Because Cleveland is a city on the demise and because LeBron James is the king of all things basketball-related, he's generally allowed to do whatever he wants. He's much like a really hot girl dating an ugly guy in that sense, if you're into semi-accurate, Simmons-like analogies. But, he may have taken it a bit far in discussing his future after being a Cav (if that happens) ... at least according to Charles Barkley on the Dan Patrick show recently.
"If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up," Barkley said in the Wednesday interview. "I'm a big LeBron fan. He's a stud. You gotta give him his props. I'm getting so annoyed he's talking about what he's going to do in two years. I think it's disrespectful to the game. I think it's disrespectful to the Cavaliers."I, as usual, tend to agree with Chuckles on this one. While LeBron is free to say whatever he wants -- and Cleveland really can only get so mad with the guy that they're trying to woo into staying -- he really shouldn't fire back to the New York media or any media of the sort when they start asking about 2010.
For starters, it's two years away, and secondly, he's been coached almost as well as any athlete since Michael Jordan to keep his mouth shut in public and play the role of one-sided corporate behemoth. So that's probably what he'd be best served doing in this case, regardless of how much he gets asked about the issue.
Charles Barkleys Most Memorable Moments
Cavaliers star LeBron James, right, ripped NBA legend Charles Barkley, left, after Barkley said that LeBron should just "shut the hell up" about possible free agency options in 2010. "He's stupid. That's all I've got to say about that," James said. Click through to see some of Barkley's other colorful moments.
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
Politics? Why not? 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."
Nathaniel S. Butler, NBAE via 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 took part in a memorable 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
In May, Barkley 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
Moving forward, the Round Mound of Sound is sure to keep right on rolling. For instance, 'Inside the NBA' host Ernie Johnson got Barkley to read the words "I'm a dumbass" off a teleprompter last season while he was filming a promo.
Andrew D. Bernstein, NBAE/Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-28-2008 @ 7:34PM
bobrosejr said...
chuck is right with some points. Lebron is still a great citzen,team player and leader. He should eat or talk about Marbury the cancer of the NBA. Now that's ghetto
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11-28-2008 @ 10:34PM
r said...
you also are a idiot marbury is ghetto why you clown?
2-05-2009 @ 8:39PM
TJ said...
Usually I don't agree with Sir Charles, but he's on point his remarks. LeBron is beginning smell himself as we say in my neighborhood! He could reasonably be to Cleveland what Magic was to L.A., Jordon was to Chicago and Bird was to Boston. Legacy is what I'm talking about, it doesn't exist anymore! It's all about the money!
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11-28-2008 @ 7:46PM
DAG said...
I AGREE LET HIM GO ONE MAN DOES NOT MAKE A TEAM WHO CARES???
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11-28-2008 @ 8:17PM
Fan-tasy Island said...
Since when did the crude, angry, predjudice, Barkley become a moral compass or student of etiquette? Sir Charles has no clue what class is or respect for that matter; he just "spits" out whatever comes to mind. He regularly takes cheap shots at white people, obviously forgetting it's those same people that paid top dollar courtside to give him the abilty to have whatever he wants & the very platform he enjoys and speaks from today. Rather than piss his money away in Vegas and brag about it, why doesn't he give back to those who were not blessed by God with the talent to play basketball and make millions of dollars? The world would care less what CB has to say if it were not for basketball and there's those of us that disregard his opinion or advice now even though he was a good basketball player.
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11-28-2008 @ 9:56PM
Wallers said...
Charles literally spit in the face of a young girl watching a NJ Nets game.
11-29-2008 @ 2:24AM
jmitch said...
Barkley lived with a white family during college and married a white woman. I would not exactly call him a racist.
11-30-2008 @ 5:27PM
Joseph said...
And the funny part is, about all his racism against whites, is, he is married to a white woman.
12-12-2008 @ 12:22PM
dwprime said...
Your an idot, before you critizize him for not giving back you should check your facts first. From a recent interview Barkley: They keep offering for me to do radio shows. I don't want to argue with people, I want to reach [them]. You know, God gave me a gift, and I don't want to just be famous and make a lot of money, that's important to me. Not bragging it is, but it is: I wrote my high school a check for a million dollars to send poor kids to college. I gave Auburn a million dollars to attract poor kids. There's another school in Alabama, I gave them [money]. I wrote a check for Hurricane Katrina - a million dollars. That stuff is more important to me. But, unless I do this, I'm not going to have all those other opportunities. Why don't some of those white people sitting courtside who gave Charles that life he has now give back too.
11-28-2008 @ 8:38PM
mark said...
Ghetto boy how big do men grow were you from and why would he be dead or a janitor hate wont stop your girl from checking out this stud that what's really eating you up inside
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11-28-2008 @ 8:33PM
Yankee said...
Agreed! "Woofing" certainly isn't a role model thing to do. And it certainly is also disrespectful to the people of Cleveland and the State of Ohio. Shows a complete lack of maturity. Close it, zip it - smack yourself.
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11-28-2008 @ 8:40PM
charles said...
well, another blowhard mouths off.I wouldn't touch any items he pitches to the media. Hit him in the pocketbook and don't buy any product he endorses.
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11-28-2008 @ 8:46PM
m said...
LETS SEE ANOTHER PUNK OVERPAID NOTHING THAT WOULD BE IN JAIL OR DEAD IF NO BASKESBALL YOU KNOW AND YOU KNOW AND YOU KNOW
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11-29-2008 @ 5:04PM
SPELL CHECK said...
THE CHOSEN ONE,CANT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND.DO YOUR THANG LEBRON,OH BASKETBALL,LEARN HOW TO SPELL BRO.
11-28-2008 @ 8:47PM
white3187 said...
What I would like to know is: Why do you care what a 25 year old says. He's a basketball player. If you like to watch him, watch him play and enjoy. What he says or does makes no difference to me as long as it's not illegal. I love to watch sports but what these people (yourg athletes think makes not a blip on my radar screen!!!!
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11-28-2008 @ 9:04PM
the truth said...
Hateful,racist,jealous white people.
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11-28-2008 @ 9:13PM
Rich said...
Hey "truthy boy" you cannot say nor prove everybody who made comments are "white". You don't even know if I am
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11-28-2008 @ 9:32PM
BIGS said...
AS SOON AS BARKLEY PAY HIS LAS VEGAS BILL. HE THEN HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL SOMEONE HOW TO LIVE HIS LIFE
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11-29-2008 @ 6:25PM
Hector said...
True that my man
11-28-2008 @ 9:47PM
Chuck said...
How can he avoid talking about it...I mean every interviewer asks the same damn thing. WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN 2010? ARE YOU GOING TO A BIG MARKET? DID YOU SEE THAT NY CUT THEIR ROSTER TO MAKE ROOM FOR YOU UNDER THE CAP? DID YA? DID YA? Most of his replies are that he deosn't want to even think about it until 2010. What the hell else can he do...refuse all interviews for two years?
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