The divide is alive and well across the country, and NBA legend Charles Barkley has blamed politicians for it.
Barkley’s “Inside the NBA” aired Monday on Martin Luther King Day, when he, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny “The Jet” Smith discussed the importance of the day, which also coincided with the inauguration of the President Donald Trump.
“I wish people were smarter, personally,” Barkley began. “I think these politicians – from both parties – I think both parties suck. But I think they do a very good job of making us not like each other.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
College basketball analyst Charles Barkley on air before the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four championship. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Barkley, a former CNN anchor, then gave his answer about what America has “become.”
“Racism exists, always has existed and always will exist, unfortunately. It’s a disaster. But what America has become is rich people against poor people. And I wish people understood that politicians do a good job of making us fight among ourselves. But it’s really rich people against poor people,” Barkley said. “They try to be about blacks, whites, immigration, homosexuality and all these different things, but what happens is that the rich make people not like each other. And until we address that, we will never be successful.”
Charles Barkley celebrates after winning the men’s gold medal game against Yugoslavia at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on August 3, 1996. (Manny Millán/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
HEAT SUSPENDS JIMMY BUTLER AGAIN AFTER MISSING FLIGHT ON ROAD TRIP: REPORT
“These politicians have ruined our world, forcing you to choose a team,” Barkley added. “And that’s unfortunate because I’m not for anyone’s team. I’m for everyone’s team.”
Barkley has said he is “not a fan” of Trump and blamed Democrats for losing because they were “stupid.”
“We still haven’t solved the immigration problem… we never addressed inflation. Bringing out all these stupid stars to rally the vote, what was that? I love Beyoncé. That’s not going to make me vote a certain way.” . you lost because you are stupid. Barkley said on “The Steam Room” podcast with his “NBA on TNT” co-host Ernie Johnson shortly after the election.
Former Phoenix Suns player Charles Barkley attended the Footprint Center in Phoenix on January 21, 2023. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
“It’s our fault for not having an action plan. We don’t organize concerts or demonstrations. People want solutions, they want money in their pockets, they want the border to be secure.”
