TBS's baseball studio show needs a touch of Charles

By Steve Springer Los Angeles Times Something is missing from the TBS baseball studio show. Something that could bring excitement, unpredictability, controversy. Something that could light the spark clearly missing when Cal Ripken and Dennis Eckersley, along with Curtis Granderson (division series) and Harold Reynolds (championship series) join host Ernie Johnson to analyze the plays, the players and the moves in the games of the day. Something that could lighten the analysis and sharpen the criticism. Only one Turner Sports broadcaster has that something, and he is nowhere in sight. Charles Barkley. Call it charisma, call it personality, call it camera savvy, Barkley has it. His warm belly laugh, needling wit, penetrating insight and searing criticism, encouraged by Johnson and enhanced by co-analyst Kenny Smith, the perfect... [read full story]