by Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY Sports
TNT?s NBA studio show crew, asked Tuesday about ESPN/ABC?s Jeff Van Gundy?s recent comments on the league trying to influence TV coverage, had an unequivocal ?no? to any suggestion of that impacting their show.
Show host Ernie Johnson did, however, first joke ?that every night, you should have heard what Charles (Barkley) really wanted? to say.
?Jeff Van Gundy is terrific on TV,? says Barkley. ?He and (announcing partner) Mike Breen do a terrific job.?
But, Barkley says, the NBA has never told him what to say or not say ?and I wouldn?t listen if they did. ? The NBA might talk to our bosses, but never to us individually.?
TNT?s Reggie Miller, recalling how he was often fined for his comments as a player, says as a broadcaster now he?s relieved he?s ?never heard anything from the league.?
Johnson says he?ll get clarifications on information from the league ? ?And we want to know where the league stands.? But, he says, ?do they tell you what to say? None of that has been going on here. And I?ve been here 62 years.?
When asked to compare TNT?s relatively unchanged studio show to ESPN?s often-revamped one ? which this season is adding analysts Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose ? Barkley notes the shows are on at different times. ?We don?t go head-to-head and compete against each other. ? We know those guys. We want them to do well. ? I hate it when they compare our shows. This isn?t like regular TV and hit shows go up against each other.?
But TNT?s Shaquille O?Neal, noting Van Gundy?s suggestions of possible NBA influence, says, ?You want to watch a real show, watch TNT.?
? [For more on Charles Barkley: NBA doesn't tell him what to say and he 'wouldn't listen' anyway, click here.]
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