Charles Barkley took issue Thursday night with new NCAA president Charlie Baker’s plan to address concerns about name, image and likeness (NIL) agreements in college athletics.
Baker spoke with CBS announcers Greg Gumbel and Clark Kellogg and said that one of the topics he would address is «consumer protection» for student-athletes and families around NIL. She said she would «love to create transparency and accountability» around NIL to educate those looking to make deals.
Baker said he plans to talk to lawmakers in Washington about NIL and potentially allow politicians to get involved. Barkley specifically opposed working with politicians.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker speaks during a June 16 commemoration at Nubian Square in Boston on June 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
«Did he say we’re going to ask the politicians to help us? Look, that already pisses me off. Our politicians are horrible people. Since I spoke to Clark earlier because I asked him about your conversation, I actually to the people who really care They care about basketball.
«I would make a committee. I would love to have Clark on the committee. Get some coaches, get some players and let’s try to figure this out. We can’t ask these politicians for anything. Those people are horrible people.» Democrats and Republicans, they’re all crooks.»
Earlier Thursday, University of Notre Dame director of athletics Jack Swarbrick told Sports Illustrated that without stricter rules and regulations on NIL, and if student-athletes are considered employees, the NCAA could splinter.
NOTRE DAME AD SAYS NCAA COULD SPLIT WITHOUT STRONGER NIL RULES: ‘WE HAVE TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER’
Former basketball player Charles Barkley cheers on the Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena on March 4, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
Swarbrick said the NIL spending is creating division among schools.
«If we can’t start to get to where we can make rational decisions like those and enforce them, the future will be more than just an athletic partnership. I can assure you of that,» Swarbrick told SI.
«We have to get our act together as college athletes and do the things that we can do. We keep implying that we can’t address name, image and likeness. Of course we can,» he continued. «We can do it in ways that require reporting on transactions, that require that there be transactions. We have to embrace that rather than have others fix it for us.»
Former Auburn Tigers basketball player Charles Barkley after their game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neville Arena on March 4, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Additionally, Swarbrick and Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins co-authored a New York Times opinion piece calling for rules and regulations surrounding NIL.
Fox News’ Joe Morgan contributed to this report.