I hate it when I agree with Charles Barkley because he can be such an idiot. However I agree with most of what he says in this article. In particular I agree with his views on Larry Bird's comments, comparing Kobe to Jordan, and the young players in the draft.
Joe
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04164/330895.stm
Barkley calls 'em like he sees 'em, without a bow to political correctness
Saturday, June 12, 2004
By Phil Axelrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Charles Barkley, a man of many words that usually are irreverent but always relevant, offered opinions ranging from the war in Iraq to racism in America to Larry Bird's defense after playing a soggy round of golf yesterday in the Mellon Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational at The Club at Nevillewood.
Bird earlier in the week made headlines when he said the NBA needed more white stars and he was "irritated" when a white guy guarded him because it "was a disrespect to my game."
"I have no problem with what he said," Barkley said. "Every time somebody says something about race, it's not bad. The politically correct police are getting way out of hand.
"That's good trash-talking. I started laughing."
Is Bird right that the NBA needs white stars?
"Yes. But they need players who play well, not just white players. The fans are white and the sponsors are white, that's just the truth."
Barkley said he rooted for Calgary's Jarome Iginla, the highest-profile African-American player in the NHL, during the recent Stanley Cup playoffs because "he's black."
"I don't even know the guy, but I wanted to see the black guy do well. It's not like I'm rooting against white guys. People want to see someone who looks like them do well."
Asked if it bothered him to be guarded by a white player when he played, Barkley answered with a smile, "I tossed them all around. Kevin McHale was the best I ever played against. He always guarded me. I think it would have been an insult if they put Bird on me. He was the worst defensive player ever.
"He didn't guard me ... it wouldn't have been in his best interest."
Peter Diana, Post-Gazette
Steelers No 1 draft pick Ben Rothlisberger hits out of the bunker on the 14th hole.
Click photo for larger image.
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At a glance
What: Mellon Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational
Where: The Club at Nevillewood
When: Today and tomorrow
Times: 8 a.m., gates open and celebrity play begins. 4 p.m., Levitra Celebrity Long Drive Contest, 10th tee.
Tickets: Single-day $10 adult gallery and $5 junior gallery tickets can be purchased at the gate.
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Barkley was just getting warmed up. Here is a sampling of his most outrageous and outspoken thoughts offered in a 45-minute meeting with the media:
On whether NBA players have an obligation to play for the U.S. team in the Olympics: "I played in two Olympics, that's the greatest honor in my life. But, if guys don't want to go, that doesn't mean they're unpatriotic."
On the war in Iraq: "I would not say it's going well. It's unnecessary and uncalled for. It's an unbelievably sad thing, probably the worst thing that has ever happened in my lifetime. I feel bad for all our soldiers. You can't stop terrorism. We'll never be safe again the rest of our lives."
On Detroit's decision not to foul in the final seconds of regulation when Kobe Bryant made a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime and an eventual 99-91 victory for the Los Angeles Lakers: "You've got to foul someone, either Shaq or Kobe. It was bad defense. With 15 seconds or less I'm going to foul. But I don't like to second-guess coaches, that would make me a media guy."
On who is the best player in the NBA: "It's between Shaq, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, then Kobe."
On comparing Kobe to Michael Jordan: "Quit saying Kobe is as good as Jordan. Kobe's a good little player, but he's no Michael Jordan. Kobe is not Michael Jordan. Period."
On drafting players right out of high school: "The NBA draft is designed for bad teams to get immediate help, not a project. It's not fair to the fans. It's not fair to the game. The level of basketball is down because of all the young guys coming into the league."
Joe
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04164/330895.stm
Barkley calls 'em like he sees 'em, without a bow to political correctness
Saturday, June 12, 2004
By Phil Axelrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Charles Barkley, a man of many words that usually are irreverent but always relevant, offered opinions ranging from the war in Iraq to racism in America to Larry Bird's defense after playing a soggy round of golf yesterday in the Mellon Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational at The Club at Nevillewood.
Bird earlier in the week made headlines when he said the NBA needed more white stars and he was "irritated" when a white guy guarded him because it "was a disrespect to my game."
"I have no problem with what he said," Barkley said. "Every time somebody says something about race, it's not bad. The politically correct police are getting way out of hand.
"That's good trash-talking. I started laughing."
Is Bird right that the NBA needs white stars?
"Yes. But they need players who play well, not just white players. The fans are white and the sponsors are white, that's just the truth."
Barkley said he rooted for Calgary's Jarome Iginla, the highest-profile African-American player in the NHL, during the recent Stanley Cup playoffs because "he's black."
"I don't even know the guy, but I wanted to see the black guy do well. It's not like I'm rooting against white guys. People want to see someone who looks like them do well."
Asked if it bothered him to be guarded by a white player when he played, Barkley answered with a smile, "I tossed them all around. Kevin McHale was the best I ever played against. He always guarded me. I think it would have been an insult if they put Bird on me. He was the worst defensive player ever.
"He didn't guard me ... it wouldn't have been in his best interest."
Peter Diana, Post-Gazette
Steelers No 1 draft pick Ben Rothlisberger hits out of the bunker on the 14th hole.
Click photo for larger image.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At a glance
What: Mellon Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational
Where: The Club at Nevillewood
When: Today and tomorrow
Times: 8 a.m., gates open and celebrity play begins. 4 p.m., Levitra Celebrity Long Drive Contest, 10th tee.
Tickets: Single-day $10 adult gallery and $5 junior gallery tickets can be purchased at the gate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barkley was just getting warmed up. Here is a sampling of his most outrageous and outspoken thoughts offered in a 45-minute meeting with the media:
On whether NBA players have an obligation to play for the U.S. team in the Olympics: "I played in two Olympics, that's the greatest honor in my life. But, if guys don't want to go, that doesn't mean they're unpatriotic."
On the war in Iraq: "I would not say it's going well. It's unnecessary and uncalled for. It's an unbelievably sad thing, probably the worst thing that has ever happened in my lifetime. I feel bad for all our soldiers. You can't stop terrorism. We'll never be safe again the rest of our lives."
On Detroit's decision not to foul in the final seconds of regulation when Kobe Bryant made a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime and an eventual 99-91 victory for the Los Angeles Lakers: "You've got to foul someone, either Shaq or Kobe. It was bad defense. With 15 seconds or less I'm going to foul. But I don't like to second-guess coaches, that would make me a media guy."
On who is the best player in the NBA: "It's between Shaq, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, then Kobe."
On comparing Kobe to Michael Jordan: "Quit saying Kobe is as good as Jordan. Kobe's a good little player, but he's no Michael Jordan. Kobe is not Michael Jordan. Period."
On drafting players right out of high school: "The NBA draft is designed for bad teams to get immediate help, not a project. It's not fair to the fans. It's not fair to the game. The level of basketball is down because of all the young guys coming into the league."
