Friday, October 1st, 2010 at 2:55 pm  |  187 responses

Barkley on LeBron: ‘Just When You Think it Couldn’t Get Any Stupider’

Not too shockingly, Sir Charles — who never shies away from taking shots at ‘Bron ‘Bron — jumped all over him for his comments about race playing a role in the post-”Decision” backlash. SRI has the quotes from Barkley’s sports radio appearance: “On LeBron talking about race being an issue in the criticism he’s received: ‘It’s like watching a movie. Just when you think it couldn’t get any stupider, it gets more stupid.’ On LeBron continuing to make bad decisions: ‘Sometimes you just say he’s making bad decisions and you’re like okay, he’s gonna get it together. Then he makes more bad decisions. The thing that’s interesting about LeBron, I don’t think Magic, Michael, and myself, we said we wouldn’t have did it. That’s not a criticism. We were asked a question. I don’t want to play with Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, or Michael, I want to beat them. That’s strictly basketball. The only criticism I’ve heard about LeBron and it was my biggest criticism, that decision thing was just stupid. It was stupid. The second thing when they all came out there dancing around on stage, that was silly. That’s the only thing I’ve heard LeBron get criticized about. That has nothing to do with race. That’s what makes this last thing so stupid. That’s stupid. The only criticism of LeBron has been the decision and the one hour of our life that we can’t have back. And ESPN, oh my God. Oh my God. To go down to training camp and report everyday is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. I’m watching yesterday and one of the guys actually said LeBron looked fierce in practice. I’m like fierce in practice? What the hell does that mean? He was fierce in the second day of training camp. You’re like come on man, he really didn’t say that did he. This summer with LeBron and all the stuff that went on is like a bad movie. You just can’t make this stuff up.’”

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  • Rikson

    Disney owns ESPN… So that expains a lot!

  • tavoris

    feez…u know that the difference with Barkley is that he’s HONEST about his infractions, whereas other superstars had PR teams sweeping the same transgressions under the rug?
    Barkley is HUMAN-and unapologetically so. He’s shown us all his glass house, so (in my book) he gets free reign to throw stones all fackin’ day.

  • YEZZER

    SHUTUP CHUCK
    Charles cant relate himself to Michael, Bird, and Magic
    Chuck is an idiot
    Dwyane should call him and tell him just be quiet
    Chuck wish he did that when he played and is trying to defend his stupid life

  • http://www.threadsandkicks.com.au Eduardo

    Charles is the best. He’s speaking exactly what everyone else feels. He’s right with everything that he stated in these comments. The backlash has nothing to do with Race. Can’t remember Michael, Magic ever becoming white over summer? Truth is LeBron was a lot more popular keeping his mouth closed and letting his basketball do the talking. One things for sure, LeBron and his team aren’t good at marketing. LeBron should just stick to playing basketball instead of building an empire because his LRMR team have shown they’ve got nothing on The Jordan Brand.

    The people sticking up for LeBron in the comments above are either from Miami or got a free Bike at the Bikathon.

  • Da Holy Karron

    Love Chuck but didnt he team up with clyde and dream for a run and Pip too child please in ocho voice

  • tavoris

    @Da Holy Karron – Barkley was traded to the Rockets, dontyaknow? His situation was much more Melo than Lebron.

  • http://dfsjklf.com Jukai

    I’ve been dodging addressing this for a while, but here is my two cents:
    1) It is true that Lebron answered a question
    2) it is true that this question was leading and given to Lebron to stir up controversy
    3) Yes, Lebron didn’t say race was involved in the entire decision and didn’t continue it as if it was an issue.
    BUT
    The entire thing felt dodgy to me. I don’t buy the whole “he’ll get criticized either way for answering that.” You really need me to list ways for him to not get criticized? “I can’t read peoples minds, I don’t know” (true), “For some people, I’m sure it’s true, but for many there are other reasons as well” (true).
    The stock answer of “yes, of course!!!” felt like Lebron was taking some weight off his shoulders on his awful decision. Did race play a factor on the Lebron hate? No sh*t. But what should be addressed is that it was a horrible decision in the first place.
    The real response is “yes, some people unfortunately are going to hate every decision I do. They will never like me and it’s sad. But I unthoughtfully publicized my unpopular decision and glamorized myself and made money off it and that, in many peoples minds, is probably the most prevelant issue. I was the media darling and I took that and shoved it down everyone’s throats. So yes, race is always a factor, but for many, they don’t see race. They just see a man who made a bad decision.”
    But yeah, white america rah rah evil white man carry on.

  • http://dfsjklf.com Jukai

    On a sidenote, the Magic comment always irked me. Yeah, Jordan would have never left Chicago, but Magic? He had his foot out the f*cking door his second season there. And his comment about never teaming up with Magic? HE PLAYED WITH KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, A BETTER PLAYER THAN LARRY BIRD!
    I mean, Magic got a Finals MVP and won the adoration of fans everywhere his rookie year, but what was Kareem putting up in those playoffs? Only 32 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and nearly 4 blocks!!! Kareem had three prime years left where it was debatable who was the best on that team. Kareem, the greatest center in NBA history!
    And yet Magic would NEVER team up with Bird.
    Ugh.

  • http://dfsjklf.com Jukai

    *And his comment about never teaming up with Larry

  • Joost

    Charles i like you, but come on man…
    LeBron doesn’t need your advice and you should respect his deciscion.
    At the end of his career, LeBron will have at least one ring more than you and that’s also because he is in fact more talented than you ever were, no disrespect. But still I think it’s sad,all those old basketball stars giving their socalled godly opinion, give LeBron (and Chis Bosh) a break, it’s a different world today and just watch and enjoy the Miami Heat play.

  • http://www.redraidersports.com Nicolas Fleming

    I like turtles.

  • The Philosopher

    LONG… LIVE… THE KING!!

  • rich

    all this will go away when season starts, they just need things to talk about and when they run dry on it they ask these athletes stupid questions so they have something to print. im more interested in seing chalmers put the steel curtian on other guards like he did when he first came out, or if mike miller breaks korvers record. or if the center spot becomes an achillies heel. will bosh become a lockdown defender now that he as something to play for? this is more interesting than if america hate black ppl. old news, they dont like us, move on. well i got my ticket when bosh comes back to the air canada center so im good.

  • http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

    Props to the ilike turtles zzombie kid. Phil and jukai, post an email of yours.

  • http://sdfklflc.com Jukai

    njl4515 @ gmail . com

  • The Philosopher

    shanibscott@gmail.com
    Wholly appreciate the invitation, Tarzan.

  • It Hurts

    Barkley is going to be awesome when he’s an old man. Dude supposedly doesn’t care what anybody thinks of him now, but when he’s senile and close to the grave …

  • know the ledge

    Sir Charles is totally right hes just called LeFraud Shames on every mistake hes made over the “Summer of LeFraud” when he left philly for phoenix what superteam did he go to??? and when he played for houston those 3 stars were fading stars and way past there prime how is any of that the same what Lefraud Shames has done???
    from the whole decision to make “The Decision” what a nightmare???
    Lefraud has every right to join what ever team hes decides but look at the process he chose to get there???
    Plus for someone whos a supposedly historian of the game why go thru that horse and pony show for your fans and for all the fans of the nba when this thing was in the works for the whole time
    All this from the same guy who said “When I look at myself im not representing lebron now im representing the league the city of akron the city of cleveland im not going to disappoint anybody”
    “It’s also important to me to make the team I’m on now the best. I don’t want to go ring-chasing, as I call it; you know, going to a team that’s already pretty established and trying to win a ring with them. I want to stay with the Cavs and build a champion. And I feel like we’re on our way.”
    but as most miami heat fans they are uninformed just look at how they booed & called Jason Taylor traitor after 10yrs of playing his heart out for that organization and this is the same city that cant understand all the outrage that this egomaniac has done

  • know the ledge

    LeFraud Shames has become Gollum from Lord of the Rings and has joined the Miami Nazgûl/Heat in the quest to ring chase im just glad DWade already got his ring

  • know the ledge

    @JTaylor wow really ur probably one of those ignorant miami dolphin fans that booed and called JT a traitor typical for miami fans LMAO

  • Dre

    I love Charles but if anyone think that BS made any since you are riding the short bus. Lebron was refering to the way people were burning his jersey, talking about his mother, and over criticizing the “Decision”. Barkley is the stupid one because S. Wade called him out for saying that he would never do what they did, when he did the exact same thing. Charles is looking more and more stupid… he needsto just shut up. He went and played with 3 of the top 50 players and hall of famers and still couldn’t win a chip.

  • Dre

    tavoris, Charles pushed for the Houston trade, that was were he wanted to go. I remember those days very vividly… everyone is calling him out on it. Also just because you do stupid crap and you are honest about it doesn’t give you a free pass to talk crap about people. Stop doing stupid crap and we will see how much validity that you have.

  • JTaylor21

    LONG… LIVE… THE NBA!!! (Shoutouts Philo.)

  • The Philosopher

    ^^What’s going on, brethren?

  • boogster

    hey Tarzan, I`m not a regular commenter of slam, but i am very interested in fantasy nba. If you`ll let me, get at me bolor0819@yahoo.com

  • http://slam.com Ruach Tang

    yea thats y charles dont got no ring to claim… great player no ring jus sayin.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Negetivekreep

    Why come Eboy used to used to use to love BARKley, pon now eim a no love i mon? Could it be the new subject of Bark’s wrath? hmmm… On another note,

    I don’t feel LeBron was dishonest in his response. Whenever a black public figure does anything “viewed wrong” wheather actually wrong or not, (in Brons case, his right to a decision)they are overly scrutinized, and villified to an unfair extent. This a direct result of raceism. Bron said it was a factor, not THE main factor, so i think Barkley went overboard again, and i think because of the overwhelmingly bad feelings people have for the decision, perhaps some are over reacting as well. Wanting to feel no simpathy for this guy right now, perhaps it is hard for some to concede that race in relation to outrage was a factor. It seems some are finding it difficult to seperate these issues. Perhaps because LeBron was overwhelmingly loved embraced and hyped beyond ANY pro athelete of any race of his generation. So now because he has fallen in popularity it is hard for some to imagine race was played a factor. But if history has taught us a lesson, it is, that it regularly repeats itself. LeBron has been loved, hyped ect,ect. not just because of his immense talent, but also because of his image and marketability. He always seemed to do the right (or popular) thing. Think about it, how did America feel about Cassius Clay as apposed to Muhammed Ali post draft evasion? that was the original “decision” and no doudbt on a farr greater stage as far as race and polotics are concerned. Never the less it demonstrates that America can love a black man, as long as he plays his position,as long he’s a golly good ol’ boy and tips his hat, Ask Willey mays. But become rebellious in spirit, go against the grain, become too authoritative, or create too much change? and you will not be romanticised like Jesse James or Billy the kid and other white cowboy outlaws were/are. You can’t go ask Dr King, Or MalcomX because they unlike LBJ were litterally killed for this. So Just ask the leader of the free world.

  • tavoris

    Dre-I feel u. But there’s a difference between pushing for a trade (which the team isn’t obligated to oblige) and deserting an organization in the worst way possible. The way Lebron left the Cavs was borderline sadistic.
    The backlash didn’t have anything to do with race, because Lebron is the type of athlete that has transcended race. The backlash was because while he has every right to go wherever he wants as a FA, he chose to leave in the most spiteful way possible.
    Try this: date a woman for 7 years, lead her into thinking you will get married, then dump her on facebook for her sister.
    See if all ur stuff isn’t burned the next day.

  • hammer

    @tavoris. Totally agreed. Luv the lbj/woman comparison. So tru

  • xkenchy

    charles is right on and all these pple saying his jealous should get their heads checked. This pompous bum lebron is very selfish and ignorant, that is why ppl cant stand him not because he is black. what a loser and cnn should stop asking supid question period.

  • Dre

    Tavoris, I understand your point but the comparison doesn’t match up. It is only the fans being selfish pricks. I know Cavs fans that had wanted Lebron to stay but understood why he did it. If a team refuses to give you the proper help, they would rather you burn yourself out with them so they can they say we was loyal but never delivered. My friend fans are people, and people are fickled, catty, and wishy washy. He did what was best for his career. Also what Charles did is worse because he did not wait until his contract expired before he cried and demanded a trade and everyone knows how Charles acts when he doesn’t get his way. I’m sorry my friend but it is the same thing and Charles

    As far as race is concerned their is no person that can transend race if the right opportunity presents itself. Like Obama he is president but a certain amount (not all) of the backlash he gets is race related. No one can completely transend race, that is a myth.

    xkenchy, I think Charles is jealous anyone with an ounce of common sense can see that. He wishes he wouldn’t have done it so late in his career. Also Kevin Garnett said that if he would have known like he knows now he would have left Minn sooner. No one is jumping down his throat for those statements.

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  • BBaller

    @ AllenP, the point some of us are trying to put across to certain bloggers( Eboy and Jtaylor21 in particular)is that the aggressive and arrogant posts are not required. For the past few weeks these certain bloggers are attacking anyone with an opinion, and i have noticed many contradictions and hypocracies posted by everyone, some of the selective retention is absolutley absurd. Since the ‘ decision’ Eboy has grown into sorry Eboy but a F^*kwit, ask yourself ” if Lebron and Bosh went to Denver would you still defend Lebron so blindly?’and JTaylor21, little, little boy, go back to kindagarden and learn to share in this world, it’s not everyman for himself,me,me,me that attitude is pretty sad, you would probably agree off site.
    To everyone NO ONE is an expert,we all just speculate, even you AllenP seem to have grown an extra inch with your recent promo, stay grounded dude.

  • BBaller

    When people ask me what is my favourite sport? I’m torn between Basketball and Soccer, two sports i have religously followed for more than JTaylor21′s entire life, and when i respond with Basketball, it is becoz of the fans. How passionate and encouraging they are unlike soccer fans who are arrogant and aggressive on websites. SLAM is going that way with its current few bloggers.Sort it out SLAM

  • http://http/facebook.com james h. ellis jr

    Amen …enough said…and about that golf swing thing?

  • oldschool

    Sir Charles has it right, except its more than his Decision, Dance, and dumb comments… Much more serious and I can’t understand why it doesn’t have more press: what about baby bron’s dive in the Celtics series. Can anyone imagine any champion to give up on the floor like he did. Certainly not ANY one we know as champions. Thank you Charles for speaking. I’m at a loss, all the veneration and he’s done nothing yet.

  • Pataus

    What else is Charles gonna say? The issue of race and racism diminishes in importance every night in his bedroom.

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