Charles Barkley gets shoutout at American Century Championship amidst Jerry Rice drama

STATELINE, NV -- Charles Barkley was heralded by the American Century Championship golf tournament organizers as one of the event's show-stealers of Day 1 on July 12, along with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown; all while Jerry Rice made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Barkley got the special shoutout in a press release after finishing T48 after the first round. Brown finished T8.

"Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen had three birdies and an eagle to grab a one-point lead over Mardy Fish after the first round of the American Century Championship on Friday," the press release read. "But it was former NBA great Charles Barkley and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown who stole a piece of the limelight at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course."

Rice, on the other hand, got the biggest chunk of the limelight at the star-studded event, sticking up for his San Francisco 49ers and threatening two Kansas City-based reporters who asked if he felt Patrick Mahomes’ wide receivers this year were “good enough to win another Super Bowl," per The New York Post.

The two reporters felt they weren't in the wrong in asking.

“We meant absolutely no disrespect to Jerry or the 49ers when asking this question,” they said

Charles Barkley the perennial highlight of American Century Championship

Sir Charles is set to retire from pro basketball broadcasting once the NBA leaves Turner Sports, but he'll always have an invite to the American Century Championship. Barkley, who had by far the worst odds of anyone in the field coming into the tournament, easily stole headlines looking massively improved in his golf swing.

The tournament needs Chuck. And that's massively impressive for the former Auburn and NBA superstar considering how exclusive this event is.

“I can’t tell you how many people that will text me, or ask me, ‘How do I get in?’” said Kathryn Tappen, a tournament regular and reporter for NBC Sports (h/t Front Office Sports).

“It’s a very challenging process,” NBC Sports executive Jon Miller said. “We have a group of people who work on this year-round, and they’re constantly out there looking for new names.”

Barkley is the centerpiece in western Nevada and eastern California's biggest party on Lake Tahoe year after year. As he continues to find success in each new venture, he'll always have Edgewood Tahoe to entertain.