{"id":2262688,"date":"2024-06-07T21:19:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-08T01:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/charles-barkley-says-he-got-fed-up-and-turned-off-espn-what-kinda-idiots-are-running-this-network\/"},"modified":"2024-06-07T21:21:02","modified_gmt":"2024-06-08T01:21:02","slug":"charles-barkley-says-he-got-fed-up-and-turned-off-espn-what-kinda-idiots-are-running-this-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/charles-barkley-says-he-got-fed-up-and-turned-off-espn-what-kinda-idiots-are-running-this-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles Barkley Criticizes ESPN Leadership: &#8220;What Kinda Idiots Are Running This Network?&#8221; After Turning It Off in Frustration"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcharles-barkley-says-he-got-fed-up-and-turned-off-espn-what-kinda-idiots-are-running-this-network%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2262688&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ai&#8221;>\u2062 <i>count\u2064 on your help<\/i><\/a><i><span>    before\u200b then?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Sincerely,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Joe Setyon<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor,\u200c The Western Journal<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The \u2064article is about \u200bthe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-will-lift-school-mask-mandate-on-wednesday\/\" title=\"New York Will Lift School Mask Mandate on Wednesday\">potential end<\/a> of Charles Barkley&#8217;s time\u200b as a commentator \u200con\u2063 TNT&#8217;s &#8220;Inside the NBA.&#8221; Despite this, Barkley has not stopped sharing his thoughts and criticisms on sports and the media&#8217;s coverage of them. In particular, he took issue with ESPN&#8217;s coverage\u2064 of the NBA Finals, criticizing\u2062 them as &#8220;stupid&#8221;\u2063 and &#8220;boneheaded&#8221; for \u200cspending an hour\u200c talking about the potential new coach for the Los Angeles\u2063 Lakers rather than \u200dfocusing on the game \u2064at hand.\u200c Barkley&#8217;s \u2063passionate \u2063comments demonstrate his frustration \u2062at the media&#8217;s\u2064 prioritization of speculation over \u200bthe actual events of a game. The article also includes a note\u200d from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-times-reporter-forced-to-resign-over-n-word-controversy-tells-his-side-of-the-story\/\" title=\"New York Times Reporter Forced To Resign Over N-Word Controversy Tells His Side Of The Story\">deputy managing editor<\/a> of The\u2062 Western Journal, urging\u2062 readers to \u2062support the website in their\u2063 fight \u200bagainst the &#8220;lying leftist\u200c media&#8221; and &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-throttling-the-hunter-biden-laptop-story-with-hacked-and-russian-disinformation-lies-propaganda-press-quietly-admit-it-was-completely-legit\/\" title=\"After Throttling The Hunter Biden Laptop Story With \u2018Hacked\u2019 And \u2018Russian Disinformation\u2019 Lies, Propaganda Press Quietly Admit It Was Completely Legit\">corrupt elites<\/a>.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>    <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/johnathanjones\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/johnathanjones\/%20\"><span>Johnathan Jones<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 7, 2024 at 4:15pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Charles Barkley\u2019s time on TNT\u2019s \u201cInside the NBA\u201d might be coming to an end, meaning fans of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/matt-gaetz-requests-pledge-of-allegiance-before-hearings-nadler-shoots-him-down\/\" title=\"Matt Gaetz Requests Pledge Of Allegiance Before Hearings; Nadler Shoots Him Down\">professional basketball<\/a> will be without the banter between him, fellow legendary players Shaquille O\u2019Neal and Kenny Smith, as well as iconic TNT host Ernie Johnson.<\/p>\n<p>But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/inside-nba-workers-left-scared-death-popular-show-featuring-shaq-charles-barkley-may-end\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the expected end of the beloved program<\/a> will not stop the 1993 NBA MVP from sharing his thoughts on sports and especially from sharing criticism of those who cover them \u2013 particularly basketball.<\/p>\n<p>Friday morning, ESPN drew the ire of Barkley, which aired Game 1 of the NBA Finals on ABC between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nba-countdowns-kevin-perkins-torn-pieces-fans-ridiculous-heat-celtics-take-100-stupid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Boston Celtics<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-fans-leave-travis-kelce-stunned-viciously-boo-dallas-mavericks-game\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Dallas Mavericks<\/a> on Thursday night and will also air the Stanley Cup Finals on ESPN throughout the next week or so.<\/p>\n<p>The first game from Boston game wasn\u2019t close from the jump (the Celtics drubbed the Mavs 107-89, and the game wasn\u2019t as close as that score indicates), but that wasn\u2019t what irked Barkley.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-charles-barkley-torches-biden-democrats-live-cnn-says-care-black-people-every-4-years\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/failing-upward-squad-acolyte-teases-presidential-run-after-second-straight-primary-loss\/\" title=\"Failing Upward: \u2018Squad\u2019 Acolyte Teases Presidential Run After Second Straight Primary Loss\">basketball analyst<\/a><\/a> and former NBA great joined <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outkick.com\/sports\/charles-barkley-rips-espn-dan-hurley-coverage-nba-finals-stanley-cup-looming\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Outkick<\/a> host Dan Dakich on Friday, where he called those who run ESPN \u201cidiots\u201d for spending an inordinate amount of time talking about everything but the game before tipoff.<\/p>\n<p>Barkley\u2019s complaints centered on a lengthy discussion on the network about who could become the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers after the May firing of then-coach Darvin Ham.<\/p>\n<p>According to reports and endless speculation, UConn Huskies men\u2019s basketball coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-uconn-coach-furious-zach-edey-brutal-screen-walks-give-piece-mind\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dan Hurley<\/a> is the favorite to take over in L.A.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/oklahoma-softball-praises-god-live-espn-winning-historic-4th-consecutive-ncaa-title\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN<\/a> spent a lot of time discussing the potential hire Thursday while the first game of a series that will decide the NBA championship was set to begin.<\/p>\n<p>Barkley told Dakich he was not at all pleased by ESPN\u2019s unrelenting coverage of the Lakers\u2019 coaching situation during the game.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Charles Barkley turned off ESPN because of their coverage <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iosxFy7hCT\">pic.twitter.com\/iosxFy7hCT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 OutKick (@Outkick) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Outkick\/status\/1799135032667148743?\">June 7, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI was so pissed with Game 1 of the Finals and Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals coming on, for them to spend the first hour talking about, \u2018What if Danny Hurley goes to the Lakers,\u2019 I was so pissed yesterday I had to turn my TV off,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/charles-barkley-triggers-leftists-telling-truth-san-francisco-nba-star-game-broadcast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barkley<\/a> added, \u201cThis is how stupid they are. Y\u2019all got the Stanley Cup and NBA Finals, and y\u2019all talking about a team that is currently irrelevant.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhoever\u2019s doing that program has to be the stupidest, most boneheaded people in the world,\u201d Barkley added.<\/p>\n<p>He concluded, \u201cWho in the hell is running their programming over there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barkley savaged the coverage of Hurley as \u201cspeculation\u201d and said he asked himself Thursday, \u201cWhat kind of idiots are running this network?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He explained that he was fond of Hurley and that there was a time and place to discuss coaching vacancies.<\/p>\n<p>But he said the lead-up to the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals was not that time for such a discussion, especially when it involves a team that meekly exited the playoffs in the first round.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was crazy,\u201d he said. \u201cI just thought it was so stupid of ESPN yesterday, Barley added. \u201cYa\u2019ll got the biggest game of the NBA season coming on tonight and ya\u2019ll spend the first hour talking about if Danny Hurley goes to the Lakers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barkley concluded his remark with one of his trademark \u201cCome on, man\u201d reactions.<\/p>\n<p>ESPN will have the chance to discuss the Lakers more <em>or <\/em>to actually discuss Game 2 of the NBA Finals before it tips off on Sunday.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>\u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d Those 12 words have been stuck in my head since I first read them. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn recently made that comment to Floyd Brown, founder of The Western Journal. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>And if the leftists and the elites get their way, that\u2019s exactly what will happen \u2014 no real election, no real choice for the Electoral College, and no real say for the American people. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal is fighting to keep that from happening, but we can\u2019t do it alone.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We work tirelessly to expose the lying leftist media and the corrupt America-hating elites.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>But Big Tech\u2019s stranglehold is now so tight that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without help<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  from you, we will not be able to continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The 2024 election is literally the most important election for every living American. We have to unite and fight for our country, otherwise we will lose it. And if we lose the America we love in 2024, we\u2019ll lose it for good. Can we <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>count on you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to help? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>With you we will be able to field journalists, do more investigative work, expose more corruption, and get desperately needed trStephen A. Smith Lights Up Analyst Over WNBA Delusion, Caitlin Clark Jealousy &#8211; &#8216;Who Talks About the WNBA?!&#8217;uth to millions of Americans. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We can do this only with your help. Please don\u2019t wait one minute.<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>  Donate right now<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  today.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44767\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/johnathanjones\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44767\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44767\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44767\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44767\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Johnathan Jones has worked as a reporter, an editor, and producer in radio, television and digital media.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Johnathan &#8220;Kipp&#8221; Jones has worked as an editor and producer in radio and television. He is a proud husband and father. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Charles Barkley may soon exit TNT&#8217;s &#8220;Inside the NBA,&#8221; potentially ending the beloved banter among basketball legends Shaquille O\u2019Neal, Kenny Smith, and host Ernie Johnson. Fans brace for the change<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2006,"featured_media":2262689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sir-chuck.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2262688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sir-chuck.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2262688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2006"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2262688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2262688\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2262689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2262688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2262688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2262688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}