Charles Barkley's Time for Rebirth
I'm going to be honest with you. Charles Barkley has always gotten on my nerves. From his loud mouth antics on the court and unbridled cockiness off to the NBA Hall of Famer's now infamous statement, "I'm not a role model. I'm not paid to be a role model," his attitude had never quite sat well with me. That along with his expressed desire to run for governor of our home state of Alabama in 2014 resonated with me as a kind of "celebrity entitlement" program perk lacking genuine self-awareness. It's the, "Well, Jesse and Arnold did it, I can do it, too," syndrome. With few states being redder than Bama, I've often wondered what on earth would make him think he could be the governor of the "Heart of Dixie."
But something's changed and I don't mean the election of Barack Obama.
Over the weekend, I witnessed Mr. Barkley give a cable news interview at the start of his three-day jail sentence in Arizona for two misdemeanor D.U.I. charges related to his arrest on New Year's Eve. What I saw was a different Charles Barkley. I truly believe I glimpsed the spirit of a humbler, gentler and kinder gentleman than the cultivated persona of the hot-shot-campus-jock-run-amok we've seen for over twenty years now. What seeped through was a deeper connection to his humanness. I saw vulnerability yet strength. The kind of strength that comes from a man's inner probing. In his own words Mr. Barkley said, "I take full responsibility for my actions." He didn't blame the media or the likes of his third grade teacher like so many celebs do when caught in an indiscretion. Mr. Barkley has also said that, if necessary, he would stop drinking. It was quite refreshing.
A brush with the law or public humiliation for some can be the much needed wakeup call that can lead them to a deeper examination of themselves and their behavior. It's almost cliché that hardship renders one a new perspective on life, but with Barkley I think there is something there.
Perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part, but for the first time in my memory, I actually saw Mr. Barkley exude the characteristics of a man, who with careful and continued personal development, introspection and maturity, might emerge as the role model and true leader off the court, he has the potential to be.
Governor of Alabama? "Well, let's not push it. I still believe Mr. Barkley has about as great a chance of being governor of Alabama as I do of being quarterback for my beloved Alabama Crimson Tide. But this minor setback has given him an opportunity to examine how he might still serve society, his community and a world in great need of strong leaders regardless of whether he makes it to the executive mansion or not. It sort of harkens back to what President Obama has been advocating since announcing his run for the White House. Service.
That said, if Mr. Barkley sees being governor of Bama as his ultimate goal, then by all means he must go for it. Isn't that what America is all about? God knows there was enough bloodshed on the dusty back roads of Alabama for anyone to feel they have the right to pursue the highest office in the state. With Democratic Rep. Artur Davis, the African American congressman from Birmingham, having already announced his candidacy for the office in 2010, who's to say that the great state of Alabama will not have evolved to a neo South status to make Mr. Barkley's candidacy viable?
Yet Mr. Barkley still has much work to do to be a credible candidate. I suggest he seek to use what should be his better understanding of the law and the criminal justice system to bring a heightened sensitivity to many of the social ills still plaguing the state of Alabama and the country such as the disproportionate incarceration rate of African Americans, poorly funded public schools, poverty, and alcoholism. And get to it now. If 2014 is to be your big year, we need to see you step into your greatness today. When on his quest, Mr. Barkley needs to remember that quiet confidence will take him a lot farther than a loud mouth.
Yes, I know it can be burdensome being a hero for all of your less fortunate brethren. Nevertheless, Sir Charles, it sort of goes with the territory. So when they ask you if you're a role model this time around please tell them that you are. Let us see some growth, homeboy. This could be your three-point shot of a lifetime.
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Sir Charles never claims to be more then a big, lucky, fun loving regular guy. He knows how fortunate he is God gave him the ability to play Bball and he knows he should have done more with that talent. We should all give CB a break.
So the writer is just NOW seeing these better attributes of Charles Barkley?
Where has he been the last 8 years? Anyone who watches television WITHOUT pre-concieved notions of the people they are watching would have seen the change in Charles Barkley LONG AGO. Sir, your prejudice is what made you blind. Thankfully those of us in the rest of the world with no ax to grind, saw the changes well in advance of today.
For the rest of you, I have always pitied people who have complete strangers as Role MODELS.
Sure, role models for how to excel at a GAME.
If you want to excel spiritually, I guess that would be your Pastor, Rabbi, whatever. If you want to be a leader, then I guess the President, or some more close Leader figure would be that....Want to be a good mother/father? That should not be the job of Venus Williams or Tiger Woods to inspire you....
Lazy parents are always seeking ROLE models for their children. Thankfully, my husband has been all the role model my sons needed.
If you don't have a good husband/wife, get one, or just don't have children. To hold Charles Barkley (or any other stranger) responsible for whether or not YOUR son gets drunk, does drugs or mistreats women is a cop out!
Great article from a great writer! I always thought there was more to Barkley than the Bad Boy image he portrays. I wouldn't be surprised at all if this was the beginning of a gradual transformation of Sir Charles.
So what if the guy had a couple of cocktails? Like he's the first person to ever get a DUI. People lighten up!!! The most important thing is NO ONE GOT HURT.
lighten up? unlike some of us, guess you don't know anybody that was killed by a drunk driver.
humbler, kinder, gentler......
um hmmm
incarceration and fear of losing a payday permanently will "transform" a person, at least for a few days anyway.
just another --------pedia entry.
Alabama could do worse ---- and has.
I've heard Barkley speak of the importance of education, to the kids of Alabama.
At least he has his priorities straight.
If he's finally growing up --- good on him.
Barkley is more Icarus than Muhammad Ali, but epiphanic events should be praised. Good luck, Barkley. Good luck Alabama. Great reminder of how we can all influence one another and spawn positive growth.
I would love to believe CB has learned something from this situation. I wonder if his desire to keep his job as an NBA analyst influenced his comments to the media. Hmmmmm. What would you do or say if your lucrative job was at stake? The least he can do is accept responsibility for his own actions. That is expected at his age. He was caught. It is not like he came forward and confessed his actions. Accept it for what it is.
I agree CB is smart enough to know how to act when money is on the line. For his sake I hope he has turned the page and grows up but I remain skeptical until I hear or see further evidence of his transformation.
It may be silly, but I have to wonder if Mr. Barkley's interest and dedication to fixing his golf swing and re-exposure to the game of golf has a tiny something to do with accepting something that's broken and therefore taking the steps necessary to fix it. Golf is uniquely like that. You have no one else to lean on, anything that's wrong has to be examined and dealt with, and you can never win, just play the game as best you can. I hesitate to wax epsodic, but that's what came to mind when I read this post.
Yes.He is a model. I, for example, lost all my money in Las Vegas
What do most of those guys in tent city have in life that reflects the norms of society? Sports, no doubt. Gee, and here they have a major sports figure right in their midst to reinforce their choices in life. Barkley is unfortunately the role model he never wanted to be.
When you make a mistake, the best thing to do is to own it. Since he stepped up to the plate and took responsibility, he is a better man for it. It is the one's who say, " I don't recall, I didn't do it " that are shameful.
Great Article George. Charles IS a role model; whether he wants to be one or not. Glad to see him taking the responsibility for his actions......we can all learn something from that.
As for his run for Governor.................well, I hope he remembers it IS ALABAMA!!!! If he won, that would REALLY be CHANGE!!!
If Sir Charles looked humbled it's because his wife probably put him through a deserved hell for the past two months since the incident and the three days in jail looked like a reprive from her just admonishments.
I think Sir Charles is becoming a man.
I too had many toys and habits when I was young.
I was also indestructable.
We tend to all become wiser as we become older.
I give Mr. Barkley credit for accepting what he had done.
I believe that if we give credit to those that improve themselves instead of telling them they are still imperfect, we may encourage the continues improvement of people working hard.
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