While the celestial ballet of the solar eclipse unfolded across the United States, former NBA star and current TV analyst, Charles Barkley had his eyes fixed on a different court.
During halftime of the NCAA men’s basketball championship game between Purdue and UConn, Barkley took a shot at those who dared to glance skyward.
“Were y’all some of the losers standing outside watching that today?” Barkley quipped, dismissing the eclipse as mere folly. His co-host, Ernie Johnson, pushed back, defending the eclipse-watchers. “They’re not losers,” Johnson retorted.
But Barkley wasn’t backing down. “Hey, we’ve all seen darkness before. Stop it,” he fired back.
The studio banter echoed through the airwaves, sparking a social media frenzy. In Phoenix, where the game unfolded, the eclipse was less dramatic than in other parts of the country. Yet even with 70% of the sun obscured, the crescent-shaped spectacle left an indelible mark.
“Were ya’ll some of them losers standing outside watching [the eclipse] today?” – Charles Barkley
“They’re not losers.” – Ernie Johnson
“Yes they are. Hey, we’ve all seen darkness before. Stop it.” – Chuck
“Come on, Chuckster. Don’t hate on the eclipse.” – Ernie pic.twitter.com/u0lU3dS3T9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 9, 2024
