Former NBA star Charles Barkley has never minced words when it comes to speaking his mind and once again, the Round Mound of Resound voiced his support for the grand jury that chose not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
Barkley didn't hold back Tuesday when he addressed the controversy during a radio interview.
"There is no excuse for people to be out there burning down people's businesses, burning down police cars," he told Mike Missanelli of Philadelphia's 97.5 The Fanatic as he referred to the rioters as "scumbags."
Barkley went on to commend police officers who work in black areas.
"If it wasn’t for the cops we would be living in the Wild, Wild West in our neighborhoods," he said.
"We can’t pick out certain incidentals that don’t go our way and act like the cops are all bad," he added.
"Do you know how bad some of these neighborhoods would be if it wasn't for the cops?"
The TNT commentator, who retired from the NBA in 2000, also laid blame on the media for fanning the flames of violence in the wake of Michael Brown's shooting death in August.
"The true story came out from the grand jury testimony," he said. "I can’t believe anything I hear on television anymore.
"And, that’s why I don’t like talking about race issues with the media anymore, because they love this stuff, and lead people to jump to conclusions.
"The media shouldn’t do that. They never do that when black people kill each other."
Sounds like Barkley is doing a little fire stoking of his own.