Subscribe Feed (RSS)A lot of people are screaming for his hide right now. But for me, this is just Charles Barkley being Charles Barkley. By now, don’t we all know he’s not exactly Mr. Perfect? He’s a gambler, a carouser, a drinker and a guy who stays out late enough to find trouble once in a while. Is that news to anyone? It certainly shouldn’t be. His track record is clearly established and he did warn us all several years ago that he wasn’t a role model.
But does that make him any less effective in his job as the jokester on TNT trying to explain the nuttiness of the NBA to us? And really, does it matter much what he does on a night off in Arizona?
I have to tell you, though. I’m biased here. Several years ago, when Steve Brandon, Kerry Eggers, Jim Etzel and some trusting souls at Nike were trying to get the Oregon Sports Awards off the ground, we were desperate for a “name” to help draw attention to the show. Kerry took a chance and called Charles to see if he could help us out.
Barkley said, “Sure — but I hate flying commercial, could you get me a charter somehow?” Harvey Platt of Platt Electric was kind enough to make those plane arrangements for us — as long as Charles would agree to a couple of Harvey’s employees going along for a chance to meet their favorite player.
Well, Charles said, “Great — love to have some company on the flight.” Bottom line, the fans enjoyed being regaled by Barkley on the flight and the guy came to Portland and did a sensational job of speaking at the show, signing autographs and giving every interview he was asked to give. He was delightfully charming.
For free. Just the plane ride up here. The Oregon Sports Awards have since taken off and become a real sports happening and I’ve always felt we owe Charles a lot for his help. So that’s part of the reason I’ll cut him some slack here.
Besides, I can’t help myself — I just like the guy.
Tags: Charles Barkley, Dwight Jaynes, Harvey Platt, Jim Etzel, Kerry Eggers, Oregon Sports Awards, Steve Brandon
When will America realize that professional athletes are entertainers, and Barkley, being so far removed from actually being an athlete, is an entertainer.
Would anyone seriously ask Robert Downey Jr. to stop making movies because of his numerous arrests for drugs and alcohol? I think not. So why not cut Sir Charles a little slack here? Get over yourself, America, and quit putting professional athletes on a pedestal.
If they fire Barkley, they might as well cancel the show on TNT. I had the privledge of meeting Charles Barkley in 1991 when he played for Philly. The Sixers were in town a day or two early to play the Blazers and they practiced at the athletic club I worked for. There were a lot of kids around after the practice wanting autographs and pictures and Charles made sure to accomodate every single one of them. Not only did he sign autographs and pose for pictures, he played with the kids. He bowled with them and shot hoops. The best part was that he enjoyed it. He’s a genuine guy from what I could tell. I don’t think he should be fired for what he did. Don’t get me wrong, nobody should be a fool and drink & drive. He should pay for his poor decision. He made a mistake. I would be disappointed to see him get fired. He’s a good guy just not perfect.
if everyone of those people that want charles hide were to look into their own past with the same judgmental eye i doubt that one of them would still have their jobs.
Chuck will always be Chuck. I am sure it is the puritan PC crowd calling for his head. They can’t get rid of Chuck, he is the only reason I watch the TNT broadcasts.
Why do we hold athletes (and former athletes) to higher standards than actors or musicians? No one says boo to guys like Gary Busey or Keith Richards.
no link to geoffrey c’s screed?
If they fire Barkley, they might as well cancel the show on TNT.
Amen to that.
I despise his lazy behavior and rudeness on that show on TNT.
He is hardly ever fair to a team he doesn’t like,and that is
many of them.
He come unprepared and not up to current news.
During a really good game at halftime,I want to hear about the
game,not that big mouth.
Can you imagine working with him ??
Halftime is over and he has done all the blabbing.
He is disrespectful and ignorant and very,very unprofessional.
And his big fat butt backing down players used to drive me
nuts.
However,I do have a really positive thing to say about him.
For his size,I always thought very highly of him for getting
to the basket and always giving it his all.
But Charles forget something when he left basketball.
The show is not the Charles Barkley show.
It’s about the game being played..It’s a basketball game on TNT.
Let the others talk and keep your mouth shut when they are
talking.
He has always been rude about Portland and for that I can’t
stand him.
There !
I feel better now.
TNT has to be dragging its heels because they know if Chuck goes under, the show goes under. It’s why we all tune in, waiting for that one crack that turns things upside down. It’s often more entertaining than the games. I am betting Charles is hit with a short, very high profile suspension (while doing some public service for the cause) and then somehow incorporates what he learned into the show. His advice, as only he could tell it (“Don’t do what I do…”)(“Don’t be an idiot like me…) might, in the end, actually do some good.
It’s a basketball game on TNT.
If it weren’t for Sir Charles, the TNT studio show would be like Michael Holton and the geeky homer guy who come on around the Blazer games — painful to watch.
“the geeky homer guy’…
HIS NAME IS TONY LUFTMAN HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE MAN…
/kidding
In some ways, Sir Charles is a role model for me. I also struggle in life to make the right decisions all the time. It seems like I mess up daily. Charles also has his fill of mess ups. Yet, I’ve never seem Charles make excuses or hide from his mistakes. He has always stepped up to the plate and made amends. This is an example for all the ‘real’ people who live ‘real’ lives. Be yourself, but take responsibility for yourself as well.
I am certain the sun will still rise if Charles is no longer on TNT…
Barkley is pure entertainment. As long as he is viewed from that light, it is all good. It is when we take sir chuck too seriously that we set ourselves up to be disappointed
Barkley has very poor impulse control. From gambling to escorts he is highly vulnerable
Great entertainer but weak coping skills