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Charles Barkley Eyeing Finish to TNT Career: ‘I’m On the ‘Back Nine’ of Life’

“I’m not worried about death, I don’t think about death, but I’m smart enough to know if I’m 60 years old, I’m closer to death than I am to the front line.”

Derek Futterman

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A career total of 23,757 points. Add 12,456 rebounds. With 4,215 assists. And 11 All-Star selections. It is safe to say Charles Barkley has the numbers to back his being named a member of the National Basketball Association’s 75th Anniversary Team.

Following his 16-year professional career, during which he suited up for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets, Barkley joined the NBA on TNT upon his retirement in 2000 as an analyst on its award-winning studio show Inside the NBA. 21 years later, Barkley, 59, intends to finish out the remaining two years on his contract with Turner Sports and subsequently retire from working in television.

Barkley has provided basketball fans an innumerable amount of memorable moments, whether it be on the court or in the studio alongside host Ernie Johnson and co-analysts Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. At this stage in his life, though, Barkley wants to focus on being there for his family, which will soon welcome a new grandchild, along with enjoying his lifestyle, which includes playing golf and traveling the world.

With the recent addition of Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green to the pool of NBA on TNT analysts, along with the existence presences of Candace Parker and Dwyane Wade, Barkley’s replacement could very well come from in-house. As he explained Friday on 850 ESPN Cleveland’s morning drive program The Really Big Show, Barkley is ready for the transition and eager to see what lies ahead in his life.

“Once you’re a grandparent, you are officially old, so I’m excited about that [and my grandchild’s birth is] going to be the greatest day of my life,” said Barkley.

“I’m smart enough to know that I’m on the ‘back nine’ of life. I want to enjoy – whenever the big fella comes get me; I’m not worried about death, I don’t think about death, but I’m smart enough to know if I’m 60 years old, I’m closer to death than I am to the front line.”

Barkley is currently in Cleveland for the NBA All-Star Weekend festitivies and looking forward to seeing old friends and NBA legends, along with current NBA players named to the 75th anniversary team such as Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and LeBron James.

During the game, which is set to begin Sunday at 8 p.m. EST, Turner Sports will present an alternate viewing experience broadcast on TBS called Inside the All-Star Game. It will feature Barkley and the rest of the Inside the NBA crew talking about the game, interacting with fans and players and, of course, the Sports Emmy award-winning crew bantering throughout the night.

One thing Barkley will not be doing, however, is trying to dunk a basketball – so don’t expect to see that if you tune in.

“The only dunking [for me] is going down at Dunkin Donuts,” said Barkley. “I would be afraid to try to explode and dunk right now because I know – ankles, knees – something would break. I would be afraid to try to explode on my old legs and dunk a basketball.”

Aside from his role on television, Barkley wants to genuinely enjoy this weekend in Cleveland as society attempts to return to some form of pre-pandemic normalcy. Part of that will be through attending NBA All-Star Weekend parties ahead of the showdown between Team LeBron and Team Kevin Sunday night.

“All the great players have a party, and trying to get in the different parties is the funnest part,” said Barkley. “I know LeBron’s guys had a party last night. We couldn’t go to it because we were on the air, [but] I expect a bunch of guys will be having parties tonight.”

Barkley has been on a weight-loss program, dropping 50 pounds by eating one meal a day between 5 and 8 p.m., and has started playing golf every day for the first time in 25 years. Additionally, his wardrobe has consisted of brighter colors as of late, a change from the “all-black closet” he had when his weight would fluctuate. In short, Barkley is “starting to feel like a human being,” and hopes to live life to the fullest, especially once his television contract expires.

“I just want to enjoy the backside of my life; being a grandpa, traveling the world,” said Barkley. “I’m going to work out these last two years on my deal and thank the NBA for everything they’ve given me; TNT and Nike and everybody, and just enjoy the back nine of life.”

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Kirk Minihane: WEEI is “Going to be Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb in Afternoons”

“Maybe the two most sensitive c***s in the history of radio. That’s a show we are going to ruin.”

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Photos of Kirk Minihane and Rich Shertenlieb

As the speculation continues on where Boston sports talker Rich Shertenlieb will end up, one former WEEI host said he has the scoop on what is going to happen. Kirk Minihane, now with Barstool Sports, said, “What I heard was, initially, was they were moving Rich Keefe from nights to middays, moving Adam Jones from afternoons to middays and keeping Fauria there, and moving Andy Gresh to afternoons…But now it appears Rich Shertenlieb is going to do afternoons with Andy Gresh.”

On Wednesday, Boston Globe sports and sports media columnist Chad Finn had put out a post on X, saying, “Didn’t think Rich Shertenlieb would end up at WEEI after leaving Sports Hub. I do now, most likely in afternoon drive. Audacy management has been telling people to expect changes.”

Minihane continued commenting on the matter, saying, “It’s going to be Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb in the afternoons, which is going to be so awful. Maybe the two most sensitive c***s in the history of radio. That’s a show we are going to ruin…we haven’t done that in a while, we are going to take that show down…Once that show starts, we are just going to blitz them with phone calls because Gresh can’t handle that.

“What they don’t understand, because they are so dumb, is that…Rich Shertenlieb has no fan base…no fan of [Toucher and Hardy] in the morning is going to be like ‘I’m not going to listen to Felger in the afternoons, I’ll now listen to Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb.’ It’s going to be dreadful.”

Recapping what he has heard the rest of the WEEI lineup will be, Minihane said, “…And then in middays you have Adam Jones, failed afternoons. Rich Keefe who has now failed middays, drivetime, nights and is now going to fail again in middays… and Christian Fauria who has never drawn a rating in his life.”

WEEI has not commented on any of the speculation. BSM will have more as the story unfolds.

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Former 670 The Score Host Tommy Williams Has Died

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Photo of Tommy Williams
Courtesy: Lakeshore Public Media

Tommy Williams, who was heard for a decade on 670 The Score, died on Wednesday at the age of 66.

Williams began his broadcasting career in his hometown of Gary, Indiana in 1982 at WLTH before moving on to The Score. In 2003, Williams became the PA Announcer for the Gary Southshore RailCats of the American Association where he had his signature call to get the attention of the fans, “People, People, People.”

A story in The Times of Northwest Indiana said, “The longtime RailCats public address announcer and Lakeshore Public Media sports journalist was known for broadcasting countless games, interviewing countless athletes and covering Region sports at all levels. The Gary native and co-host of “Prep Sports Report,” “Prep Football Report,” and “Lakeshore PBS Scoreboard” often signed off shows saying, “Gary, Indiana, you know I love you.”

“The cadence he had in his voice echoed across the Region in a way we may never see again. He was widely known and widely loved,” Tom Maloney, vice president of radio operations at Lakeshore Public Media told the paper.

“He’d want to be remembered as the voice of Lakeshore sports,” his Regionally Speaking co-host and producer Dee Dotson told The Times. “Most people will remember him for covering prep sports all the way up to semi-pros. He’ll be remembered for treating each of his subjects like they were world champions. His depth of knowledge of sports at all levels is commendable. He was a walking encyclopedia of stats.” 

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Compass Media Networks Promotes Three Members to Oversee Play-by-Play Sports Platform

“It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”

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Logo for Compass Media Networks

Compass Media Networks has announced the promotions of three long-standing executives, Robert Blum, Tyler Brewer, and Chris Kleiber, who will collectively oversee the content creation, production, and distribution of the company’s play-by-play sports platform.

“For over 16 years, Compass Media Networks has set a standard of excellence for national play-by-play sports with Chris, Rob, and Tyler playing a vital part in our success,” said Peter Kosann, CEO/Founder of Compass Media Networks. “It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”

Robet Blum has been appointed Vice President & General Manager of Sports and will also continue to serve as Vice President of Affiliate Sales for News-Talk and Sports. Tyler Brewer has been appointed Executive Producer – Sports Programming. And Chris Kleiber has been appointed Senior Producer – Sports Programming.

Compass Media Networks broadcasts annually over 100 play-by-play sporting events involving college men’s basketball and football (including the Big Ten Tournament and the Big Ten Championship Game), NFL 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday Doubleheaders, and complete coverage of the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders. The broadcasts are distributed across hundreds of terrestrial sports, news-talk and music stations as well as digital distribution platforms such as SiriusXM, Verizon Mobile, and the Varsity App.

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