Let's get ready to stumble!

The Charles Barkley versus Dick Bavetta Race



And so in the end they stumbled indeed…

The much awaited race between Dick Bavetta and Charles Barkley which was held at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas to add more spice to the 56th NBA All Star weekend was 235 feet or three times and a half of the NBA standard basketball court.

The Sexagenarian NBA referee going head-to-head with the overweight NBA Legend Round Ball of Rebound in a footrace to determine who will cross the finish line first between them and earn the bragging rights over the other that was further hyped on for weeks by the NBA and TNT who made the much-anticipated race possible was a fun way to entertain oneself in this year’s star-studded event.

The contest got off with the Chuckster after two false starts leading the older referee for most of the way until the “thundering” finish that was heard all over Vegas to show the world and backed up his claims that he has still some gas left in his tank, donuts or no donuts in his system and avoid the embarrassment of eating his own words that there is no way, he at 44, be defeated by a 67- year old man in a footrace.

The race was not even close with Barkley, his longer strides and bigger legs behind him out-sprinted Dick Bavetta to the finish line but the consensus among the fans who watched them go at it is, in a longer race the 67- year old NBA referee will easily beat the younger Barkley hands down.

Still, you can never underestimate the competitive will of Sir Charles who hired 1968 Olympic Bronze Medalist John Carlos of the controversial Black Power salute fame (or notoriety depending on which side you're on) with Gold Medalist Tommie Smith in Mexico City almost four decades ago to train him specifically for this event that earned him a new moniker, the Black Rhino in obvious reference to his size and weight.

The biggest winner of course is not Charles Barkley but the Boys and Girls Club of Las Vegas who received $50 grand from the NBA and TNT for sponsoring the event.

Anyway, It was a nice way to spice up the NBA All Star Weekend and we should thank both guys for being a good sport and game enough to provide us with a hearty laugh and good entertainment. And I think Dick Bavetta deserves a rematch in a longer race next time.

They got game, indeed.


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