Charles Barkley was brought in by CBS Sports, who cleverly took advantage of him to promote the NCAA tournament. The “Chuck Blimp,” a massive blimp modeled after Barkley that Capital One unveiled in time for the Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona, gave Ernie Johnson the ideal opportunity to make fun of his friend and colleague.
Though their on-air chemistry and friendship are quite strong, Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley never miss an opportunity to crack a joke. With the NCAA final four quickly approaching, CBS Sports made sure not to lose out on the audience by featuring Barkley as the head of its blimp. After the Philadelphia 76er’s legend’s face on the blimp and Johnson’s few jokes about his large head, Barkley couldn’t contain his laughter on live TV.
Speaking in Capital One with Charles Barkley and other co-hosts, Ernie Johnson said:
There is an actual Capital One Chuck Blimp. The Chuck Blimp was launched from Nashville earlier this week and making its way to Phoenix for the final four. That’s pretty cool, and its head is actual size.
Ernie Johnson said
There’s an actual Charles Barkley blimp from Capital One.
The “Chuck Blimp” is going to Phoenix for the Final Four.
“And the head is actual size.” – Ernie Johnson 🏀😂#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/mf6WBnWuyr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 24, 2024
When they displayed the blimp, Barkley burst out laughing, and he even mentioned that he had visited one and found it enjoyable. Even though Barkley and the NCAA have a pleasant relationship, he had previously called them boneheads.
Over NIL in college, Charles Barkley labeled the NCAA “Boneheads”
Since the introduction of NIL, college football and other university sports have undergone a complete transformation, enabling athletes to earn money lawfully. However, this has also brought up several challenges and much criticism since its introduction. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Charles Barkley talked about NIL in college during the league’s All-Star festivities.
Charles Barkley (Credits: CNN)Speaking in NBA on TNT with Adam Silver and other co-hosts, Charles Barkley said:
I don’t know what’s going to happen, to be honest, with G league and things like that. We screwed up college sports with the NIL thing. Can you get together with the NCAA? Because number one, the NCAA, they are bonehead. You know the reason I call them boneheads, they are always reactive.
Charles Barkley said
“We screwed up college sports with the NIL thing… Can you get together with the NCAA? Because, No. 1, the NCAA, they’re boneheads…” – Charles Barkley to Adam Silver pic.twitter.com/hTs0Y0wwFq
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 19, 2024
What exactly that involvement might entail is unknown, and Silver makes no promises in this regard. Barkley has always been aware of the NCAA circumstances, and the blimp now depicts their relationship.
