Charles Barkley, one of the greatest basketball players to come from Alabama, once watched another Alabaman, DeMarcus Cousins, in a high school game. Barkley told reporters afterward he was disappointed in the young prospect.
Cousins then went to Kentucky, where he starred as a freshman. He turned professional after one season, but Barkley said Cousins wasn't ready.
Once in the NBA, the Kings suspended Cousins, and Barkley stuck up for then-Sacramento coach Paul Westphal, who also coached Barkley with the Suns.
It appears Cousins takes any Barkley criticism personally, typically ignoring the Round Mound of Rebound whenever the two are near.
Cousins responds as if Barkley is standing directly in front of him whenever it is mentioned that Barkley thinks the cold shoulder is not merited.
"I have no respect for you and I never will. We have nothing to talk about. So, yes, every time we see each other, there will never be words."
Barkley said he wishes he understood why Cousins holds such a grudge against him. He acknowledges that when Cousins was in high school, he went down to see him in a state playoff game. As Barkley remembers it, Cousins complained to referees incessantly, fouled out and picked up a couple of technical fouls in the process.
"I made a very conscious effort not to be too hard on him," Barkley said, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report. "I said he had a chance to be really good; I just told the reporters afterward that I was a little disappointed. Since then, I've also said he could be the best big man in the game if he'd just grow up. He's never had a strong coach that held him accountable. I wish he'd had a Pat Riley or Gregg Popovich or George Karl or Doc Rivers that would've held his feet to the fire."
Daly's Ryder take
John Daly said earlier this week in Turkey that Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods should captain the United States at the next Ryder Cup, and didn't believe a task force would resolve America's losing streak.
Following Europe's third straight victory at Gleneagles in September, the PGA of America chose a task force of 11 people, including Mickelson and Woods, to try to find answers to ending two decades of European dominance. A timetable or agenda wasn't announced, but picking the next captain was put off to next year.
"I don't know where they're going with a task force, I really don't, as they should just go ahead and pick a captain," Daly said after opening the Turkish Airlines Open with a round of 69 on Thursday.
"Phil Mickelson should be the next captain and play at Hazeltine. Phil seems to thrive on Ryder Cup competition, does well when he plays. He knows everything about the Ryder Cup, so maybe it should be him or Tiger who should be the next captain.
"We've had playing captains over the years, so why not in 2016?"
Daly, a two-time major winner who has never played in the Ryder Cup, believed he could contribute to America's cause.
"I know I will never be a captain, but it would be fun and an experience if I could be involved in some way, as I could keep the guys loose and ensure they have a bit of fun," he said.
"It's not rocket science why the European team has been winning, and it doesn't need a task force to work it out."
QUIZ
What city in Alabama was DeMarcus Cousins born?
ANSWER
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Sports on 11/15/2014