Charles Barkley has not been shy about his support of Phil Mickelson and others who chose to join the LIV Golf International Series. But during an interview with Pat McAfee on Friday, Barkley took that support to another level.
“I want all the LIV guys on top of the leaderboard,” Barkley said referring to LIV golfers who are also participating in this week’s U.S. Open. “I want to see the PGA Tour shaking in their damn boots. Listen, I’m not a religious dude, but I want chaos this weekend at the U.S. Open!”
But not everyone shares Barkley’s supportive stance. Golfers who have jumped to the LIV International Series have faced widespread criticism over the league being funded by Saudi money. Saudi Arabia has notoriously bad human rights issues, generating billions of dollars from oil and slave labor, and golfers participating in their startup league are viewed as a tool for sportswashing.
Barkley, however, has no issue with athletes chasing money, regardless of where it comes from.
“I don’t judge other people, listen, if somebody gave me $200 million, I’d kill a relative,” Barkley joked to McAfee. “Hey, I’m serious! They’re saying Phil Mickelson got $200 million and Dustin Johnson got $150 million. Hey, for $150 million I’d kill a relative, even one I like!”
I was willing to give Barkley the benefit of the doubt that this was just a bad joke, but he’s the one who felt the need to add, “I’m serious.”
Just a few weeks ago, Barkley said he would have been willing to become the “skinniest power forward in the history of civilization” if a team was willing to give him a $200 million contract. But apparently, the basketball Hall-of-Famer and brash NBA analyst is willing to go to much greater lengths for cash.