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The big comeback? Charles Barkley discusses his possible return to the NBA
Updated: Tuesday May 22, 2001 6:27 PM
CNN/Sports Illustrated's Laura Okmin sat down with Charles Barkley on the set of TNT's NBA half-time show, where Barkley has made his mark as an NBA analyst to be reckoned with. Laura Okmin: What's the year been like for you working here and making the switch to TV? Charles Barkley: It's just as much fun as I thought it would be. It just takes a lot of time and effort doing this, not for us but for all people who work here. (While Barkley gets his TV makeup done.) Okmin: I don't think I've ever seen you with some makeup on. Nice concealer. Barkley: Well, every now and then a Mona Lisa needs a touchup. Okmin: Look how patient you are. Do you enjoy this part of the job? Barkley: Not really. It just gets your clothes dirty.
Barkley: Sometimes, depends on what's on. Sometimes if something better is on, I watch that. I keep my eye on both. I look at one out of one eye and one out of the other. See I'm ambidextrous... I can look at you and look at the game. Okmin: Being covered and being interviewed for as many years as you were and now being on the other side, any surprises? Was there something that you had any kind of epiphany now being on this side saying you know, I didn't give the journalists enough credit here or I didn't think it was going to be this tough. Barkley: Well no, not really because I don't really worry too much about the journalists who never played the game. Unless someone had the guts to be out there and put their neck on the line, I really don't worry about their opinion. That's the one advantage I feel that I bring to the table. I've been there. I've choked before. I've won before and I enjoy it but there's nothing like being there. Okmin: Since you've done all that, does it make it understandable to the guys that you're so openly critical of when you sit behind the desk and you say that 'Vince Carter is playing like a girl' or when you say, 'Rasheed Wallace is a knucklehead.' Do the guys understand that? Barkley: I don't criticize guys unless they deserve to be criticized. I don't have animosity against any player. I want the players to do well but there's a time when I have to criticize them. I'm not going to get on here and say positive things about them all the time if they don't deserve it." Okmin: You never feel like you have to hold back, especially since going to be playing against them next season? Barkley: I'm not worried about it. They need to worry about me. You don't come back to embarrass yourself. I'm happy with my legacy. I'm happy with myself. I like my new job but if Michael Jordan calls you and says he's considering coming back, you have to think about it. Okmin: Has it surprised you how much just the rumor of it in the beginning, how it's taken this kind of a life onto it's self. How much it's front page news? How much news stations lead with it? Barkley: Well the news people are the people that have no life. I always look at the majority of them as idiots. That's just how it is. Michael is the most powerful, marketable sports figure ever and a lot of people have a lot at stake. I think it's great that he would even consider coming back. For me, I think it's unbelievable that he would put himself in that situation. That takes great courage. Okmin: What happens if go back and there's no guarantee that just even adding the two of you now, that all of a sudden the Wizards become a playoff contender. Is it enough just to go and have good time together, if it doesn't mean winning?
Barkley: Well, obviously I think we'll win. We'll be in a better situation but I don't really worry too much about what everybody else thinks. You don't let anybody dictate what you think is success or failure. If we go back, the team will obviously be better. I don't know how far we could go or how well we will do but just to be able to try it and do well, I would consider that a great success.
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