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Playing the Field: SNL takes on Rice, Rutgers scandal – Metro US

Playing the Field: SNL takes on Rice, Rutgers scandal

“Saturday Night Live” was particularly sports-heavy last night, with a spoof of the Rutgers scandal leading the way.

Host Melissa McCarthy (remembered fondly by most from “Bridesmaids,” but by me from “Gilmore Girls”) played fictional women’s basketball coach Sheila Kelly in an episode of “Outside the Lines.” Of course she was a take off on Rutgers head coach Mike Rice, who was fired for berating players, cursing them and literally kick their asses.

It’s above, just watch it.

“SNL” was really on its game with this one. I’m going with McCarthy throwing a toaster at her player as the highlight.

But the Rutgers and Mike Rice skit wasn’t the only one to feature a sports slant. Weekend Update tackled Charles Barkley’s complete lack of knowledge about the NCAA tournament and his gambling addiction.

The best line was about underdog (and Final Four loser) Wichita State.

“Wichita State? I didn’t even know Wichita was a state?” Barkley said. “Did you know Wichita State didn’t have no witches in it? It cost me 50 grand.”

I’m surprised “SNL” went in that direction since the “Barkley is clueless” slant is very insider sports. It was great stuff for a sports fan.

The “Michael Jordan is the Michael Jordan of gambling” line was also excellent though it fell a little flat without a sports-oriented audience. Still, great night of sports humor from “Saturday Night Live.”

Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports. Great cameo by Jay Pharaoh as an Eric Murdock clone too.