Who says the fine art of fisticuffs is dead?
During halftime of the Warriors’ victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, TNT analyst Charles Barkley, for reasons known only to the squirrels inside his head, expressed a desire to punch Golden State’s Draymond Green in the face.
Actually, we cleaned up Barkley’s rant, which verbatim reads: “I want to punch his ass in the face.”
He must be some kind of contortionist.
At this point, there is nothing Barkley can say that shocks anyone. This is a guy who claimed he was misquoted in his own biography. We here in the Bay Area are particularly enured to Barkley’s regular and ritual criticism of the Warriors, such as his contention a year or so ago that they play “little girly basketball.”
Green, apprised of Barkley’s comments after the game, pulled no punches.
“If he feels that strongly about it, punch me in the face when you see me. If you’re not going to to punch me in the face when you see me, then shut up. No one cares what you would have done. You’re old and it is what it is.”
We’re not advocating violence here, nor are we anticipating anything really happening between Dray and the roly poly who was known in college as Boy Gorge. But just in case, we have compiled a tale of the tape:
- Age: Green 28; Barkley 55
- Nickname: Green — The Dancing Bear; Barkley — Round Mound of Rebound
- Height: Green 6-7; Barkley 6-6
- Weight: Green 230; Barkley 376 (est.)
- Reach: Green — As far above the rim as it needs to be; Barkley — Long enough to grab another ham hock
- Rings: Green 2; Barkley 0
- High profile bouts: Green — Steve Adams’ groin 2016, Bradley Beal 2017; Barkley — Bill Laimbeer 1990; Charles Oakley 1996; Shaquille O’Neal 1999