Barkley: ‘People are criticizing Obama’s NCAA bracket because he’s black’

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March 23, 2015

Leeds, Alabama native and former Auburn basketball and NBA star Charles Barkley is no stranger to attracting attention. After earning the nickname “The Round Mound of Rebound” on the court, Barkley is now known as an outspoken, no-nonsense sports commentator for TNT’s “Inside the NBA.”

This weekend Barkley spoke out about criticism President Obama has received on his NCAA “March Madness” bracket.

“You people in America who are upset that President Obama did a bracket, why don’t y’all just go say you don’t like him because he’s black,” Barkley told TMZ while he and “Inside the NBA” co-star Kenny Smith were leaving a hotel in New York City.

“What, is he not supposed to think about anything else?” Smith added.

“Cut through all the BS,” Barkley went on, “don’t say he takes too many vacations … just say, ‘We don’t like him because he’s black.’”

Barkley has never been shy about sharing his political views. He once considered himself a Republican, but has since flipped to the other side of the political spectrum, revealing that he is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage. He even hinted in 2008 that he planned run for Alabama Governor in 2014 as an Independent, though he changed his mind.

But Barkley has also been critical of the President. “I think Abdullah’s actions when they burned that kid alive, I thought his actions were heroic,” Barkley said of the Jordanian King in February. “He was like, ‘no, you cannot do that to my people.’ I wish President Obama was like that sometimes. I do. I think that is the way we have to treat ISIS. We can’t keep thinking it will go away. I thought it was heroic what Abdullah did.”