Charles Barkley To Return To TNT Soon After All-Star Game

Barkley Has Been Absent From TNT Since His December Arrest On Suspicion Of Drunk Driving

TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley will return "soon after Sunday's NBA All-Star Game, though the network has not picked a specific date," according to John Ourand in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Barkley has been on a leave of absence from the net since his December 31 arrest on suspicion of drunk driving. Turner Sports President David Levy: "He is going to continue to remain on a leave of absence through the All-Star Game. He will not be part of our All-Star Weekend festivities. ... The question is, when is the right time to bring him back? There is no magic answer to that" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/9 issue). Barkley: "Clearly, I made a mistake drinking and driving. And I'm getting penalized for that, and rightfully so" (Lakeland LEDGER, 2/6).

COMPANY LINE: In Philadelphia, John Gonzalez writes ESPN in its decision to suspend Scott Van Pelt from his radio show "raised questions about its independence." Van Pelt last week made comments about MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's salary and referred to him as a "pimp for real." Gonzalez questions if the net was "planning to suspend Van Pelt before Selig asked to speak with him or did ESPN decide to take action thereafter in an attempt at belated damage control?" ESPN VP/PR Josh Krulewitz: "There's a separation between our business relationships and our news coverage." But Gonzalez writes if that is true, "why was Van Pelt suspended almost a week after making those comments?" Gonzalez: "ESPN botched this. Regardless of what you think of the 'pimp' stuff, people will now openly wonder about the network's analysis. Are the opinions expressed unfiltered and honest, or are they muted in order to avoid offending MLB, the NBA, or any of the other leagues that ESPN pays to broadcast?" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/10).