From: markham@brtph600.bnr.ca (Andrew Markham P205)
Subject: Re: Barkeley is an Asshole.
Organization: Bell Northern Research Inc.
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 12:38:56 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.182300.57586@cc.usu.edu> slzm9@cc.usu.edu writes:

Don't get me wrong, I didn't like Barkley doing what he did, but you
have stated a lot of false things in your posting.

>   What is Charles Barkeley's problem? Is he a huge asshole, or
>just the most pathetic buffoon of all time.
>   While watching the first game of the USA's basketball team in
>the Olympic Games I saw Barkeley pull two of the dumbest stunts
>I have seen in awhile. First in a crowd of three Angolan defenders
>Barkeley went up strong, made the bucket, and got the foul. But
>that wasn't enough for Charles. He walks up to one of the
>defenders and pushes him in the chest. He Pushes him off the playing
>floor! I couldn't believe it. 

Well, he didn't make the shot, but he did get the foul.  The guy he 
pushed had fouled him pretty hard, so pushing wasn't *really* out of the
question (although he probably shouldn't have done it).

>Then to make things worse a few minutes later he goes by this guy that is 
>giving up about 50 lbs. to Charles. Barkeley gets the dunk then turns around 
>and starts back up the floor when passing his defender he raises his elbow
>to shoulder level and elbows this guy in the chest as he passes
>by. The referee calls a technical on Barkeley with which he
>argues and is benched by Coach Daly.

The guy he elbowed was the same guy that he fouled earlier.  He was just
letting him know that if you foul him, you pay.  If I remember correctly it
was a layup, not a dunk (not that it's important).  Also, Daly didn't
bench him, much to my surprise.  He stayed in for a little while before he
went out.  AGAIN, I stress that I completely disagree with Barkley's behavior,
but you make it sound a lot worse than it is.

>   Now let's see what could be Barkeley's reason. It was a heavily
>contested game and the game was close, in the heat of battle
>his emotions got the best of him? Nope the USA was up by at least
>20. The USA ended up winning by more than 80 points.

He has no excuse.  It is simply Barkley being Barkley.  I was just glad
to see him act more favorably in the game vs. Croatia.  He even helped 
Kukoc up off the floor (when he was heading for him, I thought he was going
to yell at him or punch him or something)!  Hell, even USA Today must have
got to him because his article on the Croatia game was very passive.

>   No Barkeley said the next day when interviewed "When somebody
>hits me I hit 'em back." The NBC sports team went through the
>tape frame by frame and could find no evidence that this player
>ever touched Barkeley little alone hit him. So it turns out
>Barkeley is a liar as well as an asshole.

Again, the 'hit' was when the player had fouled him earlier.  I have read
this in several publications.

>   What is the outcome of Barkeley's behavior? The next day
>in the game against Croatia the crowd whistled (= boos in international
>competition) whenever Barkeley did anything slightly irregular. Plus
>they cheered for Croatia instead of the USA when the day before
>the cheers for the USA had been deafening.
>
>   What should be done? With or without him the USA will win the
>gold medal. Chuck Daly, or the US Olympic Committee should send
>him home and teach the little boy Barkeley a lesson he desperately
>needs if he is ever to grow up. Barkeley as an ambassador we don't
>need.

Don't send him home.  Just make him understand that this is *more* than just
another game and isn't a 'ghetto thing'.  And judging from the way that 
Robinson, Jordan, Malone, and Daly have reacted (as well as Barkley's 
turnaround for game 2), he will.

-- 
|_ o_O              Andrew W. Markham (markham@bnr.ca)
|W   |\               Bell Northern Research, Inc.              _        O
|   / \                       Heels in 93!                     / |_      |\
|        before...            Bulls in 93!           after... |   W  o  /|
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