‘Inside The NBA’ analyst Charles Barkley took the time to criticize those who have criticized Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark in recent days.
Barkley was reacting to a tweet from LeBron James, advising Clark to “put on blinders” when it comes to backlash or hate from the public.
The analyst agreed and took time before the start of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks to respond to Clark’s criticism.
“You women are all mean, man,” Barkley began.
“Hey, LeBron, you’re absolutely right that these girls hate Caitlin Clark. You’re all mean girls.”
Charles Barkley criticized what he called ‘mean women’ who criticized Caitlin Clark
Clark is still in her rookie season, but she is already attracting more and more attention to the WNBA.
‘I hope men are mean because we are the most insecure group in the world.
‘Everyone should think about that girl for getting them private charters. All the money in visibility she brings to the WNBA. Don’t be petty like the guys.
‘Listen, what she has achieved, give her her flowers. Stop being mean, all women. She got all of you ** letters.
‘She brings everyone this money to the table. But you all are petty as guys.
‘Lebron, you are absolutely right. Girls, stop being petted. Caitlin Clark, thank you for bringing all that money and shine to the WNBA.
Draymond Green, who was at the desk, joked that Clark’s detractors “are going to hate you even more now, Chuck.”
Barkley responded, ‘Listen, they can’t do anything to me.’ You may hate me, but that mailman better be at my damn house on the 1st and the 15th, probably alluding to a biweekly payment schedule.
Clark’s rise in popularity in college has carried over to the professional ranks and she is widely credited with an increase in attention to the WNBA.
But this comes with a number of people who have criticized that increase because of Clark’s skin color and what some call “a nice privilege.”
Jemele Hill said some of Clark’s success is “problematic” in an interview with the LA Times
Sunny Hostin insisted Caitlin Clark’s popularity comes from ‘pretty white privilege’
On an episode of The View, contributor Sunny Hostin said she thinks Clark was much more marketable because she’s more relatable, meaning she’s white, straight, and benefits from “nice privilege.”
“I think there’s something called beautiful privilege,” Hostin said. ‘There is a thing called white privilege. There is something called great privilege and we have to recognize it.’
“And part of it has to do with race because if you think about the Brittney Griners of the world, why did she have to go play in Russia? Because they wouldn’t pay her,” she said of the WNBA.
He continued: “Now, Caitlin Clark is bringing this money, we hope, these sponsorships to the league, and other players will benefit from it.” But I do think it’s easier to relate to her because she’s white, because she’s attractive, and unfortunately there’s still that stigma against the LGBTQ+ community.
Jemele Hill, former SportsCenter host and current Atlantic writer, has a similar opinion, telling the LA Times: “We would be very naive if we didn’t say that race and his sexuality played a role in his popularity.”
‘While so many people are happy for Caitlin’s success, including the players; “This has had a huge impact on the game; there’s a bit of it that’s a bit problematic because of what it says about the value and marketability of the players that are already there.”
Hill continued: ‘It’s not jealousy. It’s simply the fact that in our society, black women are often written out of the picture.
“While Caitlin Clark’s success should be widely celebrated, there are several points where we have seen dynamic phenomena and how they have been able to popularize the game. It’s just that, for some reason, it could be race, it could be gender, it could be a myriad factors, they were missing that same marketing muscle that seems very intentional to make sure Caitlin Clark is a superstar.
Two-time league MVP A’ja Wilson called Clark’s career a “huge thing” for marketing
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson expressed similar sentiments when it came to Clark following an announcement about the latter’s signature shoe.
‘I think it’s something huge. “I think a lot of people might say it’s not black and white, but for me it is,” Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson said when asked in an interview with the Associated Press about the element. racial in Clark’s popularity and before. He recently signed two major endorsement deals.
“It’s really because you can be great at who you are as a black woman, but maybe that’s something people don’t want to see.
‘They don’t see you as marketable, so it doesn’t matter how hard you work. No matter what we all do as black women, we are still going to be swept under the rug. That’s why my blood boils when people say it’s not about race, because it is.
