In a recent interview with Rich Eisen, comedian Larry David was asked about the NCAA tournament and joked “I can’t follow all these teams!” That is a sentiment that many sports fans, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith may share after trying to keep up with the 68-team field.
Known for their expertise and vast knowledge of the NBA, Barkley and Smith were put in difficult spot on Saturday when co-host Ernie Johnson and Clark Kellogg quizzed them on their knowledge of college basketball mascots.
The video was shared by sports media outlet Awful Announcing in which the two former NBA players engaged in a comical back and forth that all four broadcasters may have wished they avoided. The game started well enough with Charles Barkley correctly recognizing Michigan State’s mascot “Sparty.” That’s when things started to go downhill.
Ernie Johnson and Clark Kellogg tested Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith's knowledge of NCAA Tournament team's mascots.
How did it go?
"This is the worst game ever. This is the worst game ever, America." pic.twitter.com/7aTtpTNRJA
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 24, 2024
Barkley and Smith looked lost with the following mascots with the former even naming Seton Hall at one stage, a team that did not even reach the NCAA tournament. They also argued about whether Oakland’s Golden Grizzlies was a bear or a cub. At one stage, Smith just kept shouting out the names of different teams which seemed to irk Barkley.
“You don’t get to just keep naming people,” said Barkley
At one stage, Johnson seemed to grow weary openly announcing “I am really getting fed up.”
By the final round, it seemed everyone was tired with the game with Barkley looking exhausted.
“This is the worst game ever, America,” joked Barkley during the final stages.
