Barkley beats NBA ref in footrace for charity
44-year-old former star nearly loses when he begins running backward
 | Referee Dick Bavetta, center, and former basketball player Charles Barkley, right, both take a tumble at the conclusion of the Bavetta/Barkley Challenge on Saturday. Barkley won the race. |
Kevork Djansezian / AP |
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LAS VEGAS - 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.”
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