A segue into what possible developments will come of Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals series, after discussing the Cavs' comeback victory over the Celtics on Tuesday [May 23], took an uncomfortable turn for Ernie, Kenny and the Inside The NBA audience, when their discussion was disrupted by yet another contentious dispute between Shaq and Charles Barkley.
Barkley and Shaq have gained a reputation for their roughhousing and often insulting exchanges, but the energy appeared to be taken up a notch higher than usual, after Shaq brought up his fellow Hall of Famer's lack of a championship ring. The vitriol that followed even prompted Ernie to ask how a simple disagreement about the Cavs/Celtics series could get so personal. Neither man seemed willing to let up though, as they continued on attempting to discredit one another by bringing up some of the arguments against each the other's claim to greatness.
The quarrel proceeded as follows:
Shaq: “You don’t want to mess around, Chuck? You have no idea what we’re talking about because you’ve only been to the Finals once.”
Barkley: “I wasn’t riding on Dwyane Wade and Kobe’s coattails.”
Shaq: “It doesn’t matter, Chuck. I got the same thing you got, and I passed you up 10 years ago.”
Barkley: “If I had been riding on Kobe’s coattails, and Dwyane Wade’s. And Alonzo Mourning’s too, I forgot about him. And Rick Fox.”
Shaq: “People question why you’re in the Hall of Fame anyway, bum.”
Ernie Johnson: “Why did that get so personal when we’re just talking about Game 5?”
Shaq: “No because Chuck’s always interrupting. Don’t interrupt me, Chuck, or I’m going to punch you right in your face, I’m telling you.”
Barkley: “If you hit me, we’re gonna be moving the furniture. I’m gonna throw one of these chicken wings at your fat a**.”
Source: youtube.com
