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John BarrESPN.com
BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Basketball Corridor of Famer Charles Barkley, who has loved super reputation in his post-playing days by way of his work as an analyst for TNT and a company pitchman, has but to obtain a proper supply to affix LIV Golf in a broadcasting position, he mentioned Thursday.
“I can not preserve TNT in limbo. That is not honest,” Barkley instructed ESPN earlier than his look in a pro-am occasion at Trump Nationwide Golf Membership Bedminster, the positioning of the third LIV Tour occasion.
“Not solely are they [TNT] involved, my sponsors are involved. I’ve heard from Subway, Capital One, Dick’s Sporting Items. In some unspecified time in the future I will should decide, plain and easy.”
At current, it could seem Barkley does not have a choice to make. He mentioned Thursday that regardless of assembly with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and expressing his receptiveness to obtain a proposal to work for LIV Golf as a part of its broadcasting crew, no supply has but been made.
“They have not supplied me a contract. They requested me if I used to be and I mentioned sure,” Barkley mentioned. “I met with Greg and I instructed him sure. I am in a win-win scenario. If they provide me one thing good, that is nice. If they do not, I’ve acquired an ideal job at TNT.”
Former President Donald Trump was additionally collaborating in Thursday’s pro-am at his golf course in northern New Jersey.
The proximity of the golf course to the positioning of the World Commerce Middle assaults of Sept. 11, 2001, has drawn sharp criticism from the members of the family of 9/11 victims, who held a information convention earlier this week and plan to carry one other one Friday.
“This occasion comes within the wake of members of 9/11 Justice sending former President Trump a letter earlier this month expressing the intense ache, frustration and anger they really feel because of his choice to host the Saudi-sponsored league at his membership in New Jersey within the shadows of Floor Zero,” the group mentioned in a launch earlier this week.
“I’ve sympathy for the 9/11 households,” Barkley instructed ESPN. “It is most likely the worst day within the historical past of our nation.”
Stated Trump to ESPN on Thursday: “No person’s gotten to the underside of 9/11, sadly, and they need to have.”
A spokesman for the 9/11 Justice group mentioned not too long ago declassified FBI paperwork additional proved Saudi Arabia’s position within the assaults, one thing the Saudi authorities has persistently denied.
“I’ve recognized these individuals for a very long time,” Trump mentioned of the LIV Tour’s Saudi Arabian monetary backers. “They have been mates of mine for a very long time. They’ve invested in lots of American corporations. They personal massive percentages of many, many American corporations and, frankly, what they’re doing for golf is so nice. What they’re doing for the gamers is so nice. The salaries are going to go manner up.”
Barkley mentioned that he does not perceive why persons are indignant on the golfers and why extra outrage hasn’t been directed towards these corporations that, like LIV Golf, obtain monetary backing from the Public Funding Fund Saudi Arabia.
“Everyone’s making up phrases, like, sportswashing and soiled cash. I am like, pay attention, should you play sports activities, all of us take cash from some sources you won’t love or respect,” Barkley mentioned. “I do not need to be a hypocrite. These guys [LIV golfers] try to make a dwelling. I want them nothing however the perfect. Identical factor with my mates on the PGA Tour. However all people is simply kinda like attempting to play the ethical card.
“For some cause, everybody needs to put selective outrage,” Barkley mentioned. “I am by no means going to let that occur on my watch.”
LIV Golf on Wednesday introduced plans to broaden in 2023 to 14 occasions, with 48 golfers competing for an unprecedented $405 million in purses. LIV Golf additionally will stage further tournaments in 2023 by way of its LIV Golf Worldwide Collection, which was launched this 12 months by way of a $300 million funding within the Asian Tour.
“The PGA was not liked by lots of the gamers, as you realize, for a very long time,” Trump instructed ESPN. “Now they’ve another. And no person would’ve ever recognized no matter there was going to be a gold rush like this.”