Barkley cites double standard in LeBron, Manning handshake controversies

The comedy team of Charles Barkley and Howard Eskin took to the airwaves once again on Tuesday on Eskin’s radio show on WIP in Philadelphia, and once again they did not disappoint. What’s sticking in Barkley’s craw this week? Peyton Manning, of course. It occurs to Charles that the media “is giving a pass” to Manning for failing to shake hands with Drew Brees following the Super Bowl, whereas LeBron James “was crucified” for the same thing in the NBA Playoffs last season. This cannot stand!

“They are now just now starting to talk about Peyton walking off the field. Personally I don’t think they should have to shake these guys’ hands, but I don’t believe in double standards. I felt like they were crucifying LeBron last year and Peyton is getting a pass. Like I said I don’t care either way because I do think it is the team who won the championship. It is their time… Players don’t worry about crap like that.”

Audio here.
As we see here, the Mannings have always had star-crossed relationships when it comes to handshakes, although this diss, involving Eli and Tom Brady, was of the pre-game variety.
Barkley kind of has a point, I guess. Although there was a lot of chatter concerning Manning’s no show at the middle of the field on Sunday, the criticism wasn’t, for the most part, heated. But remember Jay Mariotti’s evisceration of James following the Cavs’ loss to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference finals in May of last year?

“The least James can do, while thrusting his commercial ambitions in America’s face every other TV timeout, is be a man and congratulate Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic instead of blowing out of Amway Arena without even a nod to the Eastern Conference champions.”

But Manning has been taken to task by a few fans. A comment on the Footballs Future.com message board following the game:

I do not really care what people say about the ”mob scene” after the game ….Manning made a B line strait for the locker room…did not even attempt to shake anyones hand…his excuse is a LIE…he has no class…this is the NFL MVP…the ”BEST OF ALL TIME”…with those security guards …he coulda went out sucked it up…shook Drew and Seans hands then bounced…IT WOULD NOT IN ANY WAY HAVE IMPACTED ”DREWS TIME TO SHINE”…SO…LeBron James can get dogged for not shaking hands…and PEYTON MANNING this is not any different…This was classless.

But then there’s this, from the Boston Globe:

Manning handled himself like a pro after the handshake incident (if you even want to call that an incident). He ran into Darren Sharper on the way out of his postgame press conference and congratulated him profusely, shaking his hand and giving a little half hug.

Our findings: LeBron did seem to get more criticism for his non-gesture than did Manning. But why Barkley cares is the more interesting topic; here is a man, after all, who shook hands with the cops who arrested him for DUI. He clearly places a lot of importance on these matters.
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Manning , Wayne skipped post-game handshakes [Pro Football Talk]
LeBron should shake hands, consider news team [AOL Fanhouse]
Charles Barkley: “I think the NBA should consider contracting” [Sports Radio Interviews]