from the chronicle. Celebration simulation -- Charles Barkley might still be ringless, but he did get to cavort with the championship trophy. It's just that it was the wrong trophy. The Rockets arrived in Vancouver roughly at the same time the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were winning the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup. Within hours, Barkley was with new friends sipping from the Grey Cup. "It was an honor," Barkley said. "It's my last year. It doesn't look like I'll hold a championship trophy over my head. I wanted to get the feel for one."
Oh Obiwan. Do you think that little article will break our spirit? Sorry for Chuck but at this point he is being realistic. And besides we read our own newspaper. Send us articles from Portland if you must. We know what the Chronicle says!
A thought on Mr Barkley Actually, Charles has made several remarks lately about being on a losing team. The "almost worst" was what he called us several times in the last road trip. In Vancover he joked with the press along the same lines. Something I noticed last night also. Near the end of the regulation game (around the one minute mark), he smiled and said something to the Grizz bench and everyone laughed. We just missed two crucial shots. I saw him shrug his shoulders when Rudy turned during a timeout and asked him something and pointed at the clip board that Rudy was drawing up a play. He was not much involved after that until we were one shot from tying the game. They he was vocal again. He was a team man again,it seemed. I cannot help but think he has lost a considerable amount of team pride in the present roster. I am not knocking him for this as much as just observing his attitude lately. I still say he can be traded. Just that he's not asking for it. Yet. But he may make it "more comfortable" for himself to be traded. And I hope we are all agreed that if Charles wanted to leave, the Rockets would make that possible for him.
Popye Have you ever watched Hakeem? He giggles the entire game. Leave Charles alone, he is extremely vocal and very much a leader. Have you ever been to an NBA game and watched players interact? Do most players even get asked questions by thier coaches? Why should he pretend like he's on a team that is doing well? He's not in the army, he doesn't have to keep his real feelings classified . What should he say? "I'm sure gonna be holding one of these trophies by the end of this season". That's stupid. It's not like he's singling anyone out, he's just pointing out that the Rockets are not winning. He can joke if he wants to. Is it looking like we're going to win a championship to you?? In spite of whatever you or anyone else on this site thinks, Charles Barkley is the best basketball player on our team (yes better than Francis). I mean he dominates on rebounding yet is still only 6 foot 5, no one else on the team is as dominant in one category as him, let alone a category it should be phisically impossible for them to dominate in. Also he can still handle the ball very well, score, and can pass better than anyone on our team. And I'll tell you something else, if it wasn't for his leadership I can guarantee you that there would be a hell of a lot more public whining going on from the Rockets. Charles is a politician, he's keeping our team together. He definately should not be traded.
Man you have got to give Charles credit for helping the Rocks to win in so many ways. If there is anyone in this league deserves to make 9 mils a year it is Charles Barkley. He is guiding and protecting Francis, our future star, now Francis finally had a great game with 0 TOs, without CB on his back would Francis learn so fast? Doubt it. Charles risked concussion to take out the behemoth named Shaquille and the Rockets got their first win becuase of that. He grabs the boards, he gives it all every night. Last game other than having a good game he stopped the almost unstoppable Griz rookie, what is his name? anyway, that guy was dropping 10 points in a row without a miss and Charles came in to draw five fouls in ten minutes. Getting that rookie in foul trouble possibly saved our ass cuz that was such a close game, in fact we were losing. So that basically tells you CB is helping the Rocks in so many ways, and that he is an integral part of the Rockets. [This message has been edited by Finalfantasy (edited December 01, 1999).]
He also takes 3 point shots at the end of the game when he should be giving the ball to someone who can actually shoot 3 pointers. But that's his ego or God or something telling him he has to shoot those shots. I agree he's doing a lot of good things, but his defense is awful. When was the last time Barkley blocked a shot. Even if we make the playoffs, I don't think we'll get very far with Barkley against the good teams. If we can get anything for him that would help in the future, I'd say let him go. Otherwise, he retires this year and we get nothing.
Well, we should trade Charles Barkley as the chance of us getting a title this year is slim. However, it is very hard to do so for his big contract compounded with retirement. So why don't we leave the issue alone if it's not gonna happen.
