Charles Barkley and New York have never been on the best of terms. The Hall of Famer hasn’t minced words about his disdain for the city. “Y’all ain’t that good in New York,” he famously quipped, targeting not just the city’s sports teams but the entire “overrated” vibe of the Big Apple. Yet, in a surprising twist, the 61-year-old was spotted in New York recently. What was Chuck doing in a place he’s never been shy about roasting?

According to an X user named Jord, Barkley was at Steele Hall, catching the Fredonia Blue Devils hockey team in action. The unexpected visit didn’t go unnoticed, as fans quickly surrounded him for selfies. Musical artist Tolan Morgan even shared a picture with Barkley on social media, confirming the rare sighting. Jord captioned his post: “Charles Barkley is in Steele Hall watching the high-flying Blue Devils hockey team.”

However, Fredonia’s hockey team isn’t exactly flying high right now. Before tonight’s game, the Blue Devils had hit a rough patch, losing four out of their last five games. Their latest defeat came in the Championship Game against Lake Forest, where they suffered a brutal 4-0 loss. Not exactly the kind of performance you’d expect to lure someone like Barkley to the arena. Nevertheless, the Chuckster’s presence might have helped the Blue Devils win 2-0 vs Plattsburgh State.

So, what’s the deal? Barkley, who is a big hockey fan, hasn’t revealed any ties to the Blue Devils. And let’s not forget his long-standing disdain for New York sports and the city itself. Maybe the “overrated” Big Apple finally offered something worth his time—or maybe it’s just another classic Barkley curveball.

Charles Barkley continues to slam NY and its teams

Last year, Charles Barkley went on a rant during an Inside the NBA episode. Barkley started off his rant by saying he doesn’t care who wins each game. He then contradicted himself by saying he wanted to see the NY Knicks get stomped out of the playoffs.

“People think we care who wins,” Barkley said about the Indiana Pacers-New York Knicks semifinal matchup. “If the Knicks win, that’ll be good. I don’t care who wins. But I’ll tell you what: I would love to see they [expletive] get stomped by the Celtics, that’d be great. I’m just saying, whoever wins this series gonna get stomped by the Celtics.” he declared. But he didn’t stop there.

Barkley’s rant took a sharp turn toward New Yorkers themselves. “Y’all think y’all the greatest thing since sliced bread,” he said, adding, “Y’all ain’t that good in New York. Come on man, you’re overrated.”

However, this was not the only time he again hunted NY fans. Just before the WNBA Finals, Barkley joined Throwbacks and predicted the Minnesota Lynx would crush the New York Liberty. However, in the end, the Liberty got their first championship with a decisive 67-62 Game 5 victory. Guess the tides are turning now.