Charles Barkley Right to Diss Bryant Gumbel for Moronic Slavery Statement

Bryant Gumbel made one of the most idiotic statements imaginable in calling David Stern a plantation overseer, and right on cue, a never-shy Charles Barkley rightfully put things into perspective.

According to USA Today, Barkley said of the comments, "I thought they were stupid, disrespectful to black people who went through slavery. When (you're talking about) guys who make $5 million a year."

It's not often that this happens, but Barkley is spot on. Gumbel could have called Stern maniacal, a tyrant, sadistic or a number of choice words that indicate the disdain he has for the commissioner. Plantation overseer is not a phrase that is fitting or appropriate.

He's not the first idiot with a platform to use the slavery-sports metaphor either. Adrian Peterson said the NFL was "like modern-day slavery." Rashard Mendenhall later concurred.

It's time to give people a history lesson. Slavery was awful. This may not seem like jaw-dropping news to some, but somewhere along the line some people seem to have lost the truth in what should be a redundant statement.

Millionaires temporarily out of work aren't in the same circumstances as slaves were. Barkley is right to say that it's disrespectful to people who had to go through slavery.

In no way is going through a battle between employees and a giant corporation—which is commonplace in our society—like slavery.

Stern is a lot of things, but a plantation overseer? Please.

Nobody feels sorry for NBA athletes. We're in a recession, there are plenty of people who aren't millionaires who are getting laid off or in the middle of a labor dispute.

Even the poverty-stricken population of Americans struggling to find work have it better than slaves. It's bizarre that this is even up for debate. Chuck hit the nail on the head. The comments are stupid.