Hate him or love him, King of Political "Incorrectness", Charles Barkley has a new mission and that mission is dismissing all this LeBron 2010 free agent talk. Despite the deliberate involvement of media antagonists and gossip mongers, Sir Charles is bent on proclaiming LeBron the main culprit in keeping the New York Knicks rumors going. In an interview Wednesday on the Dan Patrick radio show, Barkley took a shot at James in a misguided attempt at discouraging James from discussing his team loyalties and whereabouts in 2010, in a comment that more borderline insult than friendly plea.
"If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up," Barkley commented. "I'm a big LeBron fan. He's a stud. You gotta give him his props. I'm getting so annoyed he's talking about what he's going to do in two years. I think it's disrespectful to the game. I think it's disrespectful to the Cavaliers."
It's kind of like the old saying(s) goes, 'It takes two', ' Two wrongs don't make a right.' Take your pick. As outlandish as we all know Chuck can get in his opinions, Sir Charles has a point
After suffering from a 10 year drought of Western Conference dominated, lopsided one dimensional basketball, the entry of LeBron James led 2003-04 rookie class was the catalyst to return the NBA to its glory days of the 90's when you could find a LeBron, Carmelo, Dwyane like dynamo surrounded by a stellar supporting cast on virtually every team any given Sunday! The superiority of his "Airness" six championships and God complex; rebounding king, Dennis Rodman's theatrics on and off the court; the dynamic duo of Karl Marlone and John Stockton; the dominance of big men Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David "The Admiral" Robinson, Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal; and the birth of league leaders Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin "K.G." Garnett, Dirk Nortwitzki all were by-products of arguably the best decade in pro basketball, the 90's.
Is it any wonder that superstar packed rookie classes, mega trades (Shaq-Suns, Gasol-Lakers, Kidd-Mavs, KG-Celtics and now AI-Pistons), off court antics (Pistons-Pacers brawl), renewed rivalries (Lakers-Celtics) over the last four years have made the league, *gasp, watchable again? Now throw in an all-star smorgasbord also known as the 2010 free agent class and we've come full circle to the league where "amazing" happens. The league where the free agency has become just as popular as the NBA All-Star dunk contest with as much as speculation, imagination and media frenzy as Dwight Howard's highlight reel "Superman" Dunk. The media has been all over this free agency thing like white on rice, like peanut butter on jelly, like drunken housewife Lois Feldman on a Hawkeyes' college student (I'll get to that one in a minute)...well you get the picture! So much so that any fanning of the flames will incite a crackling campfire into a roaring bonfire with little coercion.
Just ask LeBron why this statement : "I am focused on the team that I am on right now and winning a championship ...So it gets funny at times, but I don't think about making a change at this point. I am focusing on the team I have here and the relationship I have with the Cavs." has turned into this: " I think you do what is best for you and you do what is best for your career," James said Tuesday when asked about his sense of loyalty to the Cavs. King James can retaliate and call Chuck "stupid" all he wants to however his sudden vow to refrain from talking is a little too late. At the end of the day, LeBron is rightfully going where he can win a championship. Why feed into the speculation of 2010-11' NBA Championship with Joe Schmo if your so focused on a 2008-09 NBA Championship with the Cavs?
The answer is Publicity. PR 101 - "Keep 'em talking!" Teams such as Detroit and New York clearing out salary cap space and Lebron playing keep away with the media are just ploys in King James quest to one up his global icon baller status and the NBA's plot to capitalizing off its most promising upcoming season to date.
While disrespectful to the Cavaliers, Lebron is acting no different than the media that hound him day in and day out. By the way, it takes two to tango and your imaginary girlfriend/boyfriend from grade school doesn't count.
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Charles Barkley Sounds Off On King James and His Future
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As Usual, Charles Barkley Has A Point
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I have no problem with what Barkley said. It needed to be said because the MSM and LeBron continue to keep the rumors on the front pages for the next couple of years. The fact of the matter is that you don't need to be a large market to be a global icon (or more importantly...an NBA champion).
I'm gone
I totally agree with what Charles Barkley said...He is speaking the truth and is saying something that nobody is trying to say..It is a simple fact why the Knicks are trying to clear salary cap..If LeBron really cared about the Cavs, he would not even say nothing because the media wants him to say that he wants to think about his decided but be loyal to the Cavs..Everybody gets on Barkley because he is so outspoken but he speaks the truth and instead of people getting on him most of the time, they need to listen to what he is trying to say because he speaks the truth.....This is the same man that did a commerical where he said that "I am not a role model."
You lost me at the 90's being arguably the best decade of basketball ever. I can only assume you were born in the 80's and thus didn't really get to see that era play.
hold up why is he worried bout wea lebron will go what makes u think he's going to new york if he wants to go to anotha team then let him his loyalty should be to himself only lebron dont owe nobody favors
Well written article. But.. you owe me
Arguably means up for debate and I'm not the only person who says the 90's are the best era in basketball hun. Ask around. I quote it as being arguably the best era because of all the factors I listed in my article. Has little if nothing to do with the fact of me being born in the 80's. I am up on players and teams from the 70's and before(e.g. Oscar Robertson, Dr.J, Bill Russell , Walt Frazier etc) There still was a lopsidedness in those times as well where you had one conference or several teams dominating the game. In the 90's and now, there's more of an even distribution of superstars and well balanced teams that can EQUALLY contend for a shot at a NBA championship title. Name me a decade before that where the playing field was leveled along with why it is leveled and I'll stand corrected!