Clyde's comments in the Chronicle about CB were not only unfair and inaccurate, but reminisent of Quitten's lies and half-truths. What was Clyde tryin to prove, beside the fact that he believes he can flaunt the pros' unwritten rules about trashing one another. From what I've heard, Drexler was more of a disruptive force in the Rockets locker room than anyone else. And it really pisses me off when Drexler said something to the effect that Charles didn't put out the same level of effort than he and Pippen did. B.S.! Anybody see any effort last year by Pippen that exceeded Barkley's? And Drexler was no defensive gem either, particularly in the last couple of years before he retired. Obviously, he isn't doing much to teach the Houston Cougars how to play defense, at least from the games I've seen. Don't know whether or not this was professional jealousy. Maybe he was just trying to sow some seeds in the minds of those who decide whether or not to retire another jersey, such as #4. I just think he was way off base and came off as a real jerk!
As a UH alum I had ultmost respect for Clyde, but this time I wholeheartedly agree with you. Another thing is I thought Clyde would be much wiser that this, he used to be very cautious about what he says. Maybe that UH coaching job is stressing him out??? Sailor
I have the utmost respect for Clyde, in fact there is a life size poster of the man in my dorm. However, I must say that I have lost a little respect for him not only because of his recent comments but because of an incident that occured a while back. A friend of mine plays for the SHSU basketball team that beat UH last year. He said that Clyde was a real jerk after the game to them and just acted like a sore loser. Now after this, I am pissed and even more hopeful that Chuck plays again next season when we are loaded!
Clyde is a freakin dork. I used to love him; that is until he started smiling after scoring five points in his last game. Barkley dosent try hard my ass. If I had a choice between a younger charles or a clyde, I would pick chuck in a second. clyde is just a freakin whiner.
"Clyde's comments in the Chronicle about CB were not only unfair and inaccurate, but reminisent of Quitten's lies and half-truths." How do you know the comments are inaccurate? Did you go to work everyday with Charles Barkley for 2 years? Is what Michael Jordan said inaccurate ("Charles doesn't have the dedication to win a championship")? What about George Karl ("I could never have Charles Barkley on my team because he doesn't believe in practice")? Nobody is disputing his accomplishments on the court, it's the way he approaches the game that most complain about (I know at least before he came to Houston, he flat out refused to participate in shootarounds before games. He used to proudly boast about this. Imagine the first shot you take the day of a game being the first shot you take in that game.) Barkley shoots his mouth off more than anyone in the NBA, but now Drexler has no class?
Clyde is a coach now. H eretired. Chuck has, supposedly, retired. I must agree with most when I say that there was no real reason for Glide to say these things. If he had a beef with Chuck WHEN THEY WERE PLAYING and it affected the success of the team, then it may be justified. But literally, if you have walked away from the team and retired, leave it no better than you found it. I respect Clyde. I respect Chuck. But right now, I respect Chuck more for being a man and not responding to Clyde's comments.
Nobody is disputing his accomplishments on the court, it's the way he approaches the game that most complain about (I know at least before he came to Houston, he flat out refused to participate in shootarounds before games. He used to proudly boast about this. Imagine the first shot you take the day of a game being the first shot you take in that game.) Did Barkley normally miss his first few shots of the game? Probably not. If that's true, then who cares? So he doesn't do shootarounds... If he gives his all on the court, when it matters, and makes the shots, why should it matter if he shoots in practice? I'd prefer someone who gives 100% in the game (Barkley) over someone who gives 100% in practice (Scottie?)
One of the smartest things anyone ever said to me was this: When somebody tells you something about somebody else, it usually reveals more about the person who's doing the talking than about the person they're talking about.
Shanna -- Using that logic, nobody should care that Shaquille O'neal can't hit a free throw. After all, he still gets 30 points anyway, right? The fact that he refuses to work on his free throws in the off-season or any other time, even though it would make his team much better and him a better player, shouldn't bother the fans, coaches, or his teammates. He gives 100% in games, so that makes it okay.
Good point on the free throw thing. We can all speculate on the hearsay that players and coaches spill freely to the press. How much of it is really true? Who knows? Chuck and Clyde were both winners. Both were dominant players, both went to the big dance....the Finals. Both are top 50 players. All these accusations, false or not, don't really matter. Yes, it is maddening to hear, but these guys have left the game. Even if Chuck comes back for a last hurrah, he is as good as retired. Say what you will Clyde....Chuck has been one of the most dominating players to put on an NBA uniform in this generation. Clyde's comments say this to me: Clyde practiced and was dedicated - he played at a high level. Chuck didn't practice hard all the time - he played at a high level. What would have happened if Chuck practiced 100% all the time....maybe Clyde's game should be the one under the microscope?? Anyway, all heresay....let it die!
I have to wonder what prompted Drexler to criticize Barkley in the first place, but I don't think we can argue with him about its validity. It is true that Barkley started working harder recently to be in shape and practice than he had earlier in his career, but I know he has historically been lazy, and I would not be surprised if that laziness still permeated his game. I don't think the accuracy of the accusations is the question (after all, were Drexler and Pippen -- not to mention George Karl and Michael Jordan -- just making it up altogether?). The question is the propriety of the unprovoked criticism. This is where Pippen's transgression is the worse of the two. He bashed a teammate for the sake of earning a trade to the Lakers. Drexler's criticism came after ties were severed and was not calculated for personal gain. I'd also note that Drexler's criticism was a more even-tempered evaluation of a player, and he was sure to express his continued love and admiration for Barkley as a person. Pippen's attack was an unreasoned and belligerent, acidic attack on the person of Charles Barkley. That is what made the sorry-fat-butt-speech offensive. My esteem for Drexler is not lowered because of this interview. He expressed his opinion and did it in a calm and well-thought-out manner.
Freak, if Shaq could hit 70-80% of his Free Throws, then his practicing free throws would be irrelevent. But he can't -- that part of his game hurts his team and therefore he should work on it. Chuck's not taking shootaround before the game didn't appear to have any effect on his game. If he was always missing his first few shots, different story. But he wasn't ... so who cares if he takes the shootaround?
ummm Shana, thats like saying if he doesn't practice but plays well in the games then why practice? Funny how its not only Drexler who has brought these things out about Barkley. What if Barkley had practiced hard and took care of himself, would he have won a championship? He has a lot of God given talent, but he did not get the most out of it. I think he realized this at the end of his career and was, or is, trying to teach Francis to get the most out of his ability.
As much as we would all like to believe that Drexler, Barkley, Hakeem, etc., are decent guys (and some people tried to rationalize that Pippen was), the sad fact is that they may not be. If you've been making millions of dollars to play a game for fifteen years, and have all the money and recognition you could ever want... it doesn't exactly build character. I certainly have less respect for Drexler than Barkley in this situation. He didn't have to say those things. For once, Barkley actually knew when to take the high road and leave something unsaid. I think Chuck has come around with his work ethic, knowing when to shut up, etc., in the last couple of years. Meanwhile, Drexler's been letting it slip. But neither one of these guys are going to be up for sainthood anytime soon.
Remember when Chuck got here and the team was losing and he said something to the effect of: "Some people on this team who have rings don't seem to be trying to win a championship...and I'm not talking about Mario Elie" And then he also called Hakeem a baby for wanting the ball more.
Barkley has a big mouth, there is no doubt about that. But you know that is his personality, and 99% of the time he brought smiles on other people faces and was quite a treat for fans and players. The other 1%, yeah he was offensive and made mistakes, such is life. I think it is pretty narrow to form your opinion based on only the 1% you want to hear, but I guess that is each persons’ prerogative. Personally I would rather have my stars go through life making some mistakes in the process then with a team of bodyguards creating a 10-foot perimeter, and fan treatment approaching apathy at best or a cold shoulder & rudeness at worst. Basically Chuck is an easy target because he lays it all out there. People say he isn't dedicated because he is fat--well he dropped close to 100 lbs. before making a splash in the NBA, and no-one else lost that weight for him. Also, did he have a problem with MJ or Karl's comments? absolutely not because they are his friends and he knows they want him to succeed (a bit of motivation statements, shouldn’t your friends do this for you?). What Pippen and Clyde did have no inherent positive motivation underneath and are way after the heat of the moment--to me that is very different. Further, they usually are some of the more retracted or isolated types I mentioned before, which makes it worse that when they say things like that it because it clearly serves no other purpose than an intentional, petty, & childish slam at others’ characters. If you haven't notice Chuck hasn't said much about Pippen or Clyde (or Hakeem being a "baby" as pointed out) sense they left (no longer impact him, or the team), yet the others persist, and in Clyde's case, years later. You tell me which shows more about these guys character. A couple of other thoughts. Pippen’s actions over the last few years have done one thing I didn’t think was possible--make Jerry Reisdorf a sympathetic character. Also, nobody can ever take away the 2-3 months of great basketball Clyde gave to the Rockets. But that is all he ever did for the Rockets. Also he cannot compare with Barkley in terms of being a dominant force on the court, loved by the fans, and in being a clutch player. It is my opinion that for Clyde, or Pippen for that matter, this is essentially their main problem with him. [This message has been edited by sir scarvajal (edited February 10, 2000).]
Chuck is his own man. When asked a question, he gives you his honest answer. If you don't like his opinion, don't ask him questions. Sure, sometimes it pays to be politically correct (see John Rocker), but Chuck has said it time and again, if you don't want his answer, don't ask. He doesn't have a big mouth, he has big *%$# to say what he feels. He doesn't sugar coat things like most players.....I for one am always tired of hearing the standard answers we always hear from these guys. We came to expect it from him. We do not however expect it from Clyde, Pippen, etc. So when these guys blasted out at Chuck, we freaked!! Chuck has personality and the game benefitted from it.
'93 MVP, '92 Gold Medal, and I don't even feel like counting all-star appearances, All NBA 1st team this-that-and-the-other. Charles Barkley has NOTHING to prove to me. ------------------ Proud Cheerleader 'til we move to New Orleans 302
Amazing, Clyde's comments were not mean spirited. Why isn't anyone posting on how they lost respect for Jordan when he described Barkley. Geez, all you people losing respect for Clyde over his personal opinions, did you lose respect for Barkley when: 1. He was in the butt kicking business? 2. Spitting on fans? 3. His profanity laced tirades with the courtside fans? 4. Taking the high road and throwing people through windows? 5. Calling Dickerson and Mobley pigeons, because they just stand around waiting to get fed? 6. Saying people need to come to camp in shape and showing up 20 pounds overweight? 7. His racial tirades against reporters? Need I continue? Its amazing how fans turn on their so called favorite players!!!
