Paul Finebaum praises Charles Barkley for Skip Bayless shot, updating will to protect diversity at Auburn

In the span of one less than 80 seconds during an interview on “The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast,” ESPN and SEC Network host Paul Finebaum managed to lift up NBA analyst Charles Barkley while strafing one of the more roundly mocked figures in sports media: Skip Bayless. And Finebaum wasn’t mincing words.

He lauded Barkley for a recent move to amend his will to posthumously create a scholarship at Auburn University — Barkley’s alma mater — to help Black students afford the cost of tuition. Barkley made this move shortly after a recent Supreme Court ruling ended the federal policy of affirmative action.

“He did something the other days — and this is politics aside, I stay away from that at all costs. But after the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, agree with it or not, he decided to redo his will. Now I don’t know how you decide to redo your will on the spur of the moment, but Charles Barkley figured out a way to do that. And he decided to leave $5 million to Auburn University, his alma mater, to help keep Auburn diverse,” Finebaum said. “And I just found that to be a remarkable gesture by Charles. Because a lot of people talk a big and say, tweet about how wrong politics are and this politician or some Supreme Court ruling, but Charles actually puts his money where his mouth is. Although that’s a big mouth to fill up with a lot of money. But I was struck by that.”

Barkley explained his decision to AL.com late last week.

“I’m going to change it to be just for scholarships for Black students. That’s just my way of trying to make sure Auburn stays diverse. I love Auburn,” Barkley said. “I’ve actually changed it to be used for kids from poor homes. But after that ruling yesterday, my phone was blowing up. I was talking to my friends and said, ‘I need to make sure Black folks always have a place at Auburn. So, I’m gonna change my will and make it exclusive for Black students—all $5 million.’ It’s just for me the right thing to do. I always want to make sure that Auburn’s diverse.”

Finebaum also applauded Barkley for another recent move he made.

While it wasn’t a clear call out, Barkley was evidently talking about Bayless when he was discussing working with a “damn idiot” less than a week ago.

Barkley’s comment came amid Shannon Sharpe’s departure from his debate show with Bayless, as the two had reached a point where their working relationship could not be repaired.

Finebaum wanted it to be known that Barkley’s remarks were not unappreciated.

“He did something else which really impressed me last week. He did what all of us have wanted to do for at least the last 25 years: And that’s call Skip Bayless an idiot,” Finebaum said.

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