The NFL world is reckoning with policing and race relations after officers pulled wide receiver Tyreek Hill from his car and threw him to the pavement on Sunday. But Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley criticized Hill and members of the media on Monday for their reactions.
Miami-Dade cops pulled over Hill hours before Sunday’s game for a traffic violation. They claimed the Dolphins’ star was uncooperative, leading them to yank him from the car and place him in handcuffs. After the fracas, one officer was placed on administrative duty while several NFL players, including Hill, called for at least one of the cops to be fired.
Barkley said he isn’t sure Hill, who like the former NBA forward is Black, was a victim of racial discrimination. Instead, the “Round Mound of Rebound” criticized media coverage of the event.
“We got so many fools in the media who love to play the race card,” he said on Fox Sports 910 Phoenix. “I said, ‘Wait a minute; they just did the same thing to Scottie Scheffler.’”
Barkley was referring to an incident in May when officers detained top-ranked golfer Scheffler, who is White, just before the PGA Championship.
“The one thing you can’t do as a celebrity,” said Barkley, “you can’t say, ‘Do you know who I am?’ You say, ‘Yes, sir,’ cooperate 100%. … “I hate when we put stuff in the media and we let guys who race-bait start throwing things out there.”
Hill received citations for careless driving and a seatbelt violation. The eight-time Pro Bowler said he’s considering legal action, while officials from the Miami-Dade Police Department are conducting an internal investigation.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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