OT My Friend Charles Barkley

[veloduffer]

For a break from the negative news cycle, a great story; about the Round Mound of Rebound:

https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2018/12/14/lin-wang-charles-barkley

The article has a nice Youtube clip, too.


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[fa63]

Thanks for sharing; that was a great read.

[Jad]

What a strange, beautiful short story. Thanks for sharing.

[GregL]

Thanks for sharing the story. A reminder of the good that still exists in this sometimes crazy world.

Greg

[jr59]

He is a GREAT guy. I’ve met him many times over the years. Always generous with his time.

Really no different than he was at Auburn when he was a kid. Well maybe he has more dollars now. But on how he acts, and how he is. Not much different at all.

Just treat him as you would like to be treated. Do that and all is good, be an ass, and you might get the same in response from Chuck.

[Clancy]

This started my day with a little more faith in mankind.

I wish I could have known him.

Thank you

[BassoBry]

I came into this thread respecting Barkleys legacy but also being pretty annoyed by his TV personality. Always figured there was a good dude behind all that though. Good story.

[AngryScientist]

very cool story.

what an amazing gift it would be, after your dad passes away to hear confirmation that he was proud of you and thought you were a good person. that's pretty powerful and awesome.

[tuxbailey]

That was great. That generation of NBA players have a special place in my heart.

Strangely, the one quote I remember about him was when he joined the Phoenix Sun and Sports Illustrated asked if he feel the pressure of winning a championship for the team and he said:

"pressure? that is something that goes into tires."

[cmg]

cool story, thanks for the positivity.

[justinrchan]

Excellent story - thanks for sharing.

[chunkylover53]

I think there's something stuck in my eye....

Great piece.

[veloduffer]

That was great. That generation of NBA players have a special place in my heart.



Strangely, the one quote I remember about him was when he joined the Phoenix Sun and Sports Illustrated asked if he feel the pressure of winning a championship for the team and he said:



"pressure? that is something that goes into tires."


Charles was really a one-of-a-kind player. For a 6’4” guy (although was listed as 6’6”), Charles played “big” and against much taller opponents since he played in the post. I remember Robert Parish of the Boston Celtics saying that when Charles leaned on you, it was like being in a garbage compacter.





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[54ny77]

What a fantastic read. Thank you for posting.

Charles Barkley always tells it like it is. I really enjoy watching him.

And what a player.

[m_sasso]

Always good to hear there are some humans behind the celebrity, thanks for posting.

[Tickdoc]

Good stuff and thanks for sharing.

[skiezo]

What A great story. Im am sure he was honored to have his dads friend talk about him.
The players of that era seem alot different than than the current generation. I loved watching B ball from that era as the players seemed like real people and played for the love of the game,not the love of money.
I have met Magic a few time at charity events that he supports and talk about a guy that is humble. He is one of the most humble and generous gentlemen that I have met.

[TBLS]

Uplifting story after a tough work day. Thanks for sharing.

[72gmc]

Thank you for sharing that.

I once had floor seats for a Sonics game against the Suns. The Sonics got a fast break and missed. Charles was cherry picking (surprise) and wound up all alone in front of us with the ball. Instead of driving for a layup, he pulled up at the three-point line, made sure he had the eye of a blond woman next to us, winked at her, drained the three, then smiled at her again as he jogged to the other end of the court.

We all laughed. It's the one thing I remember from that game.

[5oakterrace]

Splendid story. So many thanks for posting this. Makes me ponder all the ways we get impressions of folks and, whether we admit it or not - we end up judging them. We usually have no idea who folks are beneath that veneer, whether that veneer is impressive or not. In this season of such joy I often contemplate how many people carry within them a sadness for people who are gone, but we feel the pressure to act so happy. I guess that is way life is.

[monkeybanana86]

Thank you.

[nobuseri]

Nice read; thanks for sharing.

[fogrider]

I heard the story on NPR...I won't say anything bad about Charles Barkey again!

[Birddog]

Great story, Sir Charles has always been a favorite of mine.

[glepore]

Lived in Philly during the Barkley era. He was a gem, really, both on and off the court.

[yakstone]

Nice to read something positive!
Thanks.

[jm714]

I saw him play the Pacers back in 89 when he was with the 76ers. I was 8 rows up and after the game got down to the floor to get his autograph for a friend that was a huge fan. I get his autograph, no problem and then he does an interview and then his teammate starts an interview with a female reporter and Charles circles back around his teammate and pulls his game shorts down and just starts busting up. the teammate is just standing there in his jock and he just keeps going with the interview.