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Charles Barkley: Skip Bayless Is An “A–hole”

by Glenn Davis | 6:50 pm, December 2nd, 2011

There’s a pretty good chance you can’t stand ESPN First Take mainstay Skip Bayless. That, of course, is just how he’d like it. He’s a professional troll, pretty much – he’s out for your attention, good or bad. If he gets it – and he does get it, and from some prominent people – he wins, even if the attention he’s getting is negative (which it usually is). The point is, people are listening.

One particular Bayless-hater, though, used the tail end of an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show today to test the limits of Bayless’ “any publicity is good publicity” standards. That Bayless-hater: TNT’s most outspoken NBA analyst, Charles Barkley. Barkley’s outspokenness, you’ll see below, applies to his least favorite television sports personality as well:

We saw that and thought, “Wow.” But really, there wasn’t much to be surprised about: as Deadspin said, Barkley’s noted before that there are two people on earth he’d like to kill, and Bayless is one of them. This is taking it far beyond the normal (or, um, healthy) levels of Bayless hate, and Barkley was a bit more reserved in Patrick’s presence, merely saying he hates Bayless “more than any person in the word.” We’re assuming that includes the guy Barkley heaved through a plate glass window, though, so still – strong statement. And of course, if you’re going to rip an ESPN personality, Patrick’s as sympathetic an audience as you can hope for.

As for Bayless himself? Well, as usual, he didn’t let getting noticed go unnoticed:

To Charles Barkley: My favorite Proverb is 23:9.

A little different from Bayless’ invitation to Aaron Rodgers to come on First Take after Rodgers ripped him. (Of course, the nature of Barkley’s critique was a little different, too.) No matter what Bayless says, though, it’s hard not to think he’s happy to have gotten under the skin of another person. Indeed, in Barkley’s case, it seems ol’ Skip’s burrowed in so deep that he’s never far from Sir Charles’ mind. That’s how Skip Bayless operates: say provocative things, outlandish things, until for whatever reason, you just can’t ignore him. And say, what’s that favorite proverb of Skip’s say again?

Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.

Sounds about right.

Back atcha

I agree with Charles Barkley, Skip is an asshole. Bayless just does not want to give Tiger Woods ANY credit for having accomplished a WIN!!!!!! Steve Smith is absolutely correct. Tiger Woods was fighting Tiger Woods. The largest percentage of successful performance in playing a sport is based on your MENTAL state. Rec overy from devastation – theorectically – is about two years. Courage, strength, mental toughness – he learned his lifetime from his father, and his Buddhist faith – learned from his mother – that he touched on in his press appearance following all the craziness. It’s not the winning, it’s the journey. Could YOU do it?
Anonymous

Well Back atcha mental state is important but not quit as important as agility, good hand-eye corrdination, a strong arm as well as strong legs and damn good eyesight. And depending on the sport SIZE.
11

skip is KING of trolls, and just sits there casting his fishing rod reelin’ ‘em in! if you can’t handle getting trolled, then this guy will OWN you
Carl

Skip Bayless should go work for Fox news. His interview style would fit in perfectly. Just talk over the person you are interviewing and if you dont agree with the facts just make shit up for ratings.
Warren

Skip is a good Christian, you drunks leave him alone.
show low mike

Skip is clueless and I never listen to him or his comments. The underclassmen used to take his lunch money when he was in college. The girls teams gave him wedgies and made him cry.