Charles Barkley calls Ferguson rioters 'scumbags' (AUDIO)

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.

Mark Cuban: Realignment could help the NBA

Mark Cuban wants to throw out everything your second grade teacher taught you about geography — all to assist a plan to fix the gap in quality between the NBA's Eastern and Western Conferences — by realigning eight teams.

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com, in the Dallas Mavericks owner's plan, the Mavs, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans would move to the Eastern Conference. The Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks would move to the West.

"It's not like it'd be the first time we've ever realigned," Cuban said while working out before Wednesday's home game against the New York Knicks. "It's happened many times before, so there's precedent and I just think it shakes things up and makes things interesting."

Just about any Western Conference owner wouldn't mind swapping conferences — especially when the East is as soft as ever. 

So is Cuban trying to make it easier for his Mavs by padding it with Knicks and 76ers games?

Not when he proposes sending perennial winners, the Spurs, and the up-and-coming Rockets and Pelicans with him.

But Cuban's plan does make some sense. The West has had a winning record against the East in 14 of the past 15 seasons, according to John Schuhmann of NBA.com, and change doesn't seem to be on the horizon. "After an 18-3 week, the West is an incredible 45-19 against the East this season," Schuhmann wrote on Nov. 24.

Cuban claims he has not discussed his idea with the commissioner or anyone else in the NBA.

"I did the trial close right here," said Cuban. "Then it'll turn into headline porn and then we'll see the response."

LeBron James, other athletes respond to Ferguson verdict via Twitter

Within minutes of Monday’s Ferguson verdict, NBA star LeBron James used social media to express his remorse for the family of dead teenager Michael Brown and the chaos that followed.

The grand jury’s decision not to prosecute police officer Darren Wilson was announced on Monday evening during the Cleveland Cavaliers' 106-74 win over the Orlando Magic.

After the game, James took to Twitter to voice his frustration at the situation in Ferguson by tweeting a drawing of Brown and Trayvon Martin walking arm-in-arm.

As a society how do we do better and stop things like this happening time after time!! I'm so sorry to these families. Violence is not the answer people. Retaliation isn't the solution as well. #PrayersUpToTheFamilies #WeHaveToDoBetter

A photo posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:06pm PST

Twitter blew up with other prominent sports stars speaking out as well.

Magic Johnson expressed his disappointment with the situation in Ferguson by tweeting: "We must work together to stop the unnecessary loss of young men of color. Justice was not served in Ferguson."

We must work together to stop the unnecessary loss of young men of color. Justice was not served in Ferguson.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 25, 2014

Serena Williams also tweeted her shock. 'Wow. Just wow. Shameful. What will it take???,' she said.

Wow. Just wow. Shameful. What will it take???
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) November 25, 2014

NFL star Reggie Bush also tried to put it in perspective.

No matter who you are, what color skin you have, where you live, we are all in this together! This… http://t.co/iDYzkjygbE
— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) November 25, 2014

Papa John's eases promotional rules due to 76ers' futility: Report

How bad are the Philadelphia 76ers?

Bad enough that pizza chain Papa John's lowered its qualifications in a joint promotion to give fans a discount on pies every time the team won.

Sixers fans, who already are starving for wins this season, can now get the half-priced pies when the futile 76ers score only 90 points — without winning!

Sadly, that's still a reach because the team averages 88 points per game.

After initially offering a 50 percent discount on orders the day after a 76ers win, the company made it easier to reward fans with a sad, but way more realistic level of accomplishment.

The worst part, according to the Bleacher Report, was how Papa John’s delivered the new deal. CrossingBroad.com’s Kyle Scott posted a picture of the email fans received Thursday regarding the bargain. The subject reads: “50 Percent OFF Today — Sixers Won!”

But they did not.

Philadelphia lost 101-90 to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. They only won within the parameters of Papa John’s new, arbitrary rule—a rule that would give the franchise five total victories for the season if the 76ers could win games just by scoring at least 90 points.

Sounds like a pie in the sky deal. 

Brandon Knight botches easy, game-winning layup (VIDEO)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Knight went from hero to zero faster than Jason Kidd as a Nets coach against Brooklyn Wednesday night at the Barclays Center.

With the game tied in the final seconds of the first overtime, Knight intercepted a pass by the Nets' Joe Johnson. Knight was able to get a look at a wide-open layup, but he put a little bit too much on the ball and missed the bunny.

And the reaction from the Bucks' bench is priceless:

So the game went to double overtime tied at 105-all.

Luckily, the Bucks guard redeemed himself with a clutch shot in the second OT and the Bucks pulled out an exciting 122-118 victory in the third overtime. 

Jason Kidd returns to chorus of boos in Brooklyn (VIDEO)

In Jason Kidd’s first game back in Brooklyn since leaving the Nets in June, fans welcomed him back with a chorus of boos Wednesday night at Barclays Center.

Kidd. who left this past summer to be the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, was booed and taunted as a traitor in the arena where his retired jersey hangs in the rafters.

It wasn't exactly a Mr. Kotter moment.

But it seemed like neither team wanted Kidd's return to end as the Bucks outlasted the Nets, 122-118, in three entertaining overtimes.

"I have bad hearing anyways. So I thought whatever the greeting was, it's about the players," Kidd said after the game. "People don't pay to come see the coach; they come to see the guys play."

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome baaack.

NBA donated $1 million for William and Kate to attend Cavs-Nets game: Report

In a bid to make the bring basketball to an even bigger worldwide audience, the NBA is donating $1 million dollars to Prince William and  Kate Middleton's charity for attending a Cavaliers-Nets game featuring LeBron James at Brooklyn's Barclays Center next month.

The NBA honchos' generous donation to the Duke and Duchess' new conservation charity is reportedly a big "thank you" for attending the already high-profile game during the Royal Couple's three-day trip in New York City, according to MailOnline.

The decision by the couple to attend that particular game means the Royals will get to meet King James — still the NBA's reigning star.

NBA insiders believe that the image of the royal couple at the game inside Barclays Center will be shown around the world, helping the sport gain new fans.

"It's an incredible publicity coup for the NBA,'"an insider told MailOnline.

"The images of them all together will be seen all over the world — it's a marketing man's dream. A million bucks is a small price to pay for the publicity the NBA's going to get."

Friends say that Kate and William had expressed an interest in attending a basketball game at legendary Madison Square Garden when they were planning their December 7-9 visit to the city.

But the couple snubbed the New York Knicks vs. Portland Trailblazers game on December 7 in favor of seeing LeBron play the following night.

"Kate and William are both big sports fans'," explained the friend. 

"And although basketball isn't big in Britain, William has heard of LeBron James... although Kate apparently had no idea who he was!"

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will also be present at the game and is said to be beside himself with excitement at the public relations coup.

And while most attention-seeking celebrities usually sit courtside, the Duke and pregnant Duchess are expected to be viewing the game from the relative safety of a private box.

They will probably meet music royalty when Beyonce and former Nets minority owner, Jay Z, are expected take in the action on the same night.

That might be the photo-op of the year.

Trey Burke's buzzer-beater trumps Carmelo Anthony's trey with 2.3 seconds left (VIDEO)

Trey Burke made a buzzer-beating jumper from the corner to give the Utah Jazz a 102-100 victory Friday night over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, despite 46 points from Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony, who looked like he had a game-tying three-point shot with 2.3 seconds left in the game, was trumped by Burke after the sharpshooting guard hit a corner jumper at the buzzer to hand the Knicks their seventh straight loss.

Anthony did all he could, including the Knicks' final 11 points, but in the end it wasn't enough.

"I looked up," Anthony said, "and I was like, 'No, please.' I just wanted it to go to overtime."

Here's how the final 2.3 seconds played out with J.R Smith's stunned pose saying it all for Knicks fans:

Grizzlies wait five minutes to get buzzer-beater win against Kings (VIDEO)

It seemed nearly impossible that the Grizzlies could score a winning basket trailing 110-109 with only 0.3 remaining on the clock against the Kings Thursday night. But somehow Memphis pulled out a dramatic victory thanks to a buzzer-beating inbound pass-to-tip-in from Vince Carter to Courtney Lee.

Too bad it took officials nearly five minutes of checking replays for the Griz to finally celebrate:



Grizzlies win: 111-110.

Justin Verlander and Kate Upton take in Knicks game (PHOTOS)

The Knicks lost their sixth game in a row on Wednesday night — a 97-95 defeat by the Orlando Magic and are now 1-4 at Madison Square Garden.

But that doesn't seem to stop the team from drawing a stream of famous people to Celebrity Row.

That's right ... a Magic game.

For instance, Kate Upton and Justin Verlander made the scene:

And yes, that's New York's Global Welcome Ambassador and the Knicks' latest "biggest fan," Taylor Swift, in the front row too.

Great to have you on @douglaselliman Celebrity Row, @kateupton and @taylorswift!

A photo posted by New York Knicks 🏀 (@nyknicks) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:40pm PST

Too bad all those beautiful people can't make up for that ugly, last-second, 3-point attempt by J.R. Smith at the buzzer.