Charles Barkley is not happy. And when Charles Barkley is not happy, everyone hears about it.
This time, his frustration is aimed at ESPN. Specifically, the lack of airtime for ‘Inside the NBA‘. According to Barkley, the iconic show has only been on ESPN four times in the last three months and that’s not enough!
Barkley made it clear he wants more appearances. A lot more. He believes Inside the NBA deserves better treatment and honestly, he sounds personally offended. Like someone hid the remote and blamed the dog.
For Barkley, four appearances in three months is unacceptable. This is not some random panel show. This is Inside the NBA and should be given more air time on ESPN.
“We’ve complained, we’ve only been on ESPN four times in three months,” Barkley told Le Batard. “I don’t like that at all. What I was talking about working all the time, because I love watching basketball – I’m not going to do all these damn shows. I’m not gonna be on ESPN One, Two, Three, Deportes, Nacho, Echo, whatever they call it. I’m not gonna be doing all that, but I wish we had been on more during the first half of the season.”
Barkley noted that the crew only worked one day in December, during the Christmas Day slate. If fans felt the same as “Chuck,” things are about to change. Inside the NBA will air Saturday, next Wednesday and Saturday.
He added that the show will air 15 times between February and April. They will cover the NBA playoffs on a nightly basis, but there are still three months before that moment arrives.
The irony is rich. ESPN talks basketball all day. Panels everywhere, arguments everywhere and yet one of the most popular basketball shows struggles to get consistent airtime. Barkley clearly finds that ridiculous.
At the end of the day, Barkley is pushing for what he believes is common sense. If something works, show it more. If people love it, stop hiding it. Four times in three months? Barkley isn’t having it!
Whether ESPN listens or not remains to be seen. But one thing is clear, Charles Barkley is not whispering this complaint, he is shouting it. And knowing him, he is just getting started.
