Greedy CBS accidentally leaks NCAA tournament bracket to Twitter

There were no surprises during CBS Sports' NCAA Tournament Selection Show — at least not if you were paying attention to your Twitter account.

The NCAA said Sunday night it is looking into how a copy of this year's March Madness tournament bracket got leaked online during the network's newly extended Sunday Selection show.

The bracket was being shared on Twitter about 20 minutes after the start of the two-hour broadcast, generating thousands of retweets just about the same time Charles Barkley was onscreen fumbling around with a touch screen monitor making his picks.

So all you Twitter followers already knew about the Syracuse inclusion and Monmouth snub before CBS had a chance to announce it on TV.

It's not clear who posted the tweet, which was labeled "Spoiler alert." The account used a Kansas logo as its avatar photo, with the name "Sarcastic Prick."  

The user later changed the name and protected the account, shortly before it appeared to be deleted and turned over to a different user.

"We go through great lengths to prevent the tournament field from being revealed early and the NCAA took its usual measures to protect this from happening," the NCAA said Sunday night in a statement. "Unfortunately, and regrettably, the bracket was revealed prior to our broadcast partners having the opportunity to finish unveiling it. We take this matter seriously and we are looking into it."

CBS declined comment about the first real upset of the tournament.

The revised broadcast drew wide criticism on social media for drawing out the selections and turning the highly anticipated show into a snooze fest. Some Kentucky players actually fell asleep during the show at the home of coach John Calipari. And others waiting for their draw found out about their matchups early as news of the leaked bracket went viral.

Other highlighted teams looked even less enthused.

At Notre Dame, coach Mike Brey said he got a text from his son, Kyle, a tight ends coach at Youngstown State, saying the leaked bracket showed the Irish playing the winner of the Michigan-Tulsa game in Brooklyn.

"I thought he was messing with me," Brey said. "So I just deleted it. Fifteen minutes later we show up, and then I found out we had a little leakage going on. Nothing's secure, huh? That's great. That is so typical. It's so typical of college basketball."

At Pitt, Sterling Smith set the Panthers at ease early during the selection show, sharing the leaked bracket that showed them as the 10th seed in the East Region. "We were wondering what we were going to do for that entire time. All of a sudden we knew rather quickly," said coach Jamie Dixon.

Xavier forward James Farr said he saw the leaked bracket on his phone while the Musketeers were still waiting to learn their seeding and opponent, but he didn't say anything to his teammates. "I didn't want to ruin anything," Farr said. "I thought it was somebody's prediction of the bracket."

It serves CBS right for holding the audience hostage for an extended hour while they tried to rake in the extra bucks from ad revenue.

Another example of sports trying to milk the cow dry but, ending up getting pinched on the teat.

Charles Barkley calls Ferguson rioters 'scumbags' (AUDIO)

Former NBA star Charles Barkley has never minced words when it comes to speaking his mind and once again, the Round Mound of Resound voiced his support for the grand jury that chose not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.

Barkley didn't hold back Tuesday when he addressed the controversy during a radio interview.

"There is no excuse for people to be out there burning down people's businesses, burning down police cars," he told Mike Missanelli of Philadelphia's 97.5 The Fanatic as he referred to the rioters as "scumbags." 

Barkley went on to commend police officers who work in black areas. 

"If it wasn’t for the cops we would be living in the Wild, Wild West in our neighborhoods," he said. 

"We can’t pick out certain incidentals that don’t go our way and act like the cops are all bad," he added.

 "Do you know how bad some of these neighborhoods would be if it wasn't for the cops?"

The TNT commentator, who retired from the NBA in 2000, also laid blame on the media for fanning the flames of violence in the wake of Michael Brown's shooting death in August.

"The true story came out from the grand jury testimony," he said. "I can’t believe anything I hear on television anymore.

"And, that’s why I don’t like talking about race issues with the media anymore, because they love this stuff, and lead people to jump to conclusions.

"The media shouldn’t do that. They never do that when black people kill each other."

Sounds like Barkley is doing a little fire stoking of his own.

Kenny Smith gets family reality TV show: Report

Putting yourself up to ridicule by pranksters Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley on TNT's Inside the NBA set is always fun and games — but bringing your whole family out, warts and all, on national television ... well, that might be another thing.

That's what former NBA star and current NBA analyst Kenny Smith is planning after it was reported that TBS green-lighted "The Smiths," a reality show in which Smith, his lovely actress/model wife, Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith (she's on "The Price Is Right"), and their blended family of five children ages 2 to 20 will appear in at least six episodes.

The series will be shot in Los Angeles and Atlanta and feature "conflicting parenting styles," "whirlwind schedules" and an "absolute madhouse"lifestyle  - "albeit a loving one," according to the show's press release.

The news release went on: "Kenny has just about everything he needs to be considered the Coolest Dad on Earth — everything that is except the ability to impress his own kids."

Sounds wacky. Throw in a loud sweater and you have a real-life version of the Huxtables. So maybe they should bring in Shaq and Sir Charles to give it it a little Bundy family edge.

"The Smiths'' is set to launch in the spring of 2015.

CNN shows Charles Barkley mugshot while he speaks about Donald Sterling (VIDEO)

CNN may want to update their photo image files — especially for some of their own.

The news network had TNT analyst Charles Barkley on the phone to discuss Clippers owner Donald Sterling's alleged racist remarks Saturday night. But as Barkley spoke, CNN used his mugshot from a 2008 DUI arrest on the TV screen, making the former NBA star appear slightly less credible as he gave his thoughts on the controversial owner.

CNN and TNT are both owned by Turner Broadcasting System, which means the only photo CNN could find of a fellow employee was a mugshot — making the error even more embarrassing.

Next time try using Google.

As for the outspoken Barkley's thoughts on Sterling, he said during halftime of the Pacers-Hawks game that this is the first big test for NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

"You can't have this guy making statements like that. He has to suspend him and fine him immediately...We can not have an NBA owner discriminating against a league that's...we're a black league," Barkley said.

Charles Barkley's first ever NYC subway ride is a hilarious commute (VIDEO)

Charles Barkley has been all over the world playing and covering basketball and once even arrived at a game via horseback. But, until Thursday, the 50-year-old Alabaman had never ventured into the New York City subway system.

Barkley decided to take the underground train from Manhattan to Brooklyn on his way to lend his colorful commentary to the nationally televised game between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets Thursday night. Accompanied by Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch and an NYPD cop, Barkley's entire commute was chronicled by the SI scribe in a must-read piece for those who love the Round Mound of Rebound.

Upon entering the Spring Street station, Barkley jokes, "If you never see me again tell my family I love them."

Nothing to worry about Charles, this is Bloomberg's New York.

Later, when asked by a fellow straphanger, "Who's gonna win, Brooklyn or the Knicks?" Barkley broke up his captive audience with, "It don't matter."

Suffice it to say, the former NBA star turned the E train into his own version of the Barkley's Center.

Charles Barkley arrives outside studio on high horse

Charles Barkley, who was recently voted the "favorite announcer" in a player's poll conducted by Sports Illustrated, celebrated winning the showdown by arriving outside TNT's "Inside the NBA" studio the only way they do it in Oklahoma— by horseback.

Even though Barkley is technically a studio analyst— and not an announcer— he rode in on his high horse and black hat to announce his arrival as the new sheriff in town.

While head-shaking fans outside the arena— before last night's Oklahoma City Thunder-San Antonio Spurs game— watched the greenhorn try to keep from falling off Gunner the horse, you can hear one of Barkley's co-hosts from the show, Ernie Johnson, urging the stallion to "just take off."

All that was missing from the scene was Clint Eastwood's squint and a tumble weed.

In the 124 player poll, Barkley beat out some of his contemporaries like Jeff Van Gundy, Steve Kerr, Reggie Miller and even the legendary Marv Albert.  Most satisfying to Barkley was probably besting his co-host and studio nemesis Shaquille O'Neal.  Sometimes there just ain't enough room in that there set for the both of them.

At least in the old west they had a hat big enough for Barkley's head and ego— the ten-gallon variety.

After seeing Barkley being guided around by like a four-year old getting a pony ride,  I think the Round Mound of Rebound should stick to studios not stables.

Shaq uses disturbing 'Flashdance' in training routine

While training for his "Shirt Off" competition with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal turned back the clock to 1983 and incorporated a famous scene from the movie "Flashdance" into his training routine.

The TNT basketball analyst released a video of himself being squirted down with a hose in a driveway while he sings the "Maniac" song from the movie.

Shaq tearing off his wife-beater and running in place is a little— no make that a lot— less appealing than the water soaked dance that Jennifer Beals made famous in the movie about a female welder who spends her nights dancing on stage in a steel mill city club.

Shaq and his co-host Barkley will unveil their bodies during Tuesday night's broadcast of "Inside the NBA" to show who is in better shape.  From the looks of this "Flashdance" parody and other videos of Shaq, the former NBA center looks pretty hard— at least compared to Barkley.

O'Neal's trainer Nikki Alexander has been working her student through a variety of workouts and was shown doing backflips off his stomach last week before turning on the hose and bringing back memories of torn sweatshirts over t-shirts, big hair and leg-warmers.

I'll never be able to listen to the song "What a Feeling" the same way ever again.

Charles Barkley says 'Knicks still stink'

Charles Barkley always seems happy to bash the New York Knicks and was at it once again on Thursday.  Speaking to WFAN in New York, the opinionated TNT analyst— who was critical of former-coach Mike D'Antoni's system— has not changed his opinion of the team— even with the winning ways of new coach Mike Woodson.

The Knicks have won six of their last eight games but that didn't keep Barkley's mouth shut.

"The Knicks still stink, dude," Barkley told the radio show hosts.  "They're not going anywhere [in the playoffs], they're gonna be one-and-done."

The Knicks are 33-29 and have clinched a playoff spot.  The rejuvenated team currently has the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and are three games behind the slumping Orlando Magic— who lost Dwight Howard for the rest of the season— for the No. 6 slot.

The Knicks would play the No. 2 seed Miami Heat if the playoffs started today.

"I don't dislike the Knicks," Barkley said.  "But they just don't have a good team.  I told you, they're the No. 7 seed.  You guys act like they're the No. 1 or 2 seed."

St. John's Gets Verbal Agreement From Top Forward Ricardo Gathers

St. John's head coach Steve Lavin hasn't let up in his quest to become the best college basketball recruiter in the nation.  Yesterday, Ricardo Gathers of Reserve, La., who was named 2011 Louisiana Mr. Basketball, gave a verbal commitment to play for the Red Storm.

Gathers, a 6-foot-7, 240 pound power forward whom his AAU coach, Scooter Owens,  called a cross between Charles Barkley and Karl Malone, chose the Red Storm over LSU, Baylor, Oregon, Kansas, Syracuse, California and Connecticut.

According to Rivals.com, the man-child Gathers is the 43rd top-rated player in his class and the 11th rated power forward.

The four-star recruit led his team, the Rebels, to their second straight Class A State Championship and has numerous videos on YouTube highlighting his thunderous slams.  Gathers has been called the most powerful dunker in high school.

Gathers is a man among boys.  He averaged 20.7 points, 16.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocked shots last season.

Lavin scored a big-time coup in getting the agreement from the highly-recruited Gathers.  The St. John's head coach, who is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer,  had the third-ranked recruiting class for the upcoming season.  Gathers is another major coup for Lavin in only his second year in New York.

"I picked St. John's because of the coaching staff," said Gathers. "I liked the way coach Lavin communicated with me throughout the process."

The senior broke a lot of hearts when he didn't pick local school LSU.

"I can't wait to play in New York," said Gathers.  "Watching the movie 'He Got Game' got me really excited about playing there."

Maybe Lavin should send videos of the Spike Lee to all future recruits.