I woke up at 3:30 a.m. today, and couldn’t get back to sleep. So, as a sports nut, I tuned into Mike & Mike on ESPN, trying to get caught up on the latest sports news and happenings.

You may think that Microsoft’s best days are behind it, but the Redmond software titan is still in the lexicon when it comes to sports radio.

On two occasions during the show, Microsoft was brought up. The first instance occurred when the radio hosts were interviewing basketball great Charles Barkley, who was commenting about some of Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman’s recent outbursts.

Sherman, you may have heard, caused a stir when he appeared in front of media with a cardboard cut-out of teammate Doug Baldwin and criticized the NFL for its policies related to media and endorsements.

Barkley, the former NBA All-Star, took issue with Sherman’s remarks and said that professional athletes need to remember just how much money they are making.

“A guy who worked for Microsoft, he gets a nice check, but he don’t get the money that we jocks get,” said Barkley, who went on to say that he made more during two weeks in the NBA than many people make in a lifetime.

“I could have gotten a real job, but that would suck,” said Barkley, adding that Sherman needs to be careful when trying to “play the moral card.”

The second reference came later in the show when hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic continued to debate the Sherman incident, specifically how the NFL star complained about not being able to wear or talk about the headphones he prefers, Beats by Dre, at NFL games, practices and media events. The NFL struck a multi-million dollar deal with Beats rival Bose earlier this year.

Greenberg and Golic then discussed Steve Ballmer, and his recent pronouncement to get rid of iPads at the L.A. Clippers.

“One of the big issues now, how about with the Clippers?” noted Golic. “You know, all of those guys have iPads and now Ballmer with Microsoft he wants, forget that stuff. “Forget that Apple stuff,’ he’s saying.”

Greenberg replied.

“And that’s one of those deals where if your boss is insistent on it, you’re like: ‘Well, you know what, maybe I need to listen to him. He is the one cutting my check, and you go ahead and he can probably get you a good deal on that Microsoft (product) I would think so.”

One thing that didn’t come up: Microsoft’s own mega deal with the NFL to put Surface tablets on the sidelines. Nonetheless, Microsoft appears to be on the tip of the tongue in certain sports circles.