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Barkley: Oklahoma 'no place for black people'

Governor says ex-NBA star 'doesn’t know what he’s talking about'

Image: Charles BarkleyNBAE/Getty Images file
Former NBA star Charles Barkley, right, was criticized Friday for saying Oklahoma was "no place for black people."

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry blasted Charles Barkley on Friday after the former NBA star said the state was “no place for black people.”

“Obviously, Charles Barkley doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Henry said in a statement. “Anyone who follows Barkley knows he’s notorious for saying ridiculous things that have no basis in fact, and this case is a perfect example.”

Barkley, now a TNT analyst, made his comments during a discussion about New Orleans Hornets rookie Chris Paul on the network’s All-Star selection show.

“The Oklahoma Sooners and the Hornets are the only brothers in town,” Barkley said.

Barkley also teased Paul, asking if he had chickens and cows in his yard.

The Hornets temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City this season following the damage to New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina. Last month, the NBA announced that the Hornets will play 35 games in Oklahoma City and six in New Orleans in 2006-07.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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