Shaq Is A Powder Keg Ready To Explode, And Inside The NBA Is Must-Watch Comedy Right Now

Watch until 3:20.

On Monday night, Shaq threatened to knock Charles’ head off for hogging the spotlight. It was one of the funniest minutes of television in that we saw Ernie lose his typically unshakable composure and dissolve in laughter when Shaq said “it’s supposed to go 1-2-3, not 1-2-back to 1.” The TV-technicality of that complaint from Shaq is absurdly funny, and not something I ever imagined I would hear from one of the scariest players in NBA history. Griping about airtime the way we do at Barstool? From SHAQ? I guess once you get into broadcasting, you’re never immune to a little stage jealousy. I could watch Shaq pout about Charles hogging the spotlight all day.

Luckily, they went back into it last night. Watching Ernie enjoy himself is one of life’s great pleasures. He knows he can only poke the bear so much, so he tosses to Kenny at 2:59 instead of Charles because going to Charles might lead to all-out war. And that’s when Kenny says “don’t go to me first, I know when he ain’t playing no more.” So, at this point, we have Shaq looking like this:

Which means that somebody is about to die. Kenny knew it, Ernie knew it, but Charles Barkley might be the bravest/stupidest person in the entire world because he got one more shot in when he interrupted him at 3:15. We all wanted him to do something, and he did it. I fucking lost it.

It’s crazy how much this show elevates its game once the playoffs start. And crazy how lackluster the ABC and ESPN shows are by comparison. Paul Pierce? Chauncey Billups? Snoooooze fest. Oh well, the A team will be back Sunday night.

Don’t poke the bear.