This got us written all of it......

Posted on Sun, Sep. 10, 2006


David Aldridge | Barkley up for new challenge

By David Aldridge
Inquirer Columnist

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The night was about words spoken and unspoken, and reunion.

In all the years I've known Charles Barkley, I had never set eyes upon his father until Friday evening. And I hadn't seen Maureen Barkley, his wife, in years.

But on certain nights, like this one, things that once seemed significant in your life tend to reveal their more trivial nature. And thus Friday was not about what people had or hadn't done in Barkley's life, and whom he had or hadn't always treated well. The people who helped make him had to be there when he went into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The culmination of a life - in this case, Barkley's professional life as a player - makes for familiar bedfellows. And so Barkley mentioned his father, who was not part of his life growing up, his two brothers, and his wife in summarizing his life and career.

"In Philadelphia, I met a great woman," he said. "I know y'all may not know it, but I'm not easy to get along with. I want to give a special thanks to my wife, who's been there the last 20 years. She's the nicest person I've met in my life. It was a lot of stuff she had to deal with, like when I got arrested six or seven times."

He was, as ever, occasionally profane and amazingly funny.

"I checked my [college] transcripts recently," he said. "I was at Auburn for three years, and I found out I'm a legit freshman [academically]. My grandmother always rides me 'cause I promised her if I left school early, I'd go back and get my degree. Obviously, 20-some years later, that's not going to happen."

But lives pivot, and go in different directions. Now that his place as a player is assured, Barkley wants to move on to different things.

The most famous resident of Leeds, Ala. (second, according to Barkley, is one Paige Phillips, who placed second at the 1980 Miss America pageant), now says he wants very badly to run an NBA team as a general manager.

That's before he runs for governor of Alabama, by the way.

"I'm ready now," Barkley said Friday morning. "The two times I've had an opportunity [to be a GM], I couldn't take a job because my daughter was in high school. And I promised my daughter I wouldn't take a job and move her. But she's a senior now. She's almost out of my hands."

Barkley's strength, according to Barkley? Assessing talent.

"I think I know the game," he said. "The game comes down to talent. Ain't no great coaches unless they've got great players. Ask Larry. Larry Brown's a great coach, but not with that s- he had this year."

He says he's been picking the brain of Joe Dumars, his fellow Hall of Fame inductee who built the Pistons back into a championship team in four quick seasons as Detroit's president of basketball operations.

But this will be a neat trick for a guy who loves working at TNT because he gets six months off.

I am reminded of Rod Strickland, the talented but troubled former point guard, who was once asked if he would consider becoming a coach someday.

Strickland looked up at his questioner with incredulity.

"What... and coach people like me?" he asked.

On the other hand, Strickland did take a job last week as an assistant coach with the University of Memphis, so...

For his part, Dumars is respectful, if bemused, at his old foe's interest in moving from the studio to management.

"What he does know is how up front, honest and direct he has to be with players about what he expects, what's acceptable and what's not," Dumars said. "What he may not know right now is that it may take more than one conversation for that to sink in."

Then there is the cap, Dumars said. How much are you willing to overpay for a guy other teams want?

"Then you have to deal with his agent," Dumars said. "Agent's going to come in and tell Charles, 'No, Charles, you shouldn't pay him $5 million; you should pay him $9 million, and I'm going to tell you why he's a great basketball player.' Now, he's got to sit there and listen to the agent tell him what makes a great basketball player. Now, you take it from there and tell me how that conversation is going to go."

Who on earth knows whether Barkley has the staying power to get on a plane and go to El Paso to see some 19-year-old kid? Or if he's willing to learn the vagaries of the salary cap. Or if he'd spend a week in Vegas watching guys who can't play in the summer league.

Wait.

Strike that last one. A trip to Vegas? Count him in.

"I think I know the game," he said. "The game comes down to talent. Ain't no great coaches unless they've got great players. Ask Larry. Larry Brown's a great coach, but not with that s- he had this year."
Just one line is Knicks related... But kind of summurized the last seasson.
Arguable Zo. Next season will make it clear.

Posted by arkrud:

"I think I know the game," he said. "The game comes down to talent. Ain't no great coaches unless they've got great players. Ask Larry. Larry Brown's a great coach, but not with that s- he had this year."
Just one line is Knicks related... But kind of summurized the last seasson.
Arguable Zo. Next season will make it clear.

EH? He's entitled to his opinion. I really don't think he's as smart as he thinks he is. I hate the way he steps on peoples lines on the TNT broadcasts. I really respected his game as a player and remain amazed at what he could do with that body type. I don't think he'd make a great GM tho. I just don't see him being able to put in all the work necessary.

In comparison to isiah, i'd say that Isiah knows talent pretty good as well and Barkley will have to go a long way to outdue Isiah in terms of his draft record. It remains to be seen if Isiah can build a team. So far after 2.5 season's we still don't know. I think we'll get a good idea this year tho. We'll finally be able to tell LB and his supporters to kiss our collective butts, cuz I don't see this team failing like so many think it will.

EH? He's entitled to his opinion. I really don't think he's as smart as he thinks he is. I hate the way he steps on peoples lines on the TNT broadcasts. I really respected his game as a player and remain amazed at what he could do with that body type. I don't think he'd make a great GM tho. I just don't see him being able to put in all the work necessary.

In comparison to isiah, i'd say that Isiah knows talent pretty good as well and Barkley will have to go a long way to outdue Isiah in terms of his draft record. It remains to be seen if Isiah can build a team. So far after 2.5 season's we still don't know. I think we'll get a good idea this year tho. We'll finally be able to tell LB and his supporters to kiss our collective butts, cuz I don't see this team failing like so many think it will.

I think you may be abusing the kool-aid just a tad bit too much.

And I get soooo tired of Isiah getting credit for having a good draft record. Umm, there are alot of teams with good draft records. Can we get some wins, if that's not asking too much.

Then you say it remains to be seen if Isiah can build a team.

Dude, wake up.

Please.

Posted by Allanfan20:

Barkely always trashes the Knicks and always has. Even during their early 90 thug years. Why would he want to come here of all places and why should the Knicks fans want him?

Dolan will pay him a lot of freaking money. Lots of it!

Elections ain't cheap!

Posted by Swishfm3:

I would love to see Barkley in a GM/Coaching position so he can finally shut to fcuk up.

That should do the trick.

I agree.

Barkley seems to be the type of person who makes irrational decisions based on ... whatever irrational decisions are based on.

Posted by BRIGGS:

Barkley was a great player, not a GM type. I think he probably has wiped out a hoard of his savings from gambling and sees what type of $$$$$ these guys make. He's in a good job now, he gets to be himself and is kind of a comic relief guy. Just stay away from the tables

You could almost say Isiah has been a gambler too- and most all of his bets and gone bad.

Posted by TheGame:

Barkley is a smart guy

You lost me... He knows basketball, I'll give him that.