One of the most anticipated — or dreaded, depending on who you asked — events of All-Star Saturday night was a charity race in which NBA star-turned-broadcaster Charles Barkley beat 67-year-old NBA referee Dick Bavetta.
Though Barkley, who turns 44 on Tuesday, has gained weight exponentially since his playing career, he still had enough spring to outrun Bavetta over 3½ lengths of the court. Barkley nearly lost when he began running backward for the final feet, but tumbled over the half-court line just before Bavetta made a headfirst dive.
Barkley, whose gambling exploits have been well-documented, looked at the oversized check donated to charity for the event and commented it was “two blackjack hands.â€
