’ve decided that an academic semester at Columbia is in many ways the metaphorical equivalent of a basketball game.

By Jelani Johnson | Dec 8 07:37 pm ET

Mr. Johnson's take on the Alma Mater

How often do you see dedicated Columbia alumni at sporting events? Probably once in a (light) blue moon. After you graduate, you will you be supportive alum.

By Jelani Johnson | Nov 17 06:49 pm ET

Mr. Johnson’s annual NBA preview

This is my third year writing as a Spectator sports columnist. It has become somewhat of a tradition for me to write an NBA preview column.

By Jelani Johnson | Nov 3 06:49 pm ET

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