I disagree with the thing on Charles. Jordan will be remembered for that last shot that won a championship, Barkley will not be remembered for that last rebound. He definitely wants a ring, and he might come off the bench for San Antonio to get it. I agree with the league needing to move on and Jordan staying retired, but I doubt if attendance and TV ratings will go up with the Chuckster returning. He just wants that ring. ------------------ "I have a scale at home and it only goes up so far, I love that scale!" - Charles Barkley TNT Studios
Amen to that. Its Iveroson,Francis,Bryant's etc...... turn to shine. ------------------ President of the Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford,Larry Hughes, and Charles Woodson fan club.
I think this is all just a big joke. Charles and Jordan were on the golf course smokin' cigars talking about how they're gonna plant this idea that they're gonna come back and play for the Wiz. Maybe Rick Riley is in it too? He is a pretty funny guy. Maybe they were inspired by Muhammad Ali when he fooled the media into thinking he'd come back to fight. ------------------
About all the returning from retirement stuff. I think its great, who cares if MJ went out like no other, who cares if he comes back and only gets 16ppg, does it matter? His return is nothing but upside, somewhat damaging his image is really a non-issue to me, why do they need a last shot of the last game to remember him by? Anyways, I was very suprised and excited when I heard Charles tonight, I was not expecting anything close to that. I could see him contributing to the Lakers or Bucks with hopes of a title next year but not Houston or Washington unless they get MJ. Why not get a team of non-ring winners teamed with MJ to take them to a title (somewhat humoursly hypothetical of course, but those guys down there are all FA's next year except for Mitch who is already a Wiz)? Ewing Barkley Richmond Jordan Stockton ------------------
Thanks, Clutch. I can't find a transcipt of the whole TNT Barkley segment, but I remember Barkley saying that he was disappointed in some college coach who was supposedly a source for the Reilly SI article. Apparently Barkley was visiting this college coach during halftime of a game, discussing the possibility of a comeback, the rumors got around the area... Jim Beam has faded my memory, but I think Barkley mentioned the University of Denver (?) coach as the source and I think Barkley said it took place in Florida... I see a U of Denver game in Florida on their schedule on Feb 17. Feb 17 seems like a long time ago, maybe I'm remembering wrong. Any help? [This message has been edited by jamcracker (edited March 15, 2001).]
I have a feeling that this is one of those cases of Barkley messing with the fans as well as the medias head. If you remember he acknowledged last year or the year before that he did this because it was so easy and so fun. Only time will tell though. By the way who here thinks he will be able to lose 30 lbs by next season. The only way I see him doing this is if he is getting something more than lap dances at his nightly strip club visits. ------------------
I for one would love to see CB again. But I don't think it will happen. Charles is very big (what was he 337 pounds last month) and I can't see his legs holding up 270-280 pounds for 82 games. Honestly I don't think CB would come back without MJ, especially if he is thinking about the Wizards. Could MJ & CB doing it to try to lure C-Webb there? CB serving as the 6th man to C-webb or moving C-webb to the center in the east? I hate to say it but MJ & CB at 60-70% of their former selves and C-webb could be the the best team in the East. I bet a better possibility is if MJ doesn't come back that CB goes to Philly with AI & Dikembe. THat would be a scary lineup of AI shooting 60 shots a night and Dikember & CB banging the glass.
It wouldn't make any sense for Charles to be joking about something like this, especially since he haslost about 40 pounds right now. I think one more run at a ring is what Charles wants, and wouldn't it be fitting if he won it in Philly! ------------------ "I have a scale at home and it only goes up so far, I love that scale!" - Charles Barkley TNT Studios
The Lakers would probably be his best hope for a ring, and he could keep Shaq and Kobe in line. DaDakota ------------------ If you like RTS games, check out this one. www.frontierwars.com coming soon to a PC near you.
Even though Jordan has denied the rumors, I think there is a more likely chance that he will return rather than Barkley. While I don't doubt Barkley's drive to win, I do doubt his drive to stop having a good time and relaxing. He always seemed like the kind of guy who would really enjoy his retirement (hence all the weight gain). Jordan, however, was never anything but a competitor. Say what you will about him (I can't stand the jerk either), but if he ever put his mind to something, he got it, through sheer will or the league simply handing it to him. So if he is interested in coming back, he will be back. But if Charles is just interested in coming back because he thinks he just might get a ring, I don't think he will make it. ------------------ "all your base are belong to us!" "you have no chance to survive make your time!"
Yes, he orginally said he had other plans but because this years is in honor of Rudy T he said he wouldn't miss it for anything. Old School ------------------ I voted YES!
It would be cool to see Barkley play for Philly 1 more year. ------------------ Founding Father of the Refs Suck Club
The way Rockets play, I think Charles does'nt fit in the way they play. It's more like Cwebb style don't you think!! ------------------ Rudy T. will find and fulfill Rockets destiny.
After the comeback talk, they had the Shaq-Charles brawl from last year, you know, when Barkley floored Diesel? Right before, they showed the McGrady fight and another one when he got tangled with Eric Snow earlier in the year. Barkley said,"See, anyone who pushes someone and then backs away can't fight." (speaking of McGrady). Barkley said of the Shaq incident, "Mrs. Barkley didn't raise no punk kids." Tee hee! ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Very interesting developments recently: 1. Barkley announcing "diet" on TV 2. SI report on MJ comeback 3. Tux & Tennies Gala 4. Chuck's RSVP for T&T New conspiracy theory: Barkley learns of Tux & Tennies, decides to go to salute Rudy. Knowing that he's put on a pound or 50, decides to cutback slightly so that former teammates don't rag too loudly over new "physique". While playing golf with good buddy Jordan, discloses that prior to arriving at course he sought consultation on a tuxedo rental (planning is everything), at which time Barkley is reminded that tuxedos aren't made THAT LARGE. So as he's displaying his ever impressive golf swing to his chaps, Bark reveals change of plans for T&T in a rap reminiscent of "Chocolate Thunder" Hawkins, 'No T&T for me, Big Sexee'. Incensed, and ever the competitior, Jordan decides to embark on his great challenge: Get Bark in shape for T&T Gala. Thus the two begin a regime designed to rediscover Bark waistline, at which time the two kindred spirits devise a plan to cloak their efforts and call on a reliable whipping boy: THE MEDIA! So Jordan makes a very direct statement about the 00.1% chance of his playing again (So there's still a chance), Barkley tells the world that he's trying to make a comeback, SI sells magazines, Stern does a flip in the NBA offices, and away from the camera and spotlight MJ and BIG SEX high-five each other and exclaim, 'IT'S OOWWNN!!' (Just a little tribute to the Chuckster) ------------------
Charles Barkley is going to play in the NBA again! I was very excited when I heard him say he wants to play next year! Barkley is my favorite basketball player of all-time and when he retired I was sad. The reason I am a Houston Rockets fan and will always be a Rocket fan is because of Charles Barkley. I can't wait to see Charles Barkley playing basketball next year! ------------------
Ha ha ha, that's great! I agree with Ziggy that a player's imagine should not (will not) be tarnished by his last play(s). I still remember how great Dr. J was and he was no where near an All-Star in his last couple of seasons. If MJ's motive for coming back is to help the team, bravo to him. (side not: I am not a MJ fan, but I do appreciate his skill and passion). If he is doing it to sell tickets, what's wrong with that? How many owner of companies rollup their sleeves to do some dirty work in helping the cause? If he is doing it for his ego, more power to him. It's better to "do something about it" then sitting around thinking "what might have been". As for Charles, I don't blame him for wanting the ring. Like others, I don't think he can lose all that weight to become productive. And I only see him coming back if he is playing alongside his good friend MJ.
Fortunately he is going to play in Washington and not Houston. Can you imagine tying up a bunch of money in Sir Chuck, watching him ball hog for three weeks and then losing him for the rest of the season because his knee gave out? Good luck, Wizards! I'll take my chances with Webber, or at least Mo Taylor. TheRocketGuy ------------------
TRG, He actually said that he would play for the minimum becasue he has more money than he could ever spend. I am quite sure that any team that he signs with will get a good return on their investment. This raises an interesting question. Could a bunch of great players who are all buddies decide to get together on some team, all of them taking the minimum. Imagine what that would do to the whole idea of buying a championship. Would it be fair to the rest of the league if next year the Wizards signed Jordan, Malone, Barkley, Drexler, and they traded for Payton. They would have 4 hall of famers for less than the price of Kelvin Cato. ------------------ "We messed with the Bull, and we got the horns." -- Larry Brown "quote" from AirBullard.com
