The roar of March Madness, a symphony of shattered brackets and soaring hopes, reached a fever pitch. For Charles Barkley, a proud Alabama alum, the crescendo turned into a heartbreaking finale. But as the dust settled on the Crimson Tide’s exit, a different kind of storm brewed. Not on the court, but in his DMs. A relentless barrage, a digital deluge, drove him to a breaking point, forcing him to confront a reality far removed from the thrill of the game—a reality that speaks to the unique position he occupies in the world of sports.
It was a tough night for Charles Barkley. After an impressive tournament showing, Alabama’s season came crashing down as Duke’s stifling defense proved too much to handle. For Barkley, a longtime supporter of the Crimson Tide, it was a bitter pill to swallow. Duke’s defense was suffocating, shutting down an Alabama offense that had just put up a record-breaking 113 points in the Sweet 16.
Even their star forward, who opened the game with a three-pointer, wasn’t at his dominant best, yet the Blue Devils still cruised to an 85-65 victory. While the loss hurt, something else had Chuck even more frustrated. Apparently, his phone had been blowing up non-stop. Fans and some well-known figures flooded his DMs with one request—tickets. Fed up with the constant messages, Barkley decided to address it head-on during The Next Round podcast.
“You know, let me tell some, let me look into the camera and tell people something right now. I don’t have any tickets, I don’t can’t get tickets, I don’t have tickets,” he said. The frustration didn’t stop there. “I was out celebrating with the CBS people. When I woke up this morning around four o’clock to drive back to Philly, I was like, yo, man, I got 32, no, I don’t have tickets. Uh, I, you know, you can, y’all can get them anywhere you want to, but I don’t have tickets,” he added.
Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA TV analyst Charles Barkley talks on set before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
But why exactly is everyone looking to Chuck for tickets? Well, it might have something to do with his role as a studio analyst for March Madness. But as the cameras rolled and the mic captured his every word, he turned from personal frustration to heartfelt tribute. Well, Barkley made one thing clear—despite the loss, he was proud of Alabama’s effort.
Charles Barkley’s emotional tribute to Alabama
Right after the game, Charles Barkley made sure to acknowledge Alabama’s impressive run, giving them the credit they deserved. The Alabama native didn’t hold back in praising Nate Oats and Bruce Pearl for elevating basketball in the state. Barkley,
“I want to congratulate Alabama, Coach Oats, Mark Sears, and that team. What they’ve been able to accomplish the last couple of years,” Barkley said. “Kenny [Smith] said something—he can’t believe that Alabama and Auburn are on top of the food chain in basketball. I’m so proud of what we have accomplished in Alabama. Auburn got to the Final Four a couple of years ago. And last year, Coach Oats got that team to the Final Four.”
The growth of basketball in Alabama isn’t lost on Barkley. He emphasized just how far the state has come, pointing out how both Alabama and Auburn have consistently been in the national spotlight. Kenny Smith even jumped in, noting that it’s surreal to see Alabama become a basketball powerhouse. And he wasn’t wrong—the state sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament this year, a testament to how much the game has grown.
“Ernie, I’ll be honest with you, I’m so proud of Alabama and Auburn,” Barkley continued. “I never in my wildest dream thought that Alabama and Auburn would make it to the Final Four. And that’s not a knock. Everybody knows that football is King Kong. But what Bruce Pearl and Coach Oats have done… the coach at UAB has done a fabulous job. Andy Kennedy at UAB. Troy made the tournament.”
While Alabama’s season has ended, Auburn still has a shot to keep the state’s basketball success going. One thing is for sure, though: Barkley showed two sides: the famous guy annoyed with ticket requests and the alumnus proud of his team. He’s more than just a guy on TV. He’s a fan, just like everyone else.
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