Charles Barkley on Iverson [Smack down!]

Philly Weekly ^ | 7/18/2

[NativeNewYorker]

Philadelphia Weekly: What do you think of the Iverson situation?

Charles Barkley: I think it's awful. A shame--if he did it. If he showed up in someone's house with a gun, even if he didn't pull it out--just walking into a situation like that with a gun is too dangerous. Maybe he gets angry and shoots somebody. Or I'll tell you what happened if someone came into my house with a gun--I'd shoot him. That's it. He just can't behave like that. Carrying a gun, in that context, when you're upset: That's a bad idea. That's all.

 

PW: So what do you think happens now?

CB: I think he's done here. Done. I mean, the fans in this town ... let me tell you something. They are nowhere near as bad as they are made out to be, about being negative. I say that because even in my down times they have always been great--absolutely great--to me. But the media here? Look. Look at Scotty Rolen, Mike Schmidt, Lindros. A.I. is no different. They decide they don't like someone and they will never let up. You know? They will never stop going after Allen Iverson, and they will go after him until they get him, whether he does anything wrong or not. And that's why I think he's gonna have to go, for his own sake. For himself. I mean, he can keep playing here. The fans will stay in his corner. But the media will make it too stressful and just unpleasant a situation. It's only a matter of time before they get him.

 

PW: Some people say burying Allen Iverson would be like burying a whole cultural movement.

CB: I'm not even going to hear that shit. Don't give me that. That's not black culture--that's bullshit. Let me tell you something: Most black people do not own guns. They are not thugs. This thug life--you know, people talk about Allen keeping it real. He's not keeping it real. Let me tell you what real is. Allen Iverson is a 27-year-old man who has a lot of talents he can use on the basketball court and gets paid $15-$20 million per year to display those talents. That's real. He is not the kid from Newport, Va., anymore. He's not in the ghetto or the 'hood anymore. I am not the kid who grew up on welfare in the projects. Keeping it real is behaving as who you are now, not who you used to be.

 

PW: Yeah, but do you understand the inclination to defend him?

CB: I understand. Hey man, black people get a real hard time in the media. There's no doubt about that. But defending A.I. isn't going to change that. That's not keeping it real. It's not. I'm writing a book right now with Michael Wilbon about race. And one of the things we're talking about is that black people shouldn't defend people who do wrong in our community. They've done something wrong. I know there's racism--racism in the media, racism in this town, racism everywhere.

 

PW: On Eskin's show, there were guys calling from South Philly, mockingly calling him "dawg" and another who said that A.I. is no gangster. One said let's introduce him to Joey Merlino and show him a real gangster. Let's see how long he lasts.

CB: Pff. Well, that's interesting. That's very interesting. We've all got gangsters, don't we? Black, white, Italian, Puerto Rican, Irish. It don't matter. We all got gangsters. The graveyard's full of them.

[MotleyGirl70]

Iverson

You can take the boy out of the ghetto, but you can't take ghetto out of the boy.

[cubreporter]

Congratulations to Charles Barkley for being honest. He said a lot in that interview and I for one will go out and purchase his book when it hits the stores. How refreshing that interview was. Thank you Charles Barkley and best wishes to you.

[MotleyGirl70]

Iverson?

You can take the boy out of the ghetto, but you can't take THE ghetto out of the boy.

Typing 101...

[blau993]

Charles has always been like that. There is a great story, possibly apocryphal, about Charles telling his mother he planned to vote for George Bush for President. His mother said, "Charles, he's a Republican, and that's the party of the rich." To which Charles replied, "Mama, I AM rich."

[AdA$tra]

Congratulations to Charles Barkley for being honest.

One never has to wonder what is Mr. Barkley's mind.

[Billthedrill]

Allen Iverson is a 27-year-old man who has a lot of talents he can use on the basketball court and gets paid $15-$20 million per year to display those talents. That's real.

We've all got gangsters, don't we? Black, white, Italian, Puerto Rican, Irish. It don't matter. We all got gangsters. The graveyard's full of them.

If his book is like this I'm gonna buy two.

[pepsi_junkie]

I remember a classic Barkly moment. The 76ers had just won a very tough game and he was interviewed immediately afterwards on the court. He was asked how he felt about the win. As I recall he said something to the effect of "Its good we won because this was the kind of game where if you lose you go home and beat your wife. Did you see how my wife was smiling? Thats because she knows I'm not going to have to beat her tonight."

[Question_Assumptions]

And one of the things we're talking about is that black people shouldn't defend people who do wrong in our community.

A somewhat related article. In this case, a mother who isn't defending her daughter.

[ghost of nixon]

Charles Barkley - my all-time favorite sports personality.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

I have been Charles Barkley's biggest fan since the Olympic "Dream Team" days. He's been outspoken, incorrigibly honest, and simply charming in his own style. I fell in love with Charles Barkley the day he said he was late for a game because his little girl had been painting his toenails. Someone did an outstanding job of bringing up this young man. He is truly a son America can be proud of.

[Hebrews 11:6]

The story actually is about ten years older than Bush's campaign--you heard an updated version. What Barkley said was he himself would run one day as a Republican for governor of Alabama, to which his grandmother made the comment about rich Republicans. You got the punchline right.

[Travis McGee]

Or I'll tell you what happened if someone came into my house with a gun--I'd shoot him. That's it. He just can't behave like that.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

If I'm not mistaken (and I surely could be) it was Barkley, also, who said, "I'm not married - my wife is."

[mhking]

Hey man, black people get a real hard time in the media. There's no doubt about that. But defending A.I. isn't going to change that. That's not keeping it real. It's not...black people shouldn't defend people who do wrong in our community. They've done something wrong.

I love Sir Charles. No pretentions. What comes up comes out, period.

Notice the deafening silence from others in the NBA about this. Only Barkley and Iverson's mom ("Not my child...") have weighed in at this point. I'm not saying that he should be tried and convicted in the press, but (to go down that fateful path) if the player were white and the house were owned by someone black...

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

[libertyman]

"Sir Charles" has always been flat-out honest, from what I can tell. He says exactly what he thinks & is very funny on top of that. I'm still disappointed that he didn't win the NBA Championship back in 1993 against Chicago.....remember his 56-point game in the 1994 playoffs against Golden State???? I am VERY curious if he is still involved in GOP politics--I thought that he had intentions for running for Governor in Alabama as a Republican. Does anybody know?

[blackie]

I like Charles Barkley !!

[LS]

I loved Chuck when he was in Phoenix. Outspoken, yes. Sometimes dumb, usually pretty smart. He did get in his share of bar fights/disagreements, though.

[Benrand]

Sir CHarles has always been one of my fave sports guys. He gets life in America...and he's funny as hell.