http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2001/1130/1287522.html Charles Barkley is once again speculating about returning to the NBA as a player. Barkley told HBO's Real Sports on Thursday that he may become Michael Jordan's teammate with the Washington Wizards once he gets in better shape. Over the last several months, Barkley has stated several times that he is intrigued by the idea of coming back. However, Barkley says he needs to get in better shape before such a comeback is possible. Barkley told HBO he is down to 290 pounds. "I'm thinking about it," Barkley told HBO. "I miss playing. I feel bad Michael is struggling and I think I could help him, but I need to lose another 25 pounds before I could help him." Jordan, a close friend of Barkley, returned to the NBA this season after a three-year absence. Barkley retired after the 1999-2000 season. The two future Hall of Famers have never been teammates in the NBA, but did play together for the original Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Barkley is currently working as an NBA analyst for TNT. Jordan's Wizards have struggled this season with a 4-10 record.
How is Michael struggling? MJ scores 20+, 5 boards, and gets assists each night. His TEAM is struggling but not him. I think Charles is disallussioned. How will Barkley help him>? I don't see Charles banging the boards.
TNT just needs to preserve the ratings for putting so many Jordan games on, so now they are p.l.e.a.d.i.n.g. with Barkley to return. Who cares if he can play, Barkley will give us better ratings...and we can mike him....or is that "Mike him."
He would be better then 90% of the PF in the league now, and he is SMARTER then 100% of them. Barkley would make a MASSIVE difference to the Wizards, and I would love to see him playing with MJ. DaDakota
I agree DaDa, as long as Charles is reasonably in shape he could outsmart and outwit most power forwards and outplay many of the others. I wish Barkley would return to a title contender though so he can get his ring.
I mean, hell... it's not my team, I'd love to see him play on the Wizards, even if he doesn't lose the weight.
When it comes to these ambiguous, media-spun, hype-ego-generated, speculative oddities, I just have to jump in ... so here goes ..... Charles: Loved your game, loved the time you spent with us, but if you weigh 290 pounds right now, then my friend either your houseboy is doctoring your scales or doctoring your afternoon cocktail. You are so far over 300 pounds right now that skipping twinkies for a year won't get you to your playing weight. Michael: What did you suspect would happen when you joined the roster of a team that you yourself have called deplorable, disgusting, and overburdened with has-beens or will-neverbes. Adding a old drinking buddy will not help your .. er Doug's team. Commissioner: What with all this talk and prenegotiating about high schoolers coming into the league, don't you think it's about time you either slap a lid on the maximum age or start a new league or something? .... I mean, you have a mens pro league, a women's pro league and a development league. Ever think maybe a Diaper League might be appropriate. Like all the kids just getting out of diapers can play all the old guys getting back into them. Mmmmmmmmm. TNT: I generally support all the gist you media scuds throw around to pump up the ratings, because that is the business you are in ... but let's face it guys, reruns of Jackie Chan's first (subtitled) movie, sandwiched between back to back games of the Washington Wizards or Pat Riley's Sunny fiasco troupe is not helping matters. Look, forget the Charles returning to the Wizards tripe. He can handle the embarassment, and even the dissappointment. He's had to before. But the fact is .... his only assurance is a swift and deciding death by heart attack ... and frankly my fond memories of Charles would not survive God's final technical foul .... the very first moment he steps on the courrt.
Michael's doing much better than I expected, but he's not exactly at the top of his game, and I don't mean because he's scoring less than his career average of 30ppg; I'm talking about the fact he's shooting 40%, an all-career low, and ten less than his career FG% of 50. But about Charles, I don't think he should come back, but what the heck, it's his life. I wouldn't mind watching him play again, and it's not going to bother me a whit to watch him lose with Jordan and the Wizards either.
This must really be a slow NBA week. The following was reported ad nauseum over the airwaves: 1) Shaq wants to be a cop 2) McGrady wants to pitch for the Yankees 3) Barkley want to return Why does the media report everything these egomaniacs say? Its the start of a long season and these guys are just bored. Next on the 10:00 PM news, Mobley claims through a psychic bond, he feels Stevie's foot pain in his buttocks.
Maybe we could talk the Chuckster into another tour of duty with the Rockets. Although I think we can fit him under the salary cap, Sir Charles has seen enough Rockets games to have a contract clause specifying that Moochie is not allowed to dribble out the final seconds on the shot clock more often than he does. Another great by-product would be Rudy's loyalty to veterans. Eventually we would have a lineup of Willis, Rice, Walt, Charles & Moochie. Take that Malone and Stockton! PS - it's a joke all of you hardcore Barkley fans!
I couldn't have said it any better, Opie. Charles isn't any closer to 290 than I am to having a threesome with Elizabeth Hurly and Salma Hayek! Stay behind the mic Charles, and leave Mike to put a small tarnish on his legacy.
