The NBA playoffs have been wildly entertaining so far. Most of the series have been competitive, and fans have even been treated to a couple of game 7s. Now, the conference finals are set, and the hectic workload that NBA analysts have been put through is dying down a bit.
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TNT's most popular analyst apparently used the lightened workload to hammer out an extension, according to Sports Illustrated. Charles Barkley had been on the fence about whether or not he wanted to continue working on Inside the NBA beyond his current contract, which ends after next season. However, network executives apparently took Chuck out to dinner and changed his mind.
If you're thinking, "that must have been an incredibly nice dinner," then you're right on the money. Turner execs reportedly spent north of $1,700 on dinner with Barkley, and that was just for the wine and the tequila that the group drank.
According to SI:
"Prior to the in-person meeting, a six-hour Italian feast featuring two magnums of 2009 Bond Estates St Eden Napa Valley Red, two bottles of 1942 Don Julio tequila and plates of pasta and meatballs - the Turner management group had gathered to determine a game plan on how to keep the Inside the NBA crew for the long-term."
Barkley later spoke about how easy the negotiations were.
"My agent never got involved," Barkley said. "That's how much respect I have for David. David bought two bottles of wine, two bottles of tequila and we killed them. The money at this stage of my life does not matter. At this stage of my life, I'm not concerned about money. I shook David's hand and said, 'We got a deal.' I told my agent, 'We are not haggling or negotiating. Do the deal.'"
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