Charles Barkley: What Did He Say This Time?
Charles Barkley is no longer an NBA All-Star, but he still has a knack for making headlines.
In his brief tenure thus far as a sports analyst, Sir Charles has become one of the most quotable men in sports, joining the likes of Gus Johnson and John Madden. This comes as no huge surprise, as he was also very candid during his days as an NBA player.
Over the years, he has provided us with enlightening quotes such as, "I don't care what people think. People are stupid;" "The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not;" and "How come Gatorade doesn't work for people who suck?"
Yet, he has seen a lot of publicity recently because of his remarks about LeBron James. In just two months, LeBron has become arguably the most controversial figure in sports because of his decision to leave Cleveland, and Charles Barkley had no reservations about stating his opinion on the situation.
Barkley called James' decision to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami a "punk move," adding that he wished he had stayed in Cleveland.
This comment was made in response to an earlier statement by James on Twitter which read, "Don't think for one min that I haven't been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!"
While James didn't go so far as to name names, Barkley didn't flinch when he told James to be sure to add his name to the list.
A bold move to be certain, but was it a bad one?
The answer is no.
Charles really has nothing to lose by making these comments. It would have been an ill-advised move for an active player to make these comments, as they would have had to deal with James on the court, but Barkley's playing days are long gone.
What could James possibly do to retaliate in this situation? He could call Barkley out in the media or perhaps hold a grudge, but feuding with members of the media will only help to distract him from what should be his main goal: winning a championship.
After all, James chose to make this sacrifice himself. He opted to go to Miami to chase a championship at the cost of becoming a media villain. He can't have his cake and eat it too. He can't abandon a city for greener pastures and not expect to receive some sort of criticism.
So kudos to Sir Charles for saying what the majority of the sports world was thinking and doing it in the most candid way possible. While he is usually known for making blooper-reel-caliber comments, Barkley finally hit the nail on the head with this one.
Charles Barkley's comments were a John Hancock signature on the Declaration of Independence from James' public shenanigans. They were bold, definitive, and representative of the masses.
The only question that remains is: when will Sir Charles finally deem James worthy of "turrible knucklehead" status?
