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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  • Byebye

    Barkley forgot he teamed with kj in phoenix when he demanded he get traded from philly thats all imma say

  • Dagger

    O’BRIEN: “Do you think there’s a role that race plays in this?” JAMES: “I think so, at times. It’s always, you know, a race factor.” Look, Lebron is just pointing out – in a very tentative way – what everyone who isn’t completely ignorant already knows. And no, he’s not saying that all responses to the Decision were racially motivated, nor is he saying that everyone who doesn’t like him is racist. Bear in mind that Lebron is also simply answering a reasonable question (given the Q score data) from a journalist who’s done a lot of work on race in America. I can’t imagine how some of you see the world, but it must be a painfully simple place. As for Barkley, this is a great opportunity for him to rant and rave and actually get some positive publicity for a change. I suspect he’ll back down when and if he actually talks with Lebron on air, just like he did when he called Kobe a quitter.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Tarzan I was in a league with all the slam people last year. If you get people that are legitimately knowledgable i’d be down, but if its like last year where semi-fans/guessing gameists are playin i’m out.

  • JTaylor21

    @Karma, here we go again with the making sh*t up and replacing it over my actual comments. I said one of the best of all-time not BEST, DAMN, please don’t even try to act like KJ’s not one of the best PGs in history okay. Go back and look at every time someone made their own Top PGs list and I bet that his name comes up every time. You try to play the I’m wiser and older than you card but CRASHED and BURNED miserably when you tried to act like KJ’s some round the way PG, you should lose the arrogance and scrap whatever basketball knowledge you taught you knew and go back and learn the history of the NBA from Day One. Your knowledge is like danny devito, it always comes up short.

  • Steve H

    ESPN love to ride jock and try to generate hype….. the big problem is they come out of it looking like some kind of diet-MTV. Here’s and idea…. just report sports.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    ^^ NO Room to talk.

  • JTaylor21

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

  • doyouwantmore

    Obama’s ideas and policies are fundamentally unsound. And if you disagree with me you’re a racist homophobe.

  • http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000580635564 Bryan

    I’m so disappointed that I missed good conversations two days in a row. What I really want to know is how Charles Barkley criticizing Lebron the basketball player turns into a moral argument? At what point did Barkley question Lebron’s morality in such a way that his character issues came under fire? If anything Chuck’s transgressions only make him more credible in my book. He’s done things far worse in comparison to Lebron but is still somehow beloved by most basketball fans, white or otherwise.

  • hammer

    Don’t agree w/jtaylor hardly @ all,but kj is 1 of the best pg of all time. Just cuz u not n the hall,don’t mean u weren’t 1 of the gr8′s

  • C.B

    why is charles barkley keeping himself in the same sentence as magic and bird…?? and all he does is critisize everyone. just shut the F@@K up sir charles

  • karma89

    @JTaylor

    1. Kevin Johnson, at any point, was not one of the best PGs in the league or was even considered that way. It would be equivalent to saying someone like Andre Miller or Chauncey Billups are “one of the best PGs of all time”. They are solid, dependable PGs, but “one of the best ever”? No. That is possibly greatest exaggeration I have ever heard.

    2. I’m convinced you’re about 15 years old with the way that you write and the ridiculous arguments that you make.

    3. You spelt “thought” as “taught”.

    4. I’m arrogant when it comes to you because you just seem like the epitome of what a “casual fan” is. Your knowledge of the game is pretty much baseless and you spew off on your keyboard with any damn thing that comes in your head.

    5. Capitalizing random words in a sentence doesn’t get your point across any stronger. Just fyi.

  • JTaylor21

    Whatever BRUHMAN, you’re smarter than everybody on this site combined. I give up, there’s better things to do like watch the NBA top 2 players go at it in camp.

  • karma89

    KJ is a great PG, but he’s not “one of the best of all-time”. I can argue that all day. Those type of PGs are guys with crazy numbers and achievements – the Kidd, Payton, Stockton, Magic, Thomas types.

  • karma89

    I never claimed to be smarter than anyone on this site, escept you. You just post stupid arguments in every thread pertaining to Lebron or Kobe and now you feel slighted cause someone actually calls you out on your ridiculousness. Go home.

  • karma89

    **except

  • Blackphantom

    C’mon y’all. This is Charles Barkley. Have you ever read his book of quotes called Sir Charles? You ever seen the two word letter he wrote to Bill Laimbeer? I don’t think it gets anymore disrespectful than that lol

  • tavoris

    anybody who doesn’t think Barkley is in the pantheon with Jordan, Bird, and Magic never had the pleasure of actually watching him play beyone youtube mixes. Barkley was Lebron before Lebron was a twinkle in Gloria’s eye.
    on the original (and only) Dream Team, there was MJ, there was Barkley, and then there was everybody else. NOBODY IN THE WORLD could stop that dude back then.

  • NicktheQuick

    @Jtaylor I am not blaming Lebron and his handlers for the ESPN coverage of their training camp. I understand that this is an entertainment business and ESPN feels like the whole world should know how many times Lebron sneezed during practice or how aggressive his tone has been. That is not Lebron’s fault. I obviously don’t agree with how the Super-friends came together, but I think it’s good competition and I will watch their games because I am a fan of the game, first and foremost, before being a fan of any team. I do think though, that Charles should get to say whatever he wants to say because simply, he can. All these people talking sh** about Barkley, if they had the popularity and the podium to speak like Barkley would not speak their mind but be politically correct. It’s refreshing to hear someone give Lebron some tough love instead of all the coddling he gets from everyone.

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

    Nbk, u can join post ur email. I got u wayno. Whos hangtime hec, he wont be getting an invite. Eboy? Jtaylor? Allen? Tavoris?

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

    Jtaylor, u gonna have to start payin me royalties

  • JTaylor21

    Will some cigarrates, box of Jujyfruits, and a McDonalds eat your heart out card do?

  • http://Www.fiba.com Darksaber

    Yup, seems like a good tactic to evade LBJ/KOB’S posts this season…..

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Tarzan were you with us in last year’s SLAM-commenter fantasy league, with RV, Hursty, NBK, TADOne, Eboy and Jukai? If so I might be interested. What website are you using for it?
    Also, Hangtime Hec has been commenting for a while now, he’s cool.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    On topic: What the hell is Charles opening his yap about now? He didn’t want to play with Jordan or Magic, so he leaves to play with HAKEEM OLAJUWON AND CLYDE DREXLER? Jordan doesn’t want to play with them either, so that must mean he never played with SCOTTIE PIPPEN AND DENNIS RODMAN, right? Magic didn’t want to play with Jordan, but he was totally fine with KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR AND JAMES WORTHY? F*cking hypocrites, the lot of’em. Cot dayum. Why is the media acting like LeBron’s move is the first time in history 3 future hall-of-famers have teamed up? More like the twentieth time.

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Barkley spoke the truth and now the truth can set some people free, but Lebron is making himself look stupid and I am tired of sports head talkers saying white people are mainly upset, no black people are upset the way he did it and it was a punk move for a future supposed King. Maybe LeGuru should hire that guy back to help him in his time of trouble and get six figures donated to his cause again. Lebron is a joke now, but at least he is fierce now.LOL BOOK IT!!

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Actually Tarzan, I’m down. tedong487@yahoo.com . I also say Hangtime should join us.

  • JTaylor21

    Join what? If it involves worshiping a picture of The Situation to join I’ll take a rain check (I kidd I kidd). What are you talking bout Teddy?

  • karma89

    Charles joined the Rockets when both Hakeem and Clyde were starting to fade, as was he. Scottie was drafted to Chicago, and Magic was drafted to the Lakers. Lebron joined two other superstars in HIS PRIME when he could have very well carved his own legacy…which is why the older players were quick to criticize him. Its different when you’re on your last legs and have fallen trying. Its different when you just lead a team to 60 wins at 25 and just give up cause you hate the pressure (he does).

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

    Jtaylr, turn the squares into a double box of swishers and we got a deal. Teddy, yahoo, head to head league with playoffs. I wasnt in that one last year, but I started one two years ago, but many ppl werent active at all, eboy being one of them, but ill give him a second shot. I dont remember ever seeing hec but since u ay hes good, hes good.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Tarzan
    I don’t like fantasy sports, but thanks for the invite.

  • Clement

    i don’t really like Barkley or agree with him (cuz most of the time he’s just a huge buffoon), but in this case Sir Charles’s comments are spot on.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Well, I’ve never been in a fantasy pool with Hangtime before, Tarzan, but I know he comments here so I say give him a shot. And props for the invite, man. I think you should ask Jukai too, he’s been pretty active in our previous fantasy bball pools.

  • tavoris

    @Tarzan-just add @gmail.com to my handle. Yeah, that’s my real name

  • tavoris

    oh crap..that’s for fantasy sports? nah…I don’t have the patience for that ‘ish

  • Mallis

    Charles is an embarrassing buffoon who needs to look in the mirror before criticizing someone else.

  • hangtime Hec

    Thanks Teddy and Tarzan but Ill rather not. I haven’t ever done head to head and I would want to be wasting anyones time. But thanks anyway Teddy for vouching for me.

  • K-Nas

    Chuck: “Just when I think LeBron can’t get any stupider, he goes and does something like this… and totally redeems himself!”

  • Nashty

    I love Chuck, always telling it like it is…..

  • http://Slamonline.com Niyasofresh

    Oh Charles shut up just several months ago you were almost having verbal fornication with him, now he changes teams you wanna keep bashing him?

  • Sturm Drang

    Barkley is sort of correct… but this is less about Lebron James being stupid and more about the fact that he’s young, very wealthy, and is completely surrounded by bootlickers telling him what he wants to hear, that he can do no wrong, and who have no real business savvy or real world experience (I’m looking at you Maverick Carter).

    James needs to drop all those so-called friends of his and hire some fricking professionals to advise him.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    “Eboy Posted: Oct.1 at 3:03 pm
    I’m sure the first opportunity that Charles gets to speak with Lebron after a Heat game on Inside the NBA, Charles will be a p*ssy and not speak so freely. Book that.” Why is that? Is it because Lebron is black? If Lebron was white, would Charles Barkley be less threatened when he talks to Lebron? Do you think Lebron, because he is big and more importantly BLACK (in all caps) will impose his will on an older man such as Barkley? That is pretty thuggish behavior you are expecting from Lebron. Is it because he is black and black is thug as thug is black? You are such a racist!

  • http://www.google.com/news BETCATS

    Oops i put the wrong link in my name.
    Continue on with your days everyone.

  • http://Slamonline.com Nbk

    Alegendary1@yahoo.com – my fault I took a nap after work

  • JTaylor21

    @BETCATS, Eboy said that because that’s what all reporters do; they talk sh*t behind the players back but when they meet face to face they try to get fresh with them. Remember that reporter that was talking all that ish about Neon Deion and then when Prime Time showered him like he was doc rivers, dude didn’t do sh*t but stand there.

  • Krisjanis

    Why y’all think LeBron gonna win something?

  • feez22

    Charles Barkley… i love the guy’s work on tnt. He speaks the truth. Too bad he is a hypocrite… no matter how much charles hates this and no matter how much lebron has done to hurt his image, charles has done WORSE to society. To date lebron’s worst decision was “the decision” which btw raised 3 million dollars for the boys&girls club of america and has exposed dan gilbert for the ignorant prick i have known him to be as a michigan native. Charles’ worst decision? jeez… there are so much obscene ones. spitting on the little girl? throwing a guy through a table in vegas? getting bj’s from hookers while married and then bragging how good they are to the police? those are just 3 of the number of ILLEGAL infractions (spitting on a little girl=battery or what?) charles has done. 3 illegal actions that have put himself and others in supreme danger. yet he rambles along about the ETHICS of lebron’s decision? he rambles along about lebron staying in a small market(which is true) yet HE HIMSELF BOLTED PHILLY? AND PHOENIX? FOR BIG MARKET HOUSTON???? listen people. I think charles is RIGHT about lebron. HOWEVER i just can’t take him seriously due to his own past being 10 times worse than what lebron has done. just not “credible” when talking about personal issues as he has made mistakes well into his 40s…

  • EJ

    Decision vol 2, who’ll be Chuck’s next favorite boy now that Lebron is gone? I’m beting KD.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    No problem, Hangtime. Your choice.

  • TheTruth

    @karma89 THANK YOU! That’s exactly why I hate seeing his stupid screen name on every story. It’s annoying he acts like he’s the messiah of basketball and he’s always right, even though half the time he’s just talking out his a**.

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