Watch Charles Barkley come to the defense of Doug Gottlieb

CBS analyst Doug Gottlieb caused a lot of Internet outrage Thursday night over his comment at the start of that night’s NCAA tournament coverage.

Gottlieb was on a panel with four African American men, and when he was introduced by host Greg Gumbel, he said, “Cream rising to the crop. I don’t know why you guys asked me, I’m just here to bring diversity to the set here. Give the kind of white man’s perspective on things from the point guard position.�

Whoops. Fellow analyst Greg Anthony made a face after hearing the comment, and Barkley and Kenny Smith laughed awkwardly.

Gottlieb later apologized for the statement, saying “It was not a smart thing to say and I apologize.�

So, the guy went for a joke, it bombed, and he apologized. But that didn’t stop a great deal of negative reaction on Twitter, with many people calling on Barkley to set Gottlieb straight.

And, later that night, Barkley interrupted the panel’s analysis of the LaSalle-Wichita State game to set someone straight. But it wasn’t Gottlieb.

“I know this has nothing to do with the game; I want to say something about Doug Gottlieb,� Barkley said. “He made a joke earlier tonight and people are going crazy. All those idiots on Twitter, which I would never ever do. Listen, me, Kenny and Greg Anthony and Greg Gumbel did not take that personally. So all you people at home who’ve got no life and are talking bad about Doug Gottlieb, get a life. It’s over with. It’s no big deal.�

And with that, a lot of the commentary on Twitter stopped. After all, taking on Doug Gottlieb is one thing, but no one wants to mess with Charles Barkley.

ALSO:

Kings’ Matt Greene could return in late April

Doug Gottlieb apologizes for “white man’s perspective� comment

Alex Rodriguez to make more money than entire Houston Astros roster