Why On Earth Does NCAA Allow Sir Charles to Cover Playoff Contests?

Unless Sir Charles can cut through the clutter and adroitly explain much of the inept shooting these days, the truth about NCAA playoff carpetbagger Charles Barkley covering the tourney is that he knows as much about contemporary college basketball as he does playing golf with his herky-jerky swing. At least Barkley called the Pac-12 the Pac-10 rather than the Pac-8. If anything at all, the NCAA should have Barkley restricted to making public service announcements about weight loss, cross-dressing, drinking and gambling.

Barkley, who inspired Auburn to one NCAA Tournament game in three years (an upset loss against Richmond in 1984), is so out of touch regarding the NCAA tourney he doesn't deserve to be ranked among CollegeHoopedia.com's top 40 college commentators. Whether an authentic professional such as CBS' Jim Nantz admits it or not, embarrassing doesn't begin to do justice to him being affiliated in any way with such aimless analysis that even detail-driven Seth Davis and Doug Gottlieb won't be able to salvage whether or not they're in the studio with him.

But on second thought, Barkley's background may make him an altar boy compared to ESPN knifing ethics in the back by hiring retired Baltimore Ravens linebacker Raymond Lewis as an analyst. Who is next? Has butcher O.J. signed a letter-of-intent (while donning tight-fitting gloves) to align with the Extra Sensitive Pious Network upon leaving prison? The fanfare surrounding O.J.'s return to the booth could duplicate the mental-midget cheering accompanying his acquittal verdict. Instead of 30-to-life, perhaps he and Lewis can co-star in a bloody 30 for 30 scavenger-hunt segment dancin' and runnin' through airport terminals looking for a stained white suit and hidden-for-profit kitchen knife.