Via The Sporting Blog, Newsday's Neil Best has a notable spit of the TNT conference call held Monday in which Charles Barkley (surprise surprise) popped off on a topic most avoid.In discussing ways in which the Knicks should be improved this season, Barkley said, "I think they have a better coach. This coach probably won't try to kill himself."Oof. While some would argue Barkley is underrating the depression-inducing power of this roster, I'll instead train my guns on anyone trying to convince Barkley to make that gubernatorial play in 2014, the one Brinson discussed earlier today. There's a line between straight talk and oral diarrhea. Barkley hasn't been on the safe side of that line in decades. A mouth like his is unelectable, even in a state that adores him.
Still ... basketball is so refreshing. Only in the NBA would a former player/top analyst be the first cat to make a prominent suicide joke after Isiah Thomas' ambulance ride last week. It's like having a blogger in charge of times. </self-slander>
Charles Barkleys Most Memorable Moments
Charles Barkley said even he crossed the line when he said new Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni "won't try to kill himself," refering to former coach Isiah Thomas' alleged overdose. Check out some of the former NBA star and current TNT analyst's most memorable incidents.
Andrew D. Bernstein, NBA / Getty Images
Barkley told CNN in October he plans to run for Governor of Alabama in 2014. Asked if he was serious, Barkley responded, "I am, I can't screw up Alabama."
Barry Gossage, NBAE/Getty Images
Barkley recently decided to pay 28-year-old busboy Christian Abate's tuition so he could finish college. "He's a nice kid," Barkley said. "He was working with kids, I loved that he wanted to be a teacher, and I wanted to help him."
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
On the court, Barkley was frequently fined for fights with other players. In 1990, Barkley and Bill Laimbeer were each fined $20,000 (a record amount for the NBA at the time) for a fracas during a playoff game.
Nathaniel S. Butler, NBAE via Getty Images
While Barkley was beloved by fans, he gained fame for his anti-role model stance. "A million guys can dunk a basketball in jail; should they be role models?" Barkley said in 1993, which launched his famous "I am not a role model" Nike ad campaign.
Andrew D. Bernstein, NBAE/Getty Images
As a player, the fiery Barkley had a few run-ins with the law. He was once arrested for breaking a man's nose during a fight after a game with the Bucks, and he once famously threw a man through a plate-glass window after being hit with a glass of ice at a bar.
Orange County Sheriff's Office / AP
After retiring as a player, Barkley joined TNT's "Inside the NBA," where he has become the "butt" of many a joke. Literally. In one skit, Barkley was forced to kiss a donkey's posterior after losing a bet with Kenny Smith.
YouTube
During the 2007 All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Barkley famously took part in a foot race against 67-year-old referee Dick Bavetta. Barkley won the race, while Bavetta dove at the finish line and wound up bloodying his knee.
Nathaniel S. Butler, NBAE/Getty Images
Politics? Why not? In February 2008, Barkley announced he would run for Governor of Alabama in 2014. "I don't like the way the Republicans are taking this country. Every time I hear the word 'conservative,' it makes me sick to my stomach," he explained.
Nathaniel S. Butler, NBAE via Getty Images
Barkley recently made headlines after a Las Vegas district attorney said he could face criminal charges if he didn't repay a $400,000 debt owed to the Wynn casino. Sir Charles has since repaid the debt and stated he will quit gambling in the future.
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-28-2008 @ 5:01PM
Ben said...
Somehow, I just don't think he'll escape the video of him saying "I'm a dumba***."
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10-28-2008 @ 10:29PM
Matthew Dovel said...
Wow, hello! Reality check! I go out and personally clean suicide scenes for free every week for families that can not afford to have it done. Currently, as a nation, we are at over 90 suicides a day. That means that over 90 families suffer the greatest loss they will every experience in their lives every day. Being glib about this subject is just as tragic. Now you are aware of a subject that no one wants to talk about. I'm the president of ISP (International Suicide Prevention) a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity. Supportisp.org
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10-29-2008 @ 2:23PM
Dave said...
Thanks Mathew.
10-28-2008 @ 10:13PM
Rob said...
Isiah is a total A$$. I should have smacked the crap out of him when he made a pass at her 17 years ago. He's a total A$$, a womanizer and while I'm sure that it was him who tried to commit suiside it would not surprise me if his daughter hadsn't tried too. His wife and children while in detroit were lovely people and he continues to live up to his scum bag reputation Charles as for you my friend 2 a side $100 a hole
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10-29-2008 @ 3:55PM
Billy said...
First of all you are an idiot. But true to the point, People that obtains an certain level of monetary wealth are considered by people these days to be smart. Barkely can gain or gamble off 10 mil,but he is one of the dumbest brothers I know of that"has" money. Even Michael Jordan is an idiot. But they come in all shapess colors and sizes and its too many on and off Tv these days. I'm just glad we are in the last days and this realm of supidity is about to disappear!
10-29-2008 @ 6:01PM
Dave said...
Yeah, when CB and I are in Vegas we always hit the table together but when we are in NYC.... we hang with ROB!
11-03-2008 @ 7:32PM
RON said...
BARKLEY IS NOTHING MORE THAN RACIST
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10-28-2008 @ 10:30PM
Rickey said...
Ron, how stupid is your comment. How is he(Barkley) a racist when he's married to a white woman?
10-29-2008 @ 2:22PM
Dave said...
Ricky Ricky Ricky. Being married to a different race doesn't make you less racist. We have no idea how Barkley treats his wife but we have 25 years of his racist comments to go on. Silly little Ricky. By the way, I hope you are 15 years old or under because you can't be called Ricky if you are a man...unless you are an athlete or gay.
10-28-2008 @ 11:18PM
Mark said...
Nothing will happen to Barkley over this remark, simply because he's black. Had a white person made this remark, all hell would let loose.
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10-29-2008 @ 11:36AM
Ellis Mills said...
Blacks can be guilty of racism as they choose and no one says a damn thing. Barkley years ago made a comment on television to a question asked by a reporter who he apparently did not like. The comment was, and I quote;"that's why I don't like white people."
If this moron runs for politics he will make Dubya look like Einstein.
10-28-2008 @ 11:32PM
Smittian said...
D'Antoni won't try to kill himself. He'll be too busy whining to the refs............
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10-28-2008 @ 11:32PM
Chaz said...
If it it so bad too joke about it,it is worse to tell everybody about it.Why put it on the internet at all?Ger real.
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10-29-2008 @ 5:41PM
Trish said...
Charles Barkley has a history of putting his size 22 sneakers in his mouth. He has not been completely culturalized and comes off insensitive at times...I know he wouldn't like people to make jokes about some of his faux pas (putting it nicely) ... like spitting on a fan...
Too many of the people with the mike's really don't know what to do with them ... maybe they should break out in song...
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10-29-2008 @ 11:23AM
justme said...
Barkley ROCKS!
He says what every one of us is thinking.
Keep it up Chuck..............
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10-29-2008 @ 12:07AM
marie said...
good old charles barkley...hasnt changed much from his days with the phoenix suns.....i still can remenber when he got boo-bood on the court...and mr.typical barkley walked over and went up in the bleachers and spit on the person...who happened to be a 8yr old girl.....i guess when he does his run for office....that hopefully they will bring the video's out so we can see the real good old barkley..but who knows maybe he will be lucky and have the media in the tank for him...........
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10-29-2008 @ 12:17AM
mavacal said...
Barkley is one of these types that think they have influence and people care about what they say because of some past sports fame. He should spend his time dealing with his gambling compulsion and learning how to be less of a jerk.
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10-29-2008 @ 2:42AM
Panapada said...
Barkley has always been given a free pass. One would expect that, given all those NBA Champenship rings hes has won. Won on eBay that is.
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10-29-2008 @ 2:49AM
wAYNE said...
Lets keep at the white bread athletes "One game at a time" "give 100%" etc etc etc.
Boring
Sir Charles speaks his mind. Blogists and other repeaters (they are unoriginal) can't stand anything that smacks of intelligence or sarsam.
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10-29-2008 @ 3:04AM
Former sailor said...
Fox TV has decided to put off Wednesday night's planned finish of World Series game #5 (by making MLB start the game late!!!), to air a Barack Obama infomercial. Show your displeasure by: (A.) watching the infomercial (if you watch it at all) on ANY OTHER NETWORK, (B.) listening to the game on the radio, instead of watching it on TV, and (C.) informing your local Fox affiliate and the local Obama campaign headquarters of your displeasure. This has nothing to do with the fact that this is the rest of a suspended game, because Game #6 was originally scheduled for that time slot.
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