NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley took a stand against the name of a Washington sports team, calling it “stupid,” and no, it’s not the Washington Redskins.
The co-host of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” was in the middle of the panel discussion, and began listing the best teams in the Eastern Conference. “Chicago and Cleveland, they’re the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. Then I think you’ve got the Bullets…”
“The Bullets?” One of his co-hosts asked incredulously. The Washington Bullets changed their name to the Wizards in 1997.
“The Bullets. I told you man, I’m not calling them the Wizards,” Barkley said. “That’s stupid.” (RELATED: Charles Barkley: ‘Unintelligent’ Blacks ‘Brainwashed’ To Keep Successful Black Men Down)
The Washington Bullets changed their name to avoid unfortunate connotations, given the high murder rate in Washington D.C. in the ’80s and ’90s. But Barkley said, “The only crooks in D.C., they’re in Congress.”
[h/t Washington Post]