Philly It all began as the #5 pick in the draft. You came to an aging team with many great players. You learned about the art of rebounding & posting up from Moses, & the Grace of Dr. J. You played along two of the most classy players of all time in Mo Cheeks and Bobby Jones. You played with intensity that first year. Never the 1st option you got your points from rebounding. The band was being disassembled as you arrived though. Moses was sent to Washington for a younger, talented center, who was injury prone. Jeff Ruland never played a full season in Philly. The sixers 1st pick (B. Daugherty) was traded for another PF Roy Hinson. Dr. J, Mo Cheeks, Bobby Jones all retired. Soon you were the game. You were playing with Hershey Hawkins, Jeff Ruland (Bash Brothers), Mike McCormack (the C). If only you had arrived a couple years before you could have helped Moses lead Dr. J to the Championship. You thought you needed a PG on your team. Phoenix You came to Phoenix with some of the best little players in the game, KJ, the talented but oft injured PG you cherished so much, Majerle (the hard-nosed player) whose outside shooting complimented your game, the slasher Ceballos, Elliott perry emerged when KJ went down. This was the era of the Big Man in the West. David Robinson, Dream, Motumbo. Your center was West a big hard nosed center, with not much game offensively. During this time you were at your best. You were happy leading your team to the championship. The offense was built around you, and you thrived. MVP, Dream Team, you were the best player at points during your time. if only you had come to Phoenix a few years earlier, before KJs injuries, before the big men started dominating, before MJ could get to the finals. You thought you were missing a Center and a ring. Houston You came to a team with two established stars. They had won 2 championships and thought they were a rebounding forward away. With Clyde & Dream you were a good team. If it wasn't for the injuries maybe you get to the finals and the Bulls. Insted the West (apart from Utah) was getting younger. The Houston post offense became obsolete with too many younger players who like to run in the West. If you only arrived in Houston a couple years earlier, before your injuries, in Dream's & Clyde's prime you may have got your ring. This is my recap of Chuck's career. I am obviously a huge Chuck fan. I followed him as A sixer, I loved Dr. J & Bobby Jones before Chuck. I will remember Chuck as the player who did the most with the least. A 6'4 1/2 PF still amazes me. Notice above I never mentioned his numbers, they were secondary to this man's career. I would have loved for him to leave with a ring, but it ended so poetically. Chuck is a winner, even if his fingers don't show it. You are the MAN CHUCK!
4Chuckie - you are the man! Great take on Chuck's career. That is pretty awesome - 6'4.5" power forward. My only regret is he didn't get to finish the whole season or now (in hindsight) get traded to a contender for his ring. The whole thing is so sad. But Barkley will have us laughing again soon, I'm sure. BARKLEY IS THE MAN.
A shot to the gut thx for starting the tribute 4chuckie. He is a class act, much maligned and misunderstood, because is simply didn't care if people misunderstood him. A man that teammates listen to. I'm sure everyone he comes in contact with understand he is a man who cared about his work, his teammates and his life outside work--and enjoyed it all. If only more people could experience that approach to work, we would all be as lucky as him. As one person I met said: "We will see another Jordan again before we see another Barkley." ie Jordan's talents, as unique as they are, are less unique than a 6'4 1/2" man with heart and grit fighting it out in the low post in the NBA, and dominating. Compare what Barkley did another short low post threat--Adrian Dantley, and that comparison shows there is no comparison to what Barkley achieved with so little. It was truly a joy for me to watch him play. Barkley, more now than ever, will continue to show this country how much a class act he is. I see a man who loves to make people laugh and connecting with them. We will see more of that now. Last comments: Remember his remark about how Payne Stewart jumped in his hotel bed at 6:30am to drag him to their tee time. That says a lot about how much people enjoy his company. And he calls himself the luckiest man in the world. cheers Charles... [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited December 09, 1999).] [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited December 09, 1999).]
All of these posts are beautiful. He has given us so much entertainment throughout his years, not just through basketball. He has always seemed to be smiling, having fun, and on our level. I felt as if I could relate to Charles on certain things. MJ always seemed so distant from things. Charles IS the luckiest man in the world. He embraced the game that he loves. He has many people who love him and wish him well. He has been, and always will be, my favorite player. We love the round mound of rebound. ------------------ I'll miss you Charles.
I simply want to say this: Charles Barkley's desire to win can never be questioned, he like many others (ie:Stockton Malone)happened to play an era with the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan. If you are going to question desire than you must question Stockton and Malone's, but for some reason people never do. Please if you don't like Barkley than say it, but don't question his love, desire, or greatness. ------------------ Stevie Wonder says "they call him FRANCHISE because his dunks are for sale at an arena near you."
