SI's Richard Deitsch plopped the quote into his Media Power Rankings column and, not surprisingly, Chuck got another wrist-tap for his comments:

"While Charles often makes jokes about his producer during our telecasts, he used poor judgment on Saturday during our NBA coverage. His comment was inappropriate and TNT apologizes to our viewers. We have spoken with Charles privately about it and will not have any further comment."

Strangely, he's only ranked number 8. Given how impressive Charles' ability to remain in the good graces of the public, his peers, and his employers throughout many of his (sometimes embarrassing) indiscretions, he should always be perched in the number one slot.

Media Power Rankings [SI]

The transition from Charles Barkley to the bane of a sports writer's existence (in his early playing days) to the quote-starved writer's best friend dramatically altered the perception of a man whose personal problems could have easily made him one of the most despised athletes of all time, instead of one of the most beloved. This has always been a fascinating aspect of Charles' career, that no matter how much off-court trouble he caused, his ability to spout off honestly and admit to his own flaws somehow made him Teflon. But this is a man, who for all intents in purposes, has a pretty reprehensible history: alleged domestic abuse, legal problems, gambling problems, infidelity issues, drinking problems, and overall surliness that has, for the most part, been forgiven. By virtue of admitting he was "not a role model" for Nike has ultimately given him a lifetime pass to fuck up people's lives without consequence. Peter Vecsey brings up another point as well that Charles's lifetime of behavior problems is ultimately the reason he never got that championship ring:

I don't care what the following people are prepared to say now; Barkley's reckless life style and non-compliance to team rules and conditioning was a primary reason Julius Erving retired a year or two early, Billy Cunningham prematurely gave up coaching, and Kevin Johnson, A.C. Green, Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen demanded the Suns and Rockets trade Sir Childish.

But Charles has too many fans in the media to ever be harshly ridiculed for his actions. He's availed himself and opened up to so many print guys, radio guys, television guys and hidden behind the race card for so long that he's going to get another free pass from a long list of people who do have the ability to call him on his shit.

Right now, TNT is aggressively no-commenting on whether Chuck will be back on air with them for the second half of they year. If this were anyone else, this would be an easy decision, regardless of legal consequences or contractual obligations. Most likely he'll still have a career, still be the perfect golf and drinking buddy for everyone and still be given a platform to criticize and opine on myriad subjects. But why?

In discussing ways in which the Knicks should be improved this season, Barkley said, "I think they have a better coach. This coach probably won't try to kill himself." [...]

Barkley, usually not one to shy from potentially insensitive remarks, seemed to sense his attempt at humor had crossed a line. "That's my fault," he said.

Chris Mottram, the Sporting Blog's resident staff sergeant, had this to say about the slip-up:

Part of Barkley's appeal is a style that is always this close to some kind of disaster. Here, he walked right into it and I suspect, earned some respect from his critics by admitting his mistake. Though I see it as him realizing that, for once, the act he'd worked so hard to perfect during his time in the public eye sometimes just won't cut it.

Well, maybe this will at least encourage Charles to hire a speech writer when he does start stumping in Alabama.

Boo! Knicks Too Scary for TNT [Newsday]
Charles Barkley: 'At Least The Knicks Have a Coach Who Won't Try To Kill Himself' [Sporting News]
Links: Lunch With Kenny and Charles [SLAM! Online]

Is there a more fitting metaphor for our fascination with fame? Finally someone is taking the next inevitable step and shoving a camera up a celebrity's ass. Damn paparazzi!

Sir Charles, 45, says he was surprised that the show approached him, but was happy to participate in promoting awareness for colonoscopies, which screen for prostate and other cancers. Barkley said that when he told his friend Fred Lavner, of NB2 Apparel, about being asked to undergo the procedure on television, Lavner replied they were "probably just looking for the celebrity with the biggest ass."

I can't imagine that Barkley would carry the entire show, so it's probable that other celebrity colons will be involved. May as well start your pools now. I'm going with, let's see, Jerry Jones, Jim Leyland and Mark Mangino. The latter, of course, will be filmed in 3D and star Brendan Fraser.

Inside Scoop On Charles Barkley [Philadelphia Daily News]

We can understand how this might happen; there can't be much more soul-crushing for a freestylist like Barkley than reading yet another T-Mobile "My 5" promo. Dumbass.