San Antonio River Authority fires back at Charles Barkley





Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left) and San Antonio Express-News columnist Roy Bragg take in the sights on the Museum Reach section of the San Antonio River on Monday, May 28, 2012. The San Antonio River Authority responded Friday regarding a rant from NBA commentator and basketball hall-of-famer Charles Barkley, in which he referred to our “dirty creek.” SARA, in a press release, defends the San Antonio River, and the River Walk, touting its many accomplishments.Basketball legend and TNT studio host Charles Barkley (left) and San Antonio Express-News columnist Roy Bragg take in the sights on the Museum Reach section of the San Antonio River on Monday, May 28, 2012. less The San Antonio River Authority responded Friday regarding a rant from NBA commentator and basketball hall-of-famer Charles Barkley, in which he referred to our “dirty creek.” SARA, in a press release, ... more Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 132 Caption Close San Antonio River Authority fires back at Charles Barkley 1 / 132 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio River Authority released a response Friday regarding a rant from NBA commentator and basketball hall-of-famer Charles Barkley, who fired off his usual barrage of verbal rounds aimed at San Antonio, particularly at what he called our “big ol' women” and our “dirty creek.”

Barkley's tired, unfunny pea-brained bit was voiced on national television Tuesday night on TNT for the Spurs matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers. To the jabs of Barkley, who never won an NBA championship, SARA, in a press release, defends the San Antonio River, and the River Walk, touting its many accomplishments.

SARA assures Barkley that the San Antonio River is not just the River Walk, with its many restaurants and hotels. Major projects such as the Mission Reach and Museum Reach, which were completed in recent years, make it so much more.

“The problem with Charles Barkley's recent comments about the San Antonio River is that they are less accurate than his golf swing,” SARA general manager Suzanne Scott said in the release. “But, we take his comments with good humor and are glad to have the opportunity to set the record straight.”

The Mission Reach alone meant the restoration of more than 330 acres of native riparian land, the planting of more than 23,000 young trees, and the addition of more than 15 miles of hike-and-bike trails and 8 miles of paddling trail, SARA says.

When you include the Museum Reach, the section north of downtown, the total length of the River Walk stretches nearly 16 miles, and now includes more than 25 miles of hike-bike trails, according to SARA.

That amounts to 2,000 acres of public park land. In comparison, SARA argues, that's more acres than New York City's Central Park, which totals about 840 acres.

SARA says also that Barkley, who never won an NBA championship, is in the minority when it comes to his disparaging comments about our river.

Often, our River Walk is visited by dignitaries from other cities worldwide.

In 2010, SARA was invited by the World Bank to speak about our river in New Delhi and Chennai, India. In 2012, SARA was invited to speak about our river at the World River Forum in Deagu, South Korea, and at the World Canals Conference & World Canal Cities Expo in Yangzhou, China.

According to SARA, 11.5 million people visit the River Walk annually, which yields $3.1 billion to the local economy.

Sounds like a lot more than just a “dirty creek.”