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.

Rams executive denies apologizing to police for Ferguson protest by four players: Report

After five St. Louis Rams teammates joined in a "hands up, don't shoot" Ferguson protest before Sunday's home game at the Edward Jones Dome, a team executive appeared to apologize to police for the controversial moment.

But that executive, VP of football operations Kevin Demoff, later denied he said he was sorry.

The Rams issued a statement later on Tuesday to say there were "positive discussions" with Belmar and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Sam Dotson, though as FOX Sports' Mike Garafolo pointed out, there was no "apology" mentioned:

Here's the Rams' statement. The word you won't find is "apologize." Dunno what Demoff said to Dotson privately. pic.twitter.com/U0jC4iqfXa
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 2, 2014

The original report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch included an email from St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar in which he said Demoff "[took] the opportunity to apologize to our department on behalf of the Rams for the 'Hands Up' gesture that some players took the field with yesterday."

Regarding statements on an "apology" from Rams COO Kevin Demoff: Chief Belmar was contacted today by St. Louis... http://t.co/8pF5QAIi87
— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) December 2, 2014

On Tuesday, the NFL said the four players wouldn't be disciplined for their actions. So don't expect this issue to just go away.

Reggie Bush compares shooting of Mike Brown to Palestine: Report

Reggie Bush has been pretty outspoken about the verdict in Ferguson on Twitter the past couple of days. But on Tuesday, the Lions running back curiously compared the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown to the conflict in Palestine on his Instagram page.

Bush posted a photo of a man holding a sign with the message: "The Palestinian People know what mean to be shot while unarmed because of your ethnicity. #Ferguson #Justice."

The post suggests that unarmed Palestinians were being shot by Israel.

Bush also included the caption: "No matter who you are, what color skin you have, where you live, we are all in this together! This isn't a Ferguson problem it's a Global Problem! We need change NOW! What happened to humanity? #JusticeForMikeBrown."

No matter who you are, what color skin you have, where you live, we are all in this together! This isn't a Ferguson problem it's a Global Problem! We need change NOW! What happened to humanity? #JusticeForMikeBrown

A photo posted by reggiebush (@reggiebush) on Nov 11, 2014 at 9:33pm PST

While the 29-year-old Bush has every right to voice his opinions regarding the verdict handed down in Ferguson, comparing it to the Middle East bloodshed might be a reach.

Bush, who famously dated reality star Kim Kardashian for two years, made the comment late on Monday. It was liked by more than 14,000 of his followers on Instagram.

Missouri high school's girl's powder-puff football team plays game in blackface (PHOTOS)

A Missouri high school is under fire after photos emerged showing a dozen seniors, all of them white, taking part in a powder-puff football game while in full-on blackface.

The racially insensitive photos were taken November 5 at Sullivan High School during an annual game — organized to raise prom money — where girls from each grade faced off against one another on the field.

Considering that the tensions surrounding the Ferguson police shooting have been on full boil only about 70 miles away, the photos — shared on Facebook two weeks ago — are more than offensive and had the potential to start real trouble.

And, while the 12 teenage girls took to the field for the traditional event with their faces painted black, parents and school officials just looked on from the bleachers.

"I thought, "Oh my gosh,'" Sullivan Principal Jennifer Schmidt told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I knew they didn’t mean anything by it, but, in hindsight, I should have made them wash it off and move on."

The seniors in blackface ended up defeating their opponents and later posed with the medals awarded for their victory.

In one of the two pictures, the all-female team is flanked by three young men, presumably Sullivan football players, who had no paint on their faces.

Schmidt said the girl who posted the incendiary photos was "mortified" that it had sparked outrage in some circles and attracted media attention.

In years past, girls taking part in the powder-puff game have painted their faces black and gold, which are the school colors, or worn eye black inspired by male football players.

According to Schmidt, on the day of the game the seniors brought with them only black face paint, so they decided to work with what they had.

The girls in question have not been reprimanded because, as Schmidt explained, they had no intention to offend anyone, or make a statement about race relations.

"They just weren't thinking," said the principal of the students' poor decision.

As a result of the controversy, Schmidt added, students will be prohibited from wearing any face paint in future games.