Shaq, Charles, Kenny, and who?

If you've been watching the NBA playoffs on TNT, which I think is short for Turner Network Television, (I'm pretty sure it doesn't have anything to do with the high explosive type TNT -- sometimes their programming has about as much pop as a sparkler in the rain), then you've seen the "panel". That's the 4 guys that analyze a whole bunch of stuff before the games start, after each quarter, and when the game is all over.

It consists of Charles Barkley, other former NBA players Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal, and some white dude that serves as the "moderator". I have no idea what that guy's name is, nor do I care. He never played the game and just blathers on like moderators do with useless sound bytes while directing the verbal traffic amongst the other three. I suspect he could disappear entirely from that panel and not only would nobody notice, but the conversation would get a whole lot more interesting.

Well, maybe. Kenny Smith talks a lot, but it seems he's always looking for a way to take a jab at Barkley. For whatever reason, Smith comes across as an inferior personality type looking to snipe at those he is jealous of. It's like he's always got something to prove. Meanwhile, Barkley sits back, listens, and often has to stifle a grin.

At that, Barkley just won an Emmy for the second year in a row, for being the best on-air TV sports personality. The moderator couldn't wait to repeat that every chance he got. This is what moderators do. To his credit, Shaq politely clapped every time. Barkley was humble about it and said the right things. He couldn't have done it without the excellence of the hard working people behind the cameras that he so enjoyed working with. Though maintaining proper decorum, Kenny seemed to take the news like someone kept reminding him his wife just snatched half his NBA pension in divorce court. Let's just say he didn't look overly thrilled at Charles' latest honor.

But if the moderator was deleted, then what would happen? Kenny would yap even more. Barkley would have to fill more air time -- and that's not his forte. Despite his wise-cracks galore, Barkley's never really been one to carry a conversation. Besides being able to laugh at himself (an admirable trait indeed), his strong point seems to be saying a lot with just a few words.

To be sure, when it comes Barkley's turn to talk on the "panel", the man shows amazing insight into the game. When they dial up the replays, he'll point out things I dare say Kenny, and most certainly the moderator and average fan, didn't notice.

While congrats are in order for Sir Charles scoring another Emmy, yours truly thinks another award should be in order. A statuette, to be presented to Shaq. After all, that's pretty much what he is on that program. A statue. When everybody else is done talking, the moderator will finally look at Shaq expecting him to contribute something worthwhile to the discussion.

Thing is, when it comes to being profound, it might be fair to say Shaq's words of wisdom are usually about as deep as a kiddie pool -- for chihuahua puppies.

Then again -- maybe he's still thinking about how he fell into the financial windfall of those Buick commercials. You've seen them and, like Barkley once pointed out, you'll never see Shaq getting into or out of that car. He's either outside standing next to it -- or crammed into it, talking about how comfortable and stylish it is. If memory serves me correctly, Wilt Chamberlain once did Volkswagen "beetle" commercials much the same way.

I didn't buy it then, and I ain't buying it now.

RIP Wilt, but I still get a huge kick out of Sir Charles.

Needs a little work on his golf swing, though.