Don’t expect to catch Charles Barkley breaking bread with politicians anytime soon.
The “Contained in the NBA” personality went on a fiery rant about “awful” politicians, each Democrats and Republicans, during Thursday’s March Madness broadcast on CBS.
Barkley got upset when studio host Greg Gumbel mentioned the recent NCAA president — and Governor of Massachusetts — Charlie Baker’s “consumer protections” plan, which is designed to control how student-athletes make their money under the brand new Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rules.
“Did he say we’re going to ask the politicians to assist us?” Barkley asked after shaking his head.
“See, that pisses me off already. Our legislators are awful people.”
Barkley didn’t seem blissful that Baker is discussing NIL with those outside the sport of basketball.
“Obviously we’re gonna talk some with the parents in Washington about this,” Baker said concerning the NIL laws.
“And there’s a good amount of appetite [from politicians] to try to cope with this.”
Barkley didn’t appear to agree.
The Basketball Hall of Famer said that he would like talking to “individuals who actually care about basketball” about NIL discussions — explaining that he would put a committee along with coaches, players and others, including broadcast partner Clark Kellogg.
“We are able to’t ask these politicians nothing,” Barkley said. “Those persons are awful people. Democrats and Republicans — they’re all crooks.”
Some people sounded off concerning the viral clip, with on person writing on Twitter: “Charles Barkley spitting truth on NCAA rules.”
The NCAA rule change in 2021 enables student-athletes to make the most of their name, image and likeness — with many athletes that double as social media influencers making six-and-seven figures.
Haley and Hanna Cavinder — who’re college basketball players on the University of Miami and TikTok superstars — are two of the highest-paid college athletes, having earned an estimated seven figures in NIL deals.
The senior guards are the third-highest NIL earners within the 2023 NCAA Tournament (men’s and girls’s).
LSU gymnast and social media influencer Olivia Dunne can also be making seven figures — with the Recent Jersey native juggling partnerships with Vuori clothing, College GameDay, GrubHub and American Eagle.
LeBron James’ son, Bronny James — who signed an NIL cope with Beats by Dre and appears in a business with the Lakers star — earned $7.5 million as of January, per On3’s NIL evaluations.
Highschool football phenom Arch Manning — the son of Cooper Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli — placed second under James, with $3.7 million.
