charles barkley Archives

Charles Barkley and Justin Thomas are two of the best representatives of the Yellowhammer State and the respective rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers, and they just proved why once again.

During this week’s press conference for the Arnold Palmer Invitational — where the former Alabama standout and two-time Major champion is making his return from injury — Barkley snuck into the media seats and was able to get a question to Thomas.

Unsurprisingly, the Auburn legend used that opportunity to poke at the Crimson Tide.

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“My question is, when Alabama was getting rolled by Indiana, where exactly were you at?” Barkley quipped, getting a big laugh out of Thomas.

“I was at home, probably just looking at my phone waiting for some kind of sarcastic text from you, or all of the sudden all these huge Indiana football fans that were friends of mine that I had no idea about,” Thomas joked. “So yeah, I should’ve reached out to you how you deal with big losses like that, you’ve gone through that more than I have, so I should’ve just asked you.”

Barkley was a good sport as always, telling Thomas that was a well-played response.

Thomas tees it up Thursday for the first time this season following back surgery in November and will try to return to his winning form ahead of the Masters in April.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.

Former Auburn Tigers legend Charles Barkley did not hold back when discussing the NCAA’s decision making as of late.

During an appearance on “The Next Round,” he was asked about the Charles Bediako situation at Alabama and him being denied eligibility, and he let it be known exactly what he thinks about the NCAA right now.

https://x.com/NextRoundLive/status/2021629689916465186

“I don’t even know how to answer the question to be honest with you because the NCAA is a bunch of bumbling idiots,” Barkley said. “I don’t know what their rules are…I don’t understand how this whole thing works.”

“I’m not sure what the NCAA is doing…I wish they would have some sort of rhyme or reason. I’m a big Nate Oats fan.”

Barkley went on to joke that Auburn should be awarded the victory in the game they lost to Alabama since he lost a bet to a friend — giving up $100 following the Crimson Tide’s victory in Neville Arena last weekend.

While Barkley bleeds blue and orange, clearly he believes in common sense as much as the next guy.

The Auburn Tigers are headed into the third year of the Hugh Freeze era, and the first two have not gone according to plan.

Freeze was always going to be offered a fair amount of grace and patience given the state of the roster he inherited, however a regression from year one to year two and not even making a bowl game last year puts him under serious pressure entering his third year.

On paper, the Tigers should have a much better team, but games are not won on paper and Freeze simply must do that this season more than he has.

During a recent interview with Next Round, Auburn legend Charles Barkley was asked directly about Freeze and his status and did not mince words.

“We’re just gonna have to play our behinds off. It’s that simple.” Charles Barkley on year 3 under Hugh Freeze pic.twitter.com/spbmYuctfO

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) June 5, 2025

“He’s gotta have a good year — it’s that simple. He’s gotta have a good year,” Barkley said. “They have to make a decision what’s a good year and what’s a great year, but we have to see something positive… Last year, we regressed. And listen, Alabama is not going anywhere, Georgia is not going anywhere, Tennessee is not going anywhere. We’re just gonna have to play our behinds off. It’s that simple.”

Clearly, Freeze is under more expectations this year than he has been in his whole time at Auburn.

That’s nothing he doesn’t already know however, and it’s almost time for him to take his team onto the field and prove it.

College athletics have gone through some radical changes over the last several years, and one of the biggest changes has of course been the NIL era.

As an essentially legal pay-for-play type environment has arisen, programs have had to raise millions of dollars in order to keep their teams competitive.

A huge chunk of that money has come from the wealthiest donors to the school, and in the case of the Auburn Tigers, one of those just so happens to be basketball legend and media giant Charles Barkley.

Barkley spoke candidly about the fact that people expect too much from him in terms of contributions during his tee time at the Regions Tradition pro-am on Wednesday.

“I’ve given more money to Auburn, legal or illegal, than any athlete in the history of the school,” Barkley said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on WJOX-FM, interestingly declaring that he was giving money before the NIL system was in place. “And the notion that I’m going to come up with a couple million dollars every year so that we can be good at basketball and football — that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Barkley went on to not mince words as he has never been known to do, saying he isn’t going to make himself poor to allow Auburn to compete.

“One thing I’m pretty sure of, Black and broke don’t work, in any municipality in the world. I’ve been rich for a long time. I plan to stay that way. But the notion that I’m going to give Auburn millions of dollars every year so we can be good at sports, that’s just not going to happen. I’m really proud of what I’ve given Auburn and I’m going to continue to give them money, but I’m not going to give them millions of dollars every year so we can be good at sports. That’s just stupid. People will be talking about me behind my back. ‘How did that guy go broke? How did he lose all that money?’ Because y’all wanted to be good at sports, fool!”

This week is one of the best in Birmingham of the entire year with the Regions Tradition coming to Greystone Golf and Country Club, but before the Champions Tour players tee it up, the morning before brings the annual celebrity pro-am.

Looking at the pairings is always entertaining, but one of the more notable groups to tee off at Greystone is the one featuring U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

The Senator is paired with not one, but two country music stars in both Jamey Johnson and Riley Greene. Even more incredible is the pro featured in the Tuberville group: John Daly.

Other notable names include Nick Saban, who is on a team with Charles Barkley and pro golfer Stewart Cink. Saban’s successor, Kalen DeBoer, is also playing and has been paired with Ernie Els. Former star quarterbacks Greg McElroy and AJ McCarron are playing with Tom Lehman.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has been lined up with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Davis Love III.

It should be a great week in Birmingham, and it all starts this morning with the pro-am having started at 6:50 a.m. CST.

7. As dissatisfaction grows over Democrats in general, Auburn and NBA legend Charles Barkley declares he will not consider voting for a Democrat for president unless one of two specific candidates secures the nomination – Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania or Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland.

6. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen and former Secretary of State John Merrill engaged in a heated public dispute over the state’s voter rolls – they are trading barbs over dueling election integrity systems and adulterous sodomy.

5. As the state attempts to remake its Pardons and Paroles Board, state senators talk about what needs to be done after feeling misled by the board and a need to restore trust in the system’s decision-making processes.

4. A crisis is developing after a potential Smith Lake resort project has spurred fears of out-of-control annexation. State Senate Pro Tem Garland Gudger (R-Cullman) says this is based on misconceptions of the project and his legislation.

3. U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is threatening countries that support President Donald Trump as more Democrats face backlash for another taxpayer-funded El Salvador trip to support a deported suspected MS-13 gang member.

2. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed vows to defend residents from President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown which he says targets Black mayors. He’s not seeing how embarrassing the El Salvador debacle is while an MSNBC host warns that people of color could be next after a Maryland illegal immigrant’s deportation.

1. President Donald Trump is meeting with major retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, and Target to discuss tariff concerns as stock markets saw another tumultuous day, gold prices soared, and Forbes warned of a looming 1970s-style inflation crisis that could threaten the U.S. economy.

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Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

Last week, former Auburn Tigers legend and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley made an appearance on SI Media with Jimmy Traina and discussed the current political landscape and state of the Democratic Party.

Though Barkley traditionally has voted Democrat and considers himself to be a left-leaning independent, it sounds as if he is starting to grow tired of some of the party’s antics:

A portion of the conversation centered on possible nominees in the 2028 presidential election. According to Barkley, there are only two possible candidates he would consider voting for.

“If the Democrats don’t get Josh Shapiro – the governor of Pennsylvania – or Wes Moore – the governor of Maryland – if they’re not the leader or the team up for the Democratic Party, I would not even consider voting for anybody else other than one of those two,” he said.

Barkley went a step further and threatened to put the party behind him for good if neither of the lawmakers is on the ticket in 2028.

“I think Josh Shapiro is amazing, I think Wes Moore is amazing. If the Democratic Party does not pick one of those two, they gonna lose my support forever, as an independent.”

For as long as can be remembered, professional and college athletics teams who win a championship have received the honor of being invited to the White House to celebrate and be honored by the President of the United States.

Over the last decade or so however since the first election of Donald Trump, a popular practice and storyline has become teams electing to skip the honor and not go even when invited. Previously, there was no question about it, and now whenever a team wins a title a talking point is will they or won’t they attend.

Perhaps one of the most accurate and unfortunate microcosms of the divisive state of today’s political landscape has been this issue.

Auburn Tigers legend and media figure Charles Barkley, who is a noted Democrat and regular critic of Trump, talked about this during a recent appearance on Outkick and called out athletes for this lunacy.

https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/1897301825533186254

“I don’t care who the president is. He’s the President of the United States,” Barkley said.

“It’s bothered me, the last 10 years, they’re like, ‘Well, I’m not going because this certain person is president.’ Dude, it’s the President of the United States. Even though I disagree with President Trump on some things, if I met him, I would still give him the respect and dignity he deserves. We can disagree, but it bothers me when these teams don’t want to go to the White House. I’m just disappointed…we got so divided. Where did we get to as a country when we’re like, ‘We’re not going to the White House, we don’t like who’s in there.’ That’s just stupid.”

Barkley is generally extremely level-headed when it comes to discussing issues of this nature, and calling out the ridiculous practice of these athletes choosing to skip out on a chance to be honored in the most important building on the planet is just another example.

The Auburn Tigers handled the Ole Miss Rebels with ease on Wednesday night to pull another game closer towards locking up an SEC regular season title.

With things out of hand late in the game and the Tigers pulling away for a 30-point victory, Auburn legend Charles Barkley hopped on the ESPN broadcast and talked about a number of topics.

Never afraid to speak his mind or unleash an epic rant, Barkley’s point of focus this time around was the popular super gas station food/food mart Buc-ee’s and the new location built several years ago in his hometown of Leeds.

“Lemme tell you something,” Barkley began when the topic of the store in Leeds came up. “We built that Buc-ee’s in Leeds about two years ago. I’ve been there 20 times, I’ve never been in…It’s 100 people there every time I go there…everybody says the same thing, ‘you gotta get the brisket.’ I have never been inside because it’s always been packed. Normally when I go places…people think I want to talk to them, so it’s not a lot of fun for me.”

“I’ve pulled into that Buc-ee’s 15 or 20 times and it’s so packed every time I never went in.”

Perhaps someone can soon provide the most famous man in Leeds a Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich, because it sure doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop being packed anytime soon.

The No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide are set to host the No. 1 ranked Auburn Tigers tomorrow afternoon in what promises to be the game of the year both in the SEC and all of college basketball.

Ahead of the matchup, prominent figures from both schools have offered their thoughts on the game and each other’s fanbases, including Auburn alum Charles Barkley. During an appearance on The Next Round, Barkley discussed how Crimson Tide fans have changed since a tough football season.

https://x.com/NextRoundLive/status/1890261310354649518

“The good thing about Alabama sucking at football right now is they’re not running up in your face all the time saying ‘Roll Tide! Roll Tide!” Barkley quipped. “This is how such jackasses they are…They lost 4 games and they thought it was the damn apocalypse.”

“I’d kill for us to only lose four games…That’s why I think Alabama is a great school. You guys know how much love and respect I have for Coach Saban…but this is the reason you hate Alabama fans.”

Barkley will be at the forefront of a vocal Auburn contingent if the Tigers take down the Tide this weekend, but don’t count on any sanity from the losing fanbase, no matter who it is.

I’ve been part of great teams throughout my career and life. Auburn University, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, the USA Dream Team, Inside the NBA on TNT broadcast team, just to name a few. Now, I’ve joined a new team, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), the HOME TEAM.

Why would a guy who attended a 4-year college back the 2-year college system? Because, I’ve personally seen what community colleges can do for a family, MY FAMILY, and community, MY COMMUNITY. Everything I’ve done is to try and make Alabama proud. I love Alabama, it will always be home and anything I can do to help, I want to do it.

I was lucky enough to make a living dribbling a basketball, but most people have to get real jobs. There are so many jobs out there in healthcare, tech, manufacturing, aviation and a bunch more I haven’t begun to think about. But the ACCS is thinking about those jobs and they’re training people for better jobs, and in the process, changing lives every single day. It’s providing opportunities for people to get the education and training they need to succeed. Whether it’s helping a high school student start early with dual enrollment, offering associate degree programs or 2-to-4 year transfer options, preparing adults to switch careers, or giving second chances to those who’ve made mistakes, the ACCS is making a real difference.

Recently, I had a chance to visit Southern Union State Community College’s (SUSCC) campus in Opelika, a school I am very familiar with. My brother attended Southern Union. While there, I had a chance to meet and speak with a few graduates who really inspired me. I met a woman who struggled academically and was told her dream school, Auburn University, was not an option. The SUSCC faculty and staff believed in her, nurtured her, taught her, and she eventually transferred to Auburn. She is now an engineer working in Georgia. I met a single mom who returned to school to provide for her family and is now working in the aviation industry. And, I met a young man named Adam who overcame addiction, enrolled in SUSCC’S Adult Education program, and eventually graduated with a degree in Industrial Maintenance. He’s now earning a six-figure salary. They, and many more people like them, are why I want to be a part of this team.

The ACCS also believes in second chances, I sat and talked with Annette Funderburk, the president of Ingram State Technical College, the only two-year college in the country where all of the students are incarcerated. Every day, the dedicated folks at Ingram offer people who’ve made mistakes a way to climb back up. They learn skills, find purpose, and discover that it’s never too late to turn things around.

The ACCS has a new slogan, “Make Life Better.” You don’t need to look far to see why that fits. We all have a connection to community colleges whether you’ve attended or know someone who has. Community college is nothing to be ashamed of, it’s not a backup plan, it’s a launching pad to life-changing opportunity and I want to add the fuel to help the citizens of Alabama take off. That’s why I’ve pledge to donate $1 million over the course of the next 10 years to the ACCS.

When I think about Alabama’s future, I see opportunity. And the ACCS is a huge part of that vision. They’re not just building careers—they’re building hope and possibility for every corner of Alabama. That matters to me!

Trust me, they’ve got a plan, and it’s a game-changer for anyone ready to take that next step toward a brighter future.

Charles Barkley, a Hall of Fame basketball legend and esteemed NBA and college basketball analyst, hails from Alabama. A dedicated advocate for education and workforce development, he actively champions opportunities that empower individuals to build brighter futures.

Charles Barkley, a Hall of Fame basketball legend from Leeds, rose to fame worldwide through his blockbuster NBA career. Now a renowned analyst on Inside the NBA, Barkley remains connected to his home state as an advocate for education, workforce development, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), and its ability to create life-changing opportunities for Alabamians.

Auburn Tigers legend and one of the most powerful voices in sports media Charles Barkley has never been shy about sharing his political opinions.

Barkley has long been a critic of President Donald Trump, but he has always been rational in his opinions. He shared on “The Steam Room” podcast with his NBA on TNT co-host Ernie Johnson that while he voted Democrat in this election — having no “game plan” and totally ignoring real issues is what ultimately lost Democrats all three branches of government.

“We still haven’t solved the immigration problem…never addressed inflation,” Barkley said. “Bringing all these stupid stars out to rally the vote, what was that? I love Beyoncé. That ain’t gonna make me vote a certain type of way…you guys lost because y’all stupid…It’s all our faults for not having a game plan. We’re not having concerts and rallies. People want solutions, they want money in their pocket, they want the border secure.”

Barkley went on to say definitively say that those who are unhappy with the election results need to ‘shut up’ allow Trump to try to do the job to the best of his ability and hope for the best.

“I wish him nothing but the best, but we lost,” he said. “And I just want to say this to the Democrats: I’m an Independent who voted Democratic. Do me this favor, shut the f— up. When you win, you get to say what you want to. When you lose you need to shut the hell up…I don’t think everybody who voted for Trump is racist or whatever. I’m not a fan of the guy, but he’s the president. I’m gonna have to respect the office.”

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.

NBA Hall of Famer and Emmy Award-winning sports analyst Charles Barkley praised Alabama’s community colleges as essential pathways to career opportunities during a visit to Southern Union State Community College on Friday. Barkley, an Auburn University alum, emphasized the role of these institutions in improving lives and strengthening communities across the state.

Barkley visited the Opelika campus to visit with students and leaders from the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) and to learn more about the system’s latest statewide campaign, “Make Life Better.”

“That’s exactly what you all do at the Alabama Community College System – you make life better for people from all walks of life, and that’s what education should be about when it comes to preparing people to be successful,” said Barkley, an Auburn University alum.

During his visit, Barkley discussed how Alabama’s community colleges contribute to the state’s workforce and economy. The ACCS recently reported its largest enrollment in a decade with over 170,000 students across all programs, including noncredit workforce credentialing, dual enrollment, associate degrees, apprenticeships, and transfer opportunities.

The ACCS’s impact on the state is seen and felt with an economic footprint exceeding $6.6 billion. More than 96% of the system’s students currently reside in Alabama, and over 70 percent choose to stay in the state to live and work after completing their studies.

Jimmy H. Baker, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, said both Barkley’s visit and the system’s tagline will help maximize awareness for what the system offers in academic and workforce development in Alabama.

“Make Life Better is both a call to action and a commitment from every community college in Alabama, and our expectation is that individuals hear Make Life Better and automatically connect the thought to everything their community college represents, from academic and workforce training to the corporate citizenship in service and economic development,” Chancellor Baker said.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

The potential free agency of one of the most beloved figures in sports media has been a major story this summer. However, Charles Barkley announced he will not be joining another network and will remain with TNT even after their rights to broadcast the NBA end with the 2025-26 season.

With this upcoming season being the final year of the partnership between TNT and the NBA, Barkley initially announced he would retire from television following the end of the contract.

Now, while it remains unclear what sports he will call and provide commentary on, he says he will stay with TNT through the end of his deal. He signed a 10-year extension with the company in 2022.

“I love my TNT Sports family. My No. 1 priority has been and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible…I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them both on the shows we currently have and new ones we develop together in the future,” Barkley told his fans in a statement. “This is the only place for me. I have to say … I’ve been impressed by the leadership team who is fighting hard and have been aggressive in adding new properties to TNT Sports, which I am very excited about. … I’m going to give my all as we keep [fans] entertained for years to come.”

TNT Sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser also released a statement on what it means to keep Barkley with the network for the long-term.

“Charles is one of the best and most beloved sportscasters in the history of television. I know I speak for all the members of the TNT Sports family when I say we are incredibly thrilled to share this mutual commitment to continue showcasing Charles’ one-of-a-kind talents and entertain fans well into the future,” Silberwasser said.

One way or another, it appears Barkley is here to stay on television for the long term.

Charles Barkley has been in the spotlight recently due to the expiring NBA rights deal for TNT and speculation about whether he could secure a massive media ‘free agent’ contract with another network to continue his basketball commentary.

However, Sir Charles put all the rumors to rest over the weekend by announcing that next season (TNT’s final year with the NBA rights) will be his last on television, as he plans to retire.

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“I really love TNT, all the people who work here, NBA television, you guys have been great to me for 24 years,” Barkley said during the postgame broadcast for game four of the NBA Finals. “There’s been a lot of noise around our network for the last few months, and I just wanna say, I’ve talked to all the other networks, but I ain’t going nowhere other than TNT. I have made the decision myself that no matter what happens, next year is gonna be my last year on television.”

Barkley told his iconic Inside the NBA crew that he wanted them to hear the news from him rather than another outlet. Even if TNT retains the rights however, which seems unlikely as of now, Barkley says that he will be passing the baton to another former player to take his spot.

With so many unknowns surrounding the rights deal and what will happen to the most popular postgame show in sports, one thing is for certain: Charles Barkley will be greatly missed on television.

Charles Barkley is one of the most popular figures in sports media and perhaps the most famous Auburn alumnus in the country. But he could soon be adding to his long list of accolades that he’s among the most sought-after ‘free agents’ in sports media.

Barkley, who is one of the faces of TNT’s iconic pre and postgame program ‘Inside the NBA’, could soon find himself looking for a new gig as it appears the network is set to lose the television rights to the NBA.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated that negotiations are ongoing, and it’s still uncertain which network will secure the rights, but he expressed confidence that Barkley and his colleagues will continue their current roles.

“We’re never gonna lose Charles and Kenny [Smith],” Silver said. “They’re always going to be covering the NBA…I can’t imagine those guys [on ‘Inside the NBA’] won’t be performing and announcing together in the future, and we all love them.”

During an appearance on the Dan Patrick show, Barkley said that he is more upset for the crew on TNT and those who will lose jobs rather than himself due to mismanagement of the deal.

https://x.com/dpshow/status/1793662220397658124

“More sucks, plain and simple….I just feel so bad for the people I work with, Dan. These people have families, and I just really feel bad for them right now. These people I work with, they screwed this thing up, clearly, and we don’t have zero idea what’s gonna happen. I don’t feel good,” Barkley said.

There has been speculation about Barkley moving to ESPN and making regular appearances on the popular show “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith. An ESPN deal would likely feature Barkley on the network’s NBA coverage as well.

However, Barkley has made it clear he is not interested in the same level of commitment across ESPN’s broad range of content.

“They’re not gonna work me like a dog,” Barkley said. “ESPN Radio, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes. I mean, HELL NO! As much as I love ESPN, I just turned 61. The notion that I’m going to be working like a dog into my mid-60s, that’s definitely not going to happen.”

But wherever Barkley goes, he is going to get paid.

His last TNT contract he signed was worth over $100 million and could have approached up to $200 million over the 10-year commitment according to the original report.

It’s likely that Barkley will follow wherever the television rights end up, with Disney, Amazon, and NBC all considered frontrunners. If he does move to a major network, he is expected to break the record for the largest contract ever in sports media.

Nate Oats heard all the critics.

The Alabama head coach has just taken his team to where they have only been once before and has the Tide on the brink of its first Final Four in program history.

After the victory over UNC, Oats took the opportunity in his postgame interview to call out perhaps the most famous Auburn alum ever, the always-opinionated Charles Barkley.

"Charles Barkley called us frail. I don't think [Grant Nelson] was frail tonight." – Alabama HC Nate Oats #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/YEKmvdcrNp

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 29, 2024

“Grant [Nelson] stepped up. We were able to guard [Armando] Bacot a little better 1-on-1. You know, Charles Barkley called us frail. I don’t think he was frail tonight, he showed up tonight,” Oats said with a point to Grant Nelson and a huge smile on his face.

To Barkley’s credit, Alabama has turned it up several notches on defense in the NCAA Tournament after the word ‘frail’ would have been accurate for large portions of the season.

Barkley was even one of few pundits who predicted Alabama to defeat North Carolina and overcome its frailty.

He yelled a hearty ‘ROLL TIDE!‘ at the end of the pregame show as the television crew was signing off and ready to kick it to the Alabama game:

In what I can only assume is some kind of attempted jinx… Charles Barkley: "ROLL TIDE" pic.twitter.com/H6cvFvoHS7

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) March 29, 2024

Grant Nelson had his best game in an Alabama uniform to help Alabama overcome its Sweet Sixteen woes. He had 24 points along with 12 rebounds and five blocks to propel the Tide into an Elite Eight matchup with Clemson on Saturday night.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

The 13th seeded Samford Bulldogs’ comeback bid fell short in their first round matchup against the fourth-seeded Kansas Jayhawks, with the Bulldogs falling 93-89.

Bucky McMillan’s squad trailed by 22 points in the second half and clawed within 1 point with under 30 seconds left in the matchup before a controversial call effectively put the game on ice.

A.J. Staton-McCray had an incredible chase down block that would have given the Bulldogs the ball back trailing by one point with under 20 seconds left, but a foul was called despite the replay angle confirming that Staton-McCray’s block was clean:

Refs ruined an all time classic comeback from Samford. Have to feel for them. pic.twitter.com/AXalOwUDpY

— Brandon Baker (@BBakerHogs) March 22, 2024

While McMillan was quick to not blame the refs, not everyone felt the same.

Charles Barkley in the postgame show discussed his thoughts on the play, saying it was a bad call and calls like such should be reviewable down the stretch at the end of a close game.

Clark Kellogg, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley discuss the controversial foul on Samford, as well as the review system. pic.twitter.com/pICvSfkW5V

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 22, 2024

“The thing that bothers me about the play is that we review everything,” Barkley said while discussing a call.

Barkley’s co-host, Clark Kellogg, brought up the fact that the rules dictate a foul call like that is not reviewable, to which Barkley said the rules are wrong for.

“Well the rules are just wrong then. That should be reviewable,” Barkley said.

Kellogg also brought up the fact that complaints of reviews taking too long already exist, and Barkley said reviews can be done faster, while Kenny Smith said that a play that controversial should be challengeable.

Despite the bitter ending on Thursday night, McMillan’s Bulldogs had an unbelievable run, going 29-6 and winning the SoCon for Samford’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000.

McMillan, who rose from the high school ranks at Mountain Brook, is one of the brightest young coaches in the country and if Samford can hold onto him will continue to develop the Bulldogs’ program into a SoCon powerhouse.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

Charles Barkley has always been outspoken politically.

While Barkley has made it well known that he is no fan of former President Trump, he has open criticisms for the left as well.

On Barkley’s CNN program King Charles with Gayle King, he spoke openly about why he believes Joe Biden and the Democratic party have lost votes over the last several years:

Charles Barkley sent a clear message to President Biden and Democrats on his CNN show this week.

"The reason I think the Democratic party and President Biden is losing black votes is they only care about black people every four years." pic.twitter.com/rW05iiJFNT

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2024

“I’m only speaking for myself, but the reason I think the Democratic party and Mr. Biden is losing black votes is because they only care about black people every four years,” Barkley said.

“They come into our neighborhoods and say ‘we’re gonna do stuff better, we’re gonna do this, this, and this…’ Then all of our neighborhoods are the same, our schools are still the same. And that’s why I think black people are leaving disappointed in the Democratic party.”

Barkley also detailed that he’s only voted Republican once.

“I voted Democratic every time because I thought it was gonna help black people…I didn’t care who the president was but I only voted Republican one time in my life and it was for John Kasich. But then I’m starting to look and I understand why black people are wanting to vote for somebody else.”

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

Charles Barkley is one of the most famous people in sports media as well as one of the most famous Auburn alumni. Barkley joined the broadcast of Wednesday night’s Auburn vs. Alabama game from Neville Arena during the second half and as usual, offered some hilarious quips.

When talking about his statue on campus at Auburn, Barkley said that he wanted to thank the school for “making him skinny.”

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Barkley also offered his perspective on the rivalry, referring to his alma mater as the “stepchild” of Alabama.

“I’m probably going to get in trouble for saying this. We are like the stepchild,” Barkley said. “We aren’t ever going to be Alabama. If we play them in anything, we want to beat them.”

In addition to commenting on the stomach size of his statue and the dynamic between the two schools, Barkley gave his actual basketball thoughts on the game, correctly stating that Alabama would have trouble with Auburn’s big men due to their size.

“Alabama’s got all these little skinny dudes out there,” Barkley declared.

“Coach Oats does a fantastic job. When I was looking at the game early, I said, ‘Man, [Johni] Broome should have a big night’ because Alabama, their guards are terrific, but they have no size inside.”

Jaylin Williams dunk

Charles Barkley reaction

KD Johnson reaction

Student section reaction

Perfection. @AuburnMBB @AUJungle pic.twitter.com/WlAXH5mG9z

— Taylor Korn (@TaylorKornTNR) February 8, 2024

Barkley’s assessment was correct, with Broome scoring 24 points along with 7 rebounds and Auburn securing an 18-point win over its “stepparent” arch-rival.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

7. Charles Barkley is mad and confused, also known as being in the normal Charles Barkley state, about presidential candidate Nikki Haley declaring America has never been a racist country. Responding on his terrible CNN show, the former Auburn basketball player and multimillionaire said, “If you forget about slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, antisemitism, Asian hate that’s been going on in this country. America’s been smooth sailing! You can’t be surprised. That was just stupid. America was built on racism.”

6. Illegal immigrants without driver’s licenses and insurance are often not held responsible when convicted of drunk driving outside of a slight “slap on the wrist,” according to an Alabama congressman. U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) says he wants these illegals deported because, “when they don’t have a driver’s license, they don’t have car insurance, there’s no accountability in the process and they just slap them on the wrist and send them on their way. And this drunk driver who was here illegally killed a young couple.”

5. U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) are concerned about the Biden administration’s plan to allow more importing of catfish from Vietnam. Britt said, “Nearly 33% of all catfish produced in the United States comes from right here in sweet home Alabama,” adding, “President Biden needs to realize that food security is national security, and his America Last policies are endangering our country’s future.”

4. AL.com latest ridiculously out-of-touch social crusade is about getting violent felons and career criminals out of jail. They are currently running a series focusing on numerous criminals denied parole (including drug traffickers and 3-strike recipients who don’t follow their release agreements) and demonizing the head of the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles and Attorney General Steve Marshall.

3. Hunter Biden, the crackhead son of President Joe Biden, has finally agreed to appear before Congress at his dad’s impeachment inquiry hearing, surely helping his father out immensely. There was no announcement about whether this hearing will be public or privately done but this comes on the heels of a contempt resolution advancing and his “sugar brother” testified about bankrolling Hunter Biden.

2. Weather starts to clear up, some schools remain closed and roads stay closed while a sense of normalcy returns to parts of the state. However, other parts are dealing with adverse conditions for the entirety of the coming weekend.

1. Plan to avoid government shutdown passes again with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Calif.) relying on Democrats to help get the stopgap measure over the finish line, the same thing that cost former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) his job. Alabama’s GOP senators both voted against it while GOP representatives were split on their vote on this bill, U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Hayesville), Mike Rogers (R-Saks), Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), joined Democrat Rep. Terri Sewell (R-Birmingham) in voting “yes,” and Reps. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), and Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) voted “no.”

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN, on Talk 99.5 from 10-11 a.m., and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from noon to 1 p.m.

Charles Barkley is kicking off a new business venture with the home of the Atlanta Hawks, State Farm Arena. The Leeds, Alabama native and Auburn basketball legend who has turned into one of the most prominent figures in the sports media world announced a partnership between the arena, team and Barkley’s vodka brand, Redmont.

The Redmont Vodka bar, which will be open in the 100-level concourse and near Sections 104 and 105 of the arena, will offer fans of or over the age of 21 the opportunity to be able to purchase specialty drinks and cocktails made with Redmont Vodka.

Redmont Distilling Co. is based in Birmingham and founded by Barkley. It is the first legal distillery in Birmingham since Prohibition. The product advertises itself as a “Premium 8x distilled, gluten-free, non-GMO spirit.”

“I’m thrilled to team up with the Hawks and State Farm Arena and bring some of Alabama in Redmont Vodka to basketball fans and concertgoers here in Atlanta,” said Barkley. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to combine my passion for the game, having fun and two of my favorite Southern cities.”

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

Charles Barkley is no stranger to hot takes.

The former Auburn great as well as current NBA on TNT host appeared on NextRoundLive and was asked about a litany of topics, but the answers he gave on both his alma mater as well as its biggest rival were the most eye-popping of the entire segment.

With a huge matchup for the Tigers coming up against Georgia this week, Barkley was asked whether or not he hates Georgia.

“Not really. I mean I hate Alabama, that’s a different animal. You can’t have that much hate in your heart, number one,” Barkley began.

He went on to clarify, however, that his hatred of Alabama lies more so with the fan base rather than Nick Saban and the program itself.

“I really don’t hate Alabama, I just hate their fans, they’re obnoxious. They lost two games last year and it was like oh, kill us now. That was the end of the world. Then after they lost to Texas it was like oh my god. You’ve got the greatest coach ever and they’re a bunch of ungrateful brats,” Barkley stated.

You can hear the full quote here:

.@RyanBrownLive asked Charles Barkley if he hates Georgia.

His response: “Not really…” Barkley goes on to say “I really don’t hate Alabama I just wanna beat them. I hate their fans cause they’re obnoxious…” pic.twitter.com/yLCJyEuXlF

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 27, 2023

Another topic that came up was the Auburn offensive issues and quarterback play.

In a joking reference to Freeze’s players being baptized, Barkley said to please pray for better quarterback play.

“If y’all are gonna be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play. Let’s get these three quarterbacks and baptize them and maybe they can play better,” Barkley joked.

He continued, “the one thing you can’t do as a coach, you can’t have your QB playing scared looking over his shoulder. You can’t play three quarterbacks, you can’t play two quarterbacks. The number one thing you need as a QB is confidence, and right now they’re in no mans land.”

You can hear the entire answer on the QB situation here:

“If y’all gonna be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play…” Charles Barkley on Auburn’s QB play pic.twitter.com/ivSSUjfjoN

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 27, 2023

7. NBA Hall of Famer, Auburn legend, and attention-starved sports commentator,Charles Barkley is being critical of spoiled Alabama football fans again and had thoughts on Auburn’s religious “scandal” and QB saying, “I’m all in on Coach Freeze. Now I will say this – if y’all gonna be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play.” In a political story, Barkley wasn’t recognized when praising Cassidy Hutchinson for changing her testimony before the Jan. 6 commission.

6. A concerned citizen and private investigator brought a book with overt sexuality and pornographic images to the attention of the entity in charge of curating books in the library at hand. Failed “journalist” Tim Lockette, also a visiting journalism professor at Jacksonville State University, dismissed concerns of woman without addressing the book, “It’s Perfectly Normal,” and addressed the issue of a woman being angered about pornographic material being available to kids by smearing her for getting fired because she wouldn’t get the vaccine.

5. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is a target of ire again because he is noting the obvious that the U.S. military is not an equal opportunity employer first and foremost in his announcement of opposition to the next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. over his woke policies and misplaced focus. Tuberville told Bloomberg TV, “We’re looking for the best of the best to do whatever. We’re not looking for different groups, social justice groups. We don’t want to single-handedly destroy our military from within. We all need to be one. It’s like a football team I coached. You can’t have different groups. Everybody’s got to be together to win. There’s no second place in war.”

4. The special election Democrat primary runoff for Alabama House District 55 is between a black man and transgender and it could be a battle for the future of the Democratic Party. Travis Hendrix and Sylvia Swayne represent different wings of the Democratic Party with Hendrix getting the support of black leaders such as Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and State Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) and Swayne getting support from the national media and the far left who want one of those “historic” firsts.

3. Much like her reaction to the original decision to redraw Alabama’s congressional district line, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) is apparently offering up a different reaction behind close doors than she is offering in public. On X, she tweeted “Another BIG win for Alabama’s Black voters!!! [3 black clapping hands emojis]” but privately she is not too happy that State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) is preparing a primary challenge against her.

2. Illegal immigration becomes THE issue in regards to the government shutdown with U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia) calling America the “dumping ground of the world.” U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) joined her U.S. Senate colleagues in calling for a solution to the border crisis to be included in a deal to keep the government open.

1. GOP debate wows dozens as Fox Business hosted a debate that lacked a frontrunner, who generally went unscathed, ignored the current president, and failed to deliver a substantive debate on the economy. The Univision anchor framed all of her questions through the lens of the left-wing media on issues of education, immigration, and health care.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.