Charles Barkley RIPS LeBron James Over Race Comments

LeBron James says that race has played a role in the massive backlash he has received since joining the Miami Heat over the summer.

Charles Barkley disagrees. The former NBA star spoke with WIP in Philadelphia and called out LeBron for his comments on race.

Barkley repeatedly referred to the James saga as a bad movie and said the criticism he has heard have nothing to do with race.

"The only criticism I've heard about LeBron and it was my biggest criticism, that decision thing was just stupid. It was stupid," Barkley said. "The second thing when they all came out there dancing around on stage, that was silly. That's the only thing I've heard LeBron get criticized about. That has nothing to do with race."

"It's like watching a movie," the Basketball Hall of Famer added. "Just when you think it couldn't get any stupider, it gets more stupid."

The TNT analyst also ripped ESPN for reporting on the Heat training camp every day and catering to James. "They have definitely crossed the line and this is unprecedented," he said. "This is unprecedented ass kissing."

The interview was transcribed by Sports Radio Interviews. You can listen to the entire segment here.

Comments

[OHIOKate]

11:40 AM on 10/23/2010

I can only say as a long time Cleveland fan, my feelings toward LeBron have nothing to do with the fact he is Black. What he did to Cleveland fans was very much like watching Jerry Springer where the guy finds out his girl has been cheating on him and lying to him. Right now LeBron is more hated than Art Model. WHY, because he left after promising he would bring a championship to Cleveland the most sports winner starved city. He was considered a Homer and now he is gone and hope went with him. He is either stupid or naive to think his decision wouldn't make him the most hated sports person in Ohio and it has nothing to do with the fact he is BLACK!!!!!

[bsultan]

10:57 PM on 10/25/2010

Do you need a hug?

[SportsChump]

12:57 PM on 10/06/2010

God Bless Charles for speaking his mind.

http://sportschump.net/2010/10/06/who-the-hell-is-maverick-carter/4646/

[SheikArbusto]

07:25 AM on 10/06/2010

Soon, we will be erecting a bronze statue of Sir Charles in Cleveland. He is quickly becoming one of the most beloved sports figures in this town.

[Dyan York]

05:59 AM on 10/06/2010

Charles has selective memory ~

[PoliticalMMA]

01:57 PM on 10/05/2010

is this the same Charles Barkley who once ripped Dan LeBatard for a column Lebatard wrote that Charles didn't read?

[Kalel]

11:35 PM on 10/04/2010

File this under "Classic Charles."

[Tyrone Luckett]

05:36 PM on 10/04/2010

Basketball players have two jobs. First to entertain us and second to win games. King James thank you for doing your job!

[Tyrone Luckett]

05:28 PM on 10/04/2010

Just wondering how many people left their jobs without a two week notice and not telling their employer they was leaving.

[Tyrone Luckett]

04:48 PM on 10/04/2010

I think the big guy is jealous of King James.

[SouthSideHooligan]

12:01 AM on 10/05/2010

Of what? Neither one of them has ever won a ring. They're both jealous of MJ.

[Tyrone Luckett]

08:44 AM on 10/05/2010

That why he is going to the heat. He not jealous of MJ.

[nmeade56]

04:01 PM on 10/04/2010

Exactly right Chuck!

[Monk2001]

03:18 PM on 10/04/2010

Charles Barkely is right on!

[CBaby23]

02:52 PM on 10/04/2010

Barkley's been the most vocal in EVERYTHING Lebron does. This isn't the first time. I love me some CB34 (I even have his shoes to prove it *L*), but dang! At some point, I've got to wonder is any of this just all out jealousy? I'm cool with criticism, pro and con. Charles gets paid to state his mind and boy does he ever. But to target one player so harshly? Could "some of this anger, name calling, disdain," be because unlike Charles, Lebron's Decision will get him the "highly coveted" NBA ring Charles never got?

If we want to bring up opinions of NBA greats, Kobe said he saw nothing wrong with Lebron going to Miami. Then, he said, "I don't like to play with wimps." Now, seriously, do we think he was calling Lebron a wimp, or acknowledging that NOT ONE Cavalier had the heart to back their leader up "in the playoffs" where it really matters? They played like cowards. Kobe's a competitor. He was ready to leave the Lakers if that's what it took to get championships and that's after having won 3. Every NBA player knows the regular season is for the fans. The finals? That's for the players. That's what they play for -- the whole kit and kaboodle. Without that ring, a player's just a mere spectator to someone else's greatness. They end up longing and bitter like Charles. Who the heck wants that?

[Tyrone Luckett]

04:50 PM on 10/04/2010

Thank you!! somebody on here knows what they are talking about.

[dct1999]

05:12 PM on 10/04/2010

That's the truth cbaby.

[Ked Her]

02:49 PM on 10/04/2010

I am A black man and a life long Lakers fan, I knew Lebron was not gone to my team so could have care-less about the so-called Decision. It was stupid for him to make a live tv event out of this ( I would like toThank him for making 3 mill for the boys and girls clubs.) but he could have made the money other
ways with out looking stupid. He or someone he knows is trying to make this a race thing, I will not say
race and money has nothing to do with problems in the US, but not this problem! he created this
problem by divorceing Cleveland on tv and acting a fool on stage with Bosh and Wade( like the just won the title, now he has deal with it. His race had nothing to do with his problem it the stupid way he acted. People think because Lebron and Bosh went to the Heat they the Champ, but The Lakers got some heat for that A.s!!

Sac has the team called the Kings.
Clevland, I mean New York, I mean Miami Has the so called King James.
But the crown is in LA, and has been for the past two years. So bow down when we come to your town.

[dct1999]

05:14 PM on 10/04/2010

brand new identity with one post = severe lack of credibility

[badwalrus]

04:31 AM on 10/05/2010

Saying he lacks credibility because he doesn't have 40,000 posts yet is getting personal. You don't know him. Why are you making it personal?

[threalReginald]

07:32 PM on 10/04/2010

I wouldn't be so proud. Yall clearly had some Hollywood refs out there. No body outside LA is feeling the Lakers that last game was ugly. Coming from a long time Heat fan who can't stand the Celtics right now I can't wait to see the whole NBA get blasted this season. Consider that crown ganked cus!

[sloan77]

12:02 PM on 10/04/2010

This really is ridiculous. A black man was asked by a reporter if he thought some of the bitterness and hatred spewed at him had anything to do with race and he responded yes. 99.9% of black men would have responded the same way about most situations because of our experiences in America. He did not proclaim that the entire fallback was race related, but a seemingly flashy, wealthy, black star controlling his destiny does rub a few people the wrong way. Even if there was just one person spewing racial hatred, that hurts and is visible to any black man.

[dct1999]

02:20 PM on 10/04/2010

say that

[Tyrone Luckett]

04:53 PM on 10/04/2010

I knew you be in here dct1999

[JtownesquireAgain]

08:56 AM on 10/04/2010

I'm not a basketball fan or a Barkley fan, but one thing I have noticed....at least he tells it like it is.

[DandaPanda]

09:39 AM on 10/04/2010

Charles is the truth

[Tyrone Luckett]

04:54 PM on 10/04/2010

Charles is a jealous and a hypocrite.