Charles Barkley was not my favorite player while I grew up. I always liked The Dream and wanted nothing to do with the whole Charles-Jordan axis. When Chuck came to town, I was the first guy to stand up and say it was a bad move. He's too selfish, I said. He's too slow, I said. As time wore on and I listened to the onlaught of naysayers repeat the arguments I had made a dozen times, I began to take the devil's advocate position that he wasn't that bad, he was a good stabilizing influence on the team. Monday night I went to my first ever Rockets game (ticket prices are a b**** for a college student) and I learned something grand: Barkley can just plain ball. In 48 minutes I saw an old man use much younger players and find a way to dominate even though the game has passed him by. The man runs like someone is chasing him and fights under the basket like it's the end of the world. I've never seen him get thrown out of a game we were losing by a couple of points. The man just tried as hard as a human can to win. That's a very rare thing, and I think we need to eack take a moment to think about that. MJ made it all look so easy, but Charles made it hard to look away. I only wish he would go to the hall of fame in a Rockets jersey. He is a warrior in every sense of the word and he will be missed. We wish you well, Charles. ------------------ Bring guns, drugs and lawyers, the s**t has hit the fan. -Aspen Gun Club
Skinner, You've said it all! I'm stunned, simply stunned. This was not the way it was supposed to end. I walked in the door from work and my wife said "check your website, there's some bad news". I thought she was joking. Then I turned on inside NBA. Man, I just don't know what to say!
"In 48 minutes I saw an old man use much younger players and find a way to dominate even though the game has passed him by. The man runs like someone is chasing him and fights under the basket like it's the end of the world." Damn straight. I was expecting Charles' finale to be a first round game five loss to the Spurs in which he drops 35+ points and 20+ boards. It's just not right for him go out like this. Fearless Wish: He rehabs like a mother and signs with the defending champs next year as a bench player to get his ring. Sorry we couldn't give you it, Chuck.
When Charles Barkley is not playing in your city, you think he is a very bad person with a reputation of being a "bad guy". The kind of people you don't like on your team. But who was it that, in effect, said "There are a lot of bad guys in the league that are made to look good, but Charles Barkley is a good guy that tries to make himself look bad." That says it all. He only had to play in my city, Houston, for me to become a BIG Charles Barkley fan. I never would have dreamed it. You see what kind of person he is when he is on your team. He tries to keep it anonymous but you hear about his very, very generous contributions to charities. You see how he keeps you entertained and laughing, and for all his image, if he was truly a bad guy, I know I would not like him still. BUT I DO LIKE HIM AS A HUMAN BEING (not saying I personally know him)and as a player... I can't remember anyone playing with as much effort and heart in the last couple of years as Charles Barkley. He has set the example and was still playing great. As a player, we have lost a great one. I am happy for the pleasure of having him on my Rockets team these past years and will miss not having him around. He probably won't hang out in Houston much after this season. I hadn't really faced that yet even though he had said this was his last year. There won't be another one like Chuck! Charles Barkley Day in Philadelphia is a very sad day in Houston. We feel for you, Chuck. SaluteCharles = bballfanatic
Props to you Skinner for a well-written piece that certainly reached me. It's just a dismal day. ------------------ Clutch http://www.clutchcity.NET SPREAD THE WORD
Man I can't believe barkley's career ended this way. I tell you the Rockets are jinxed when it comes to injuries. Anyway I want to say thank you to Charles and god bless. You have been one of the lone bright spots this year and regardless of what Scottie Pippen thinks you always gave 110% to this organization. Sorry you didn't get your ring.
Charles was the man....I hope he wont forget us Rockets fans...I'll always cheer for him, just as much as dream. The vote has been rocked gg ------------------ "Excuse me while I kiss the sky....." - Steve Francis
I echo your sentiments exactly,Clutch. When I saw Charles hit the floor,I had a bad feeling almost immediately. What a bummer!!!! I got tickets for the Rockets game in New Jersey Sat nite,and was estatic about seeing Charles play in person for the last time. Now I don't even feel like going.Sorry for the rambling,but this is one of the saddest days in my life.
I can't believe CB just went out like this, Like someone said I expected to see him put up 30 points and 20 rebounds in his final game, or at least to give him just a chance to win a string of games under his leadership for the Rockets, so I don't need to write 30 plus posts to defend him. This is so hard to believe, I don't know man, Charles if you have a junior playing ball like Calvin Murphy's. I would probably cheer for him too. Good bye Charles Barkley.
mind if i weep? that was well written skinner, although i have been a charles' fan for a while... the nba seems like a very bland place right now... a large empty arena... the old guard is being pushed to the side, the nba is a gigantic version of the ncaa now. no character, just an upbeat game for 48 minutes a night. i feel very nautious.
Chuck is a class act, in his own way. A warrior, passionate, real, down to earth, and wears his heart on his sleeve. He felt he had the greatest job in the world, and couldn't believe he got paid so much to do what he loved most. I remember him when he came out from Auburn, and they called him "the round mound of rebound." A lot of people didn't think he could make it in the NBA because of his weight. He was "too short" to be a power forward. But he proved them all very wrong. The guys plays way bigger, both on the court, and in heart. I just wish he could have gotten that championship with the Rockets. Whether I felt it was the best trade for the Rockets or not, Chuck has been a great player, fun to watch, and wears the Rocket badge of honor ... he has the "heart of a champion."
Way to go AntiSonic! I'm for your "Fearless Wish" statement for Chuck: "Fearless Wish: He rehabs like a mother and signs with the defending champs next year as a bench player to get his ring. Sorry we couldn't give you it, Chuck." It's not likely he will be back, though he will be tempted if able. Said so himself, while clearly stating he believes this is it for him. Maybe the fans can talk him into it. It's so unfortunate. He was still playing so well. We miss you already, Chuck. SaluteCharles = bballfanatic
Speechless. Stunned. Hurt. Saddened. Proud. Just some of the emotions I felt when I saw Charles Wade Barkley fall to the floor on Wednesday night. Like most, who had to play against him, I owned a mild distaste before Charles became a Houston Rocket. It was the Olympic year. A lot of hype was surrounding Shaquille O'neal signing with the Lakers. Barkley was openly campaigning for a trade - one spot in which he approved was Houston. He had done this a year before, however, not a lot of fanfare surrounded it. But this time it looked as if something was to give. I myself had just found a new Rockets website, with the internet just beginning to boom I figured I would try to find something for the team I loved. The webmaster was in favor of acquiring the Chuckwagon - even if it meant giving up two local heroes. The rumors were flying - loyalists were clamoring to keep Horry, Cassell, and the others. And then. . . it happened. Charles Barkley was traded to the Rockets. After a difficult series of tries to get him (remember the proposed three-way with Denver?) the Rockets got their man. I immediately fell in love with him and his intense style of play. Together with Dream and Clyde, he was supposed to lead us to the promised land. Well, most of you know the story from there. Charles Barkley is a great person. His fire and skill were basically unmatched in his era. Barkley will never be a member of a championship team, but he is a champion. He will stay with the team, rehabing his knee and building his young proteges into a team. But we have regretfully seen the last of Charles Barkley on the playing court. As Drexler before him, his career has endend, leaving the fans with a bitter taste in their collective mouths. But Charles will be in my heart, not only as a basketball player, but as a wonderful human being. As has been mentioned, Charles deserved more; more for being an icon, more for being a leader, more for being one of the greatest of all times, but as the Chuckster himself says, no one owes him anything. -Turbo ------------------ Deep down we will all miss the charisma of one Charles Wade Barkley. And so Castles made of Sand fall in the sea. . . eventually.
Amen....turbo......amen. Right now I don't know what to say or think. This is the last thing that I expected to happen, and of course "Murphy's Law" made it come true. As y'all have mentioned, Chuck didn't deserve to go out like this....no one deserves that. But, I'm sure he will continue to give this team his dedication and support, just as he has for 3 or so years. If there is one thing you can say about his career in Houston, is that Chuck was loyal and dedicated to making this team better and committed to helping the city to an NBA championship. We will all miss his on court and off court antics, but I think I speak for most of us when I say that he will never be forgotten as a member of the Houston Rockets.... Thanks for the years Chuck, it was a real blast! --------- KANE is truly stunned and in shock....
DAMN! I wish we could have gotten him his ring. Depressing. But what a wonderful career. No ring, but he'll always be known as a winner around here.
I hope Charles gets a job in the booth. Then he could call the game as he sees it and not have to deal with the NBA stealing money from him. All joking aside I hate to see him go out like this. Charles is one of a kind, a real person in a sport dirven by media hype. He is not a role model. He is for REAL!!! Thanks for the ride Chuck. [This message has been edited by LiftOff2000 (edited December 09, 1999).]
Barkley is sorta like Harry Truman to me. He's a person who does good but no one ever notices. He's a Buck stops here kinda guy. Sometimes he makes mistakes, Truman dropping his plans for a civil rights bill, Barkley dropping threes when the game is on the line. Hopefully, the Rockets can win a ring for the guy this year. When things seem darkest you shouldn't give up. They said that Dewey was a sure lock in for the presidency and sure enough Truman won. Hopefully Barkley can go out a winner as well.
Barkley may play again if Rockets' young players grow fast enogh to win it all. I don't believe he like to end his basketball life like this. He will try to fight back.
Well, folks, I've been labeled a "Barkley-basher" and "Anti-Barkley", but I would never wish an injury on any player. I've enjoyed watching Charles' career. I've been amazed at his ability to rebound without the luxury of being 6'10". I've admired his fire. I've been entertained by his on the court and off the court antics. Sure, I'm not his biggest fan, but he was a Rocket. And I love my Rockets. I wasn't all for the trade that brought him here, and I haven't always liked what he brought to our team. But, I am thankful that he played in Houston, because it gave me a chance to see him play more. It may have been near the end (and now the final end) of his career, and maybe that's why I always expected more out of him. To sum it up, I am sad to see him go. I may not have been all that overjoyed to see him come to Houston, but all I ever wanted him to do is play better. I never wanted him to leave. Now he's gone... ------------------------ This is NOT the way I want to see our players end their careers...
Charles Barkley... He's the #1 reason why I became interested in basketball in the first place. I remember way back in the '92-'93 season when he was still playing for the Suns. I had my head totally shaved then, and people used to compare me to Charles Barkley. Before that, I had some idea about who he was, but I was even more curious to find out about him, and about the game that he played. Needless to say, I was flattered that they compared me (in looks at least) to "the round mound of rebound." As a player, Barkley was awesome. But even more inspiring to me was his personality and attitude about the game. I was so glad to see him make it to the Finals with the Suns that year, and equally disappointed to see him fall short of realizing his dream, in Game 6, to a certain other bald-headed legend. I continued to follow SirCharles through his remaining time spent in Phoenix hoping that he would get another shot at the championship. Of course, you know how that ended (and boy did I hate the Rocks then -- although they grew on me afterwards). A few years later, the perfect combination happened -- Charles Barkley and the Houston Rockets. This had to be a dream come true -- my favorite team and my favorite player. I was lucky enough to see them both in action last year at the Cavs' Gund Arena in Cleveland. Oddly enough, Barkley only played the first half of the game (much to everyone's dismay) and the Rockets weren't really there for the second half either. But I didn't really care. I had finally been able to catch a glimpse of my favorite player in action -- even if it was from the nosebleeds. Words alone can't express how much I've enjoyed seeing SirCharles in action over these past few years. To me, he put the "basketball" in the National Basketball Association. No one else -- not even Michael Jordan -- was as entertaining or as fun to watch. And no one else seemed to care as much as he did about the game and its fans. They say that the true measure of a champion in basketball is the number of rings that he wears on his fingers. If that were true, then Charles Barkley would have one for every finger on each of his hands. My hair goes off to you, Chuck.
