Skip Bayless only has eyes for Charles Barkley as his next debate partner on “Undisputed.”
In fact, the outspoken host is so eager to land the TNT personality as a “permanent” staple on the FS1 show — which saw the departure of Shannon Sharpe last month — that he’s willing to pay Barkley’s salary to work with him.
“Charles Barkley would be my dream debate partner on ‘Undisputed,’” Bayless said on the latest installment of his self-titled podcast.
“I would dive out of bed every morning out here in Los Angeles at two o’clock in the morning to get to work with Charles.”
Bayless also noted that he began to ponder the idea of Barkley replacing Sharpe after learning the former NBA star called him a “damn idiot” a week prior during TNT’s coverage of “The Match.”
“Please, Charles, please come and please work with me, this ‘damn idiot.’ What a joy it would be to do battle every day with Charles Barkley live on television,” Bayless said.
Bayless then elaborated on his vision of the proposed idea.
“I could semi-retire. I could mail it in. I could, dare I say, actually have a life and forget about prepping so furiously hard night after night after night for every day’s ‘Undisputed,’” he said.
“All I’d have to do is let Charles go first and listen to him make a fool out of himself. I’d get to sit back and watch him walk himself right into an indefensible trap. I wouldn’t even have to try.
“So please, please, please, Charles, come be this damn idiot’s debate partner. Please let me annihilate you on a daily basis… Let me make barbecue chicken out of you as Shaq often says that he did, my man Shaq, of guys that tried to guard him.”
Bayless went on to compare Barkley to his former debate partners, Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith.
“You’d be a solo ‘Shaqtin’ a Fool’ on a daily basis. You’d be the equivalent of an Adam Morrison, an all-time [NBA] draft bust… This damn idiot would cherish working with you.”
Bayless then extended an “official offer” to Barkley to join him on the show as a “permanent debate partner.”
“Hey, they’d buy you out over my dead body. Heck, I would pay your salary to work with me.”
The host concluded his rant by asking Barkley to “please say yes.”
Barkley has yet to publicly address Bayless and respond to the offer.
It seems unlikely that Barkley would accept Bayless’ offer, though, as he’s taken ruthless jabs at Bayless in the media for years.
Barkley currently serves as co-host of TNT’s award-winning show, “Inside the NBA,” alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith.
The Basketball Hall of Famer agreed to a 10-year deal with TNT in October that is expected to be well into the nine-figure ballpark.
In addition to his sports broadcasting duties, Barkley will be hosting a show on CNN alongside Gayle King this fall.
Barkley will be talking politics on the show — titled “King Charles” after the NBA legend — which is slated to air Wednesdays on CNN.
As for Sharpe, who spent seven years across the desk from Bayless on “Undisputed’ prior to his June exit after the NBA Finals, he recently teased a morning TV return.
Since Sharpe’s departure, a few names have been thrown around as potential replacements, including former NFL running back LeSean McCoy and former ESPNer Keyshawn Johnson, who was part of the media giant’s latest round of layoffs.
“Undisputed” is set to return on Aug. 28.
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