We all know that Charles Barkley is far from sane, and he even plays by a different set of rules, but this video might finally illustrate just how crazy he really is. After the Magic knocked out the Cavs on Saturday night, Charles not only called Kenny "numbnuts", but he called his producer a "pussy"....

The reaction from EJ is priceless, and I think Reggie asked the question we all want the answer to. Seriously, what is wrong with you Charles?

Charles Barley Let's Cat Get His Tongue (You Been Blinded)

Mike Polk is a bit of an Internet star, after creating a video he calls the "Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video", and TNT actually tabbed him to make one for the Inside the NBA crew. Here is just about the funniest thing you've seen in quite some time....

Now that is entertainment! I think he could have done better on Chuck, but the Kenny part and the "Closer" ending, were both hilarious. Good stuff, but TNT....was it really necessary to bleep out "douchebag"?

'Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism' Video Creator Takes a Moment to Burn TNT (The Sporting Blog)

Ernie Johnson is one of the nicest, most genuine people you will ever meet. Not only that, but he subscribes to the tenet that this site has survived on over the past three years. If you can't make fun of yourself, who can you make fun of?

Well, Ernie did just that when looking back at old footage of himself in a makeshift dunk contest, and a clothing company has even brought back his famous shirt from that night. Here's the background....

Great story, and the shirt you see above is not only available now, but a portion of proceeds even go to The Lymphoma Research Foundation (the disease EJ began battling in 2003).

Elevator Ernie (Homage Clothing)
Phenomenal Swag: 'Elevator' Ernie Johnson t-shirt (Ball Don't Lie)

Here we go again! Another gauntlet has been laid down involving Charles Barkley and a foot race, and this time it's from a colleague. New TBS Analyst, David Wells was working with Chip Caray and Ron Darling, when he decided to announce the challenge. The TNT crew talked about it last night after the Orlando-Boston game, and here is the video....

I dunno about that one, Chuck. You've been killing those Krispy Kremes as of late, and while Wells is certainly no Adonis, I think it might be a closer than you think. Plus it'd be on Wells turf, a Baseball diamond. Let's make it happen!

Charles Barkley has said a lot of controversial things in his days, but on Wednesday night the Chuckster went to far in the eyes of one lady. Chuck went so far as to say that the only thing woman could beat him at was cooking and cleaning, so a brave camerawoman challenged the analyst to a pushup contest. You can guess what happened....

Hahaha. Was that the worm he was doing there? Too funny. I also have no idea if that was George Clinton or not, but he's obviously a great trainer.

Video: Charles Barkley Loses to Woman in Push-up Contest (You Been Blinded)

I'm not sure if I'm breaking any news here, because last night's Playoff games were the first I've watched, but the Wolverine promo with Chuck and Kenny is hilarious. Check it out....

Too funny. The argument plays out like something you'd hear at Comic Con, and the claws at the end caught me completely off guard. If you're going to interrupt a game with a promo, this is the way to do it.

I still cannot get into, and/or figure out Twitter, but the NBA on TNT seems to have. According to a press release by the network today, all of their personalities will not only have Twitter pages, but they will also have accounts on Youtube and Facebook. Via TNT PR....

Turner Sports is unveiling a multiplatform marketing campaign that utilizes popular social media platforms YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to promote TNT’s ‘40 Games in 40 Nights’ coverage of the 2009 NBA Playoffs. TNT will have a significant presence on YouTube with a homepage takeover on Mon., April 20, featuring player-specific videos to promote the tune-in for the night’s match-ups as well as TNT messaged overlays on sports-related featured videos. Turner Sports will also feature a full court press on Facebook on Sun., April 19 with TNT NBA Playoffs messaging on sponsored ads, along with prominently placed topical promotional spots and a special promotion prompting Facebook users to ‘Become a Fan’ of the NBA on TNT Facebook page. Turner Sports will take over Yahoo! Sports’ main page on Sun., April 19, with all ads featuring TNT NBA Playoffs creative to drive fans to the network’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs.

Turner Sports will complement its robust social media marketing plan with a strong Twitter presence, featuring updates from popular announcers including TNT’s Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Craig Sager and NBA TV’s Chris Webber, Gary Payton, Steve Smith, Eric Snow and Rick Kamla. The hosts and analysts will ‘tweet’ on their individual pages beginning Tues., April 14 with regular updates, comments, thoughts and analysis that will feed to a main NBA TV Twitter profile and link to the National Basketball Association’s Twitter page. The ‘tweets’ will also feed into the NBA on TNT Facebook page. The Facebook and Twitter sites will be prominently featured on NBA.com and will receive on-air promotion on TNT and NBA TV.

One of the more impressive things that TNT puts on each season is their "40 Games In 40 Nights" work, starting during the first round of the NBA Playoffs. It's an extremely immense undertaking, but each year they seem to pull it off without that many hiccups. Obviously this is a ton of more work for each personality, but more access is always a good thing. I'll be checking out the pages as we go along in the postseason, and so should you.

In case you missed it, here is the full apology on Inside the NBA last night. It went as expected, and hopefully Chuck and TNT can move forward....

I completely missed this during NBA All-Star Weekend, and many thanks for NESW for finding the club, but the rumored dance-off between the Glove and the Jet actually went down late Sunday night. Not only that, but the crew even decided to beatbox for Ernie following Kenny Smith's win. Enjoy!

Pretty impressive if you ask me, and going back to the break dance routine, nets you a win every time. Remember that for the next wedding you go to.

A week ago, I passed along the info that TNT was bringing back Barkley, following his leave of absence, after the All-Star break. Well we have an official date now, and that will be this Thursday. Barkley will be back in studio with Ernie and Kenny, before the network airs their usual pair of games that night. Via TNT....

The TNT lineup includes the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai. Inside the NBA will feature Ernie Johnson (host), Kenny Smith (analyst) and the return of Hall of Famer Charles Barkley (analyst). Barkley has been on a leave of absence from the show to deal with legal and personal issues following an incident on Dec. 31 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“From the beginning, Charles recognized that he used poor judgment. He took full responsibility and apologized for his actions,” said David Levy, President of Turner Sports. “We look forward to having him back in the studio, where Charles will once again share his opinions, insights and humor with colleagues Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith. Collectively, they entertain a huge group of loyal fans that tunes into the NBA on TNT each week.”

While there's no word on if he'll do another sitdown with Ernie Johnson like the one following his gambling issue, it's good to hear that Chuck will be heading back to work. TNT showed how great of an organization they are, in the way they handled this, and hopefully it will be the last time Barkley has to take a leave of absence.

(HT: First Cuts)

No, he's not giving up on Basketball, or joining the Browns full-time, but King James will be an analyst for TNT during their coverage of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge. James will be working along side Kevin Harlan, Kenny Smith and Craig Sager for the game. Via TNT PR....

Perennial NBA All-Star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a participant in the 2004 and 2005 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, will join TNT’s Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Kenny Smith (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter) as part of the network’s telecast of the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. ET. The Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai will follow the game live from U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix. TNT’s exclusive coverage of the 2009 All-Star Game from Phoenix, AZ will air on Sun., February 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Great job by TNT pairing him with Kevin Harlan, and hopefully we can get Lebron's version of Harlan's famous "No Regard For Human Life!" call. As far as the game, it should be a pretty good one. The Rookies actually look like they could end the Sophmores' 6-game winning streak, and as an added bonus, you get Dwight Howard (Sophs) and Dwyane Wade (Rooks) as coaches. Here are the rosters in case you missed their unveiling yesterday....

Rookies: Michael Beasley (Heat), Rudy Fernandez (Trail Blazers), Marc Gasol (Grizzlies), Eric Gordon (Clippers), Brook Lopez (Nets), O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies), Greg Oden (Trail Blazers), Derrick Rose (Bulls), Russell Westbrook (Thunder)

Sophmores: Aaron Brooks (Rockets), Wilson Chandler (Knicks), Kevin Durant (Thunder), Jeff Green (Thunder), Al Horford (Hawks), Luis Scola (Rockets), Al Thornton (Clippers), Rodney Stuckey (Pistons), Thaddeus Young (Sixers)

TNT broke the mold as far as ASG stunts go, when Barkley raced official Dick Baveta, and got a smooch after the win. So trying anything else might be pushing it. Especially if it's a Craig Sager inspired dance off between Gary Payton and Kenny Smith. Via Ball Don't Lie....

I was trying to find the Sager clip earlier because it's just about the most ridiculous dancing you've ever seen, but this will have to do. Oh and I've got my money on the Glove....the AA line is officially set at Payton -175/Smith +150. Any takers?

Video: Sager busts a move, GP challenges Kenny to a dance-off (Ball Don't Lie)

Tried to pull the video of this, but for some reason technology failed me this morning. Anywho, Ernie and Kenny discussed Charles' current events at the beginning of the first day back for Inside the NBA since Christmas. A lot of what was said was some of the same old Charles talk, but it still needed to be said.

"You all heard what went on, and Charles has got some personal issues and legal issues that he gotta take care of. He's on a leave of absence from TNT at this time, and I mean, we love Charles. He's our buddy, everybody in this crew does and there are times that you'd like to reer back and give him a kick in the butt. Which is one of those times right now, but we also support him every step of the way."- Ernie Johnson

“I don’t know if the biblical term is correct but there’s a chaotic moment, or a chaos moment, when either you believe or you don’t believe because something happened in your life. I think Charles is at one of those moments where how is he going to be remembered.....

....He's bigger than that, he's bigger than this, and it's a time to get to that moment and grow. And move on and be something better. And we look forward to seeing that.”- Kenny Smith

“At some point we will have Charles back here. Until that, we just wish him the best.”- Ernie Johnson

Obviously well said by both of Charles' friends, but unfortunately they've each said that same piece multiple times, that it's starting to become automatic for them at this point. I think the majority of people want to see Barkley do well, much like Stern fans want Artie Lange to succeed. The problem is that some people are just headed for destruction, and there isn't anything you can do about it.

Tip Off Show (NBA)

I'm not sure why TNT always has to have four bodies on their pregame show, but they've decided to fill Barkley's place for at least tomorrow's show with Mike Fratello. The Czar will join Ernie, Kenny and Chris Webber before the network's pair of games tomorrow night.

TNT NBA Thursday returns on Thurs., January 15 with an action-packed doubleheader. Tipping off the night’s action will be LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the Windy City to battle Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls at 8 p.m. ET. Marv Albert will call the action alongside Reggie Miller (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter). The second game of the doubleheader features Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns taking on Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets. Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Doug Collins (analyst) will be courtside with Cheryl Miller reporting. The night will conclude with the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai with Ernie Johnson (host), Kenny Smith (analyst), Chris Webber (analyst) and Mike Fratello (analyst).

Fratello is probably as good a candidate as anyone, but I still don't see why there's the need to go with four. Webber is good enough, and experienced enough, to carry the load for the next few Thursdays. Or for however long Barkley will be on leave.

(Via TNT PR)

Inside the NBA has always been extremely random, but this move by C-Webb last night, might just be the most random. Webber decided to give Charles Barkley the Bush "Shoe Treatment" while yelling, "This is for Gene Chizik!".

Hilarious. That look on Barkley's face right before the first shoe is thrown, is priceless. Good times.

You know it's NBA time when I have two Charles Barkley nuggets in one day. This one is actually far more crazy than the first though. Charles and Kenny Smith were in NYC for a TNT luncheon and the TNT analyst was apparently not holding back one bit.

Not only did the "Round Mound of Rebound" say that Portland is overrated, that Patrick Ewing is rolling over in his grave (in reference to the Knicks) AND that he "never understood ‘off the record,’ you can’t just say crazy sh*t and then say it’s ‘off the record’", buuuuuut he also shared not that funny joke about rumored ODer, Isiah Thomas. From Newsday via The Sporting Blog....

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."

When that indelicate reference to Isiah Thomas' recent hospitalization prompted nervous laughter from reporters during an informal lunch yesterday, Levy reminded Barkley that the session was on the record.

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.

Ouch. Suicide and death is just something that you should never joke about. At least he apologized, but according to SLAM, he didn't necessarily slow down. He cursed and joked throughout the media's questions, and even hinted that Nielsen Ratings are racist. The guy just doesn't have an off switch, which can be both good and bad, and yesterday it was certainly bad.

Be sure to check out the rest of the luncheon highlights via the SLAM link below for more curse world fueled fun!

Boo! Knicks Too Scary For TNT (Newsday)
Charles Barkley: At Least the Knicks Have a Coach Who 'Won't Try to Kill Himself' (The Sporting Blog)
Links: Lunch with Kenny and Charles (SLAM)

I can't tell you how much I enjoy the "Gone Fishin'"-like segments that TNT's graphics department puts together after every doubleheader. Sure their photoshops and videos are a bit cheesy, but that's what makes them so funny. Well they've obviously been thinking about what to do for the ALCS, and they finally came up with a great idea. To involve Charles and Kenny in the postgame by putting them randomly in the crowd.

Here is Charles as an overweight, dancing white man and Kenny looking on from his seat....

Hilarious. I think people who can photoshop and edit video like that are awesome, and should be praised as such! I also request that Charles and Kenny either swimming in, or putting their hands in, the Rays tank in centerfield for Game Six.

(Also seen at Sox and Dawgs)

Just got word from TNT that the Inside The NBA trio is going to be appearing on The Tonight Show next week. It'll mark the first time the trio will appear on any late-night or morning talk show together and it will go down next Tuesday, June 17th.

I can't believe they've never been on any talk shows together before. They really should just do the whole talk show circuit. Imagine how much fun they'd have? Also NBC, and more specifically the Tonight Show, is doing a great job with their NBA Finals coverage. The Jimmy Kimmel spots before the games have nothing on Chris Bosh's Late-Night debut and now Jay got to TNT before ABC did.

Good work NBC. We'll be watching.

TNT's season came to an end last night and after a look back at all of their Gone Fishing segment they closed out the season the only way they knew how. They discuss Ernie's random seat assignment next to Eva Longoria and Charles Barkley says he wants to fight Michael Clark Duncan.....

"Ain't no muscles in his head though."- Charles Barkley

Following this the team thanked everyone working on the set and they played a Linkin Park song with Busta Rhymes on the way out. It was called "We Finally Made It" and it was very touching. In all seriousness you can see why TNT is and has been the class of the NBA for awhile now. In the end, Basketball is just a game and they cover it as such and have fun with it. Great season once again.

Add San Antonio to the list of cities that have a gripe with Charles Barkley. Following the Spurs blowout of the Lakers in Game Three, Chuck had this to say about the city....

I love when they go so far off the beaten path that even EJ can't transition out of the mess they've (usually just Chuck) has created. They're just too much fun, and hopefully the fans in San Antonio have something for Barkley tonight.

Also, seriously Chuck....that suit has to be sent back to the 80s.

Charles Barkley calls San Antonio 'fat' (Odenized)