Barkley for governor?  No, thanks

By Jacob Allison           

            Let me start by saying that I like Charles Barkley...

Barkley for governor?  No, thanks

By Jacob Allison           

            Let me start by saying that I like Charles Barkley.  While I didn’t grow up a huge NBA fan, I remember enjoying watching him play, and I definitely remember his stellar performances at the Olympics with the original Dream Team.

            Since coming to WJOX after graduating college, I’ve had the chance to be around Barkley numerous times.  He’s always very generous with his time and money, coming to Hoover each year for the Regions Charity Classic despite it falling in the midst of TNT’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs.

            For as long as I can really remember, the Leeds native and Auburn legend has talked about running for governor of Alabama.  Last month, he even told Tonight Show host Jay Leno that he’d like to run for mayor of his hometown to gain experience for a run at Montgomery in 2014.

            I hope he runs and wins.  Leeds is a nice town, but as Barkley himself has said, it can do better.  I’d like to see what he would do.  I just want it to stop there.

            I certainly don’t wish any ill will on the city of Leeds, but as I don’t live there, what happens to it has little effect on me.

            Barkley was once again at the Regions Charity Classic last week, playing in the Thursday pro-am which also featured the likes of Nick Saban, Tommy Tuberville and Joe Theismann, among others.  He did interviews on WJOX with the

            It wasn’t really surprising news, at least in that we know Barkley likes to gamble.  He’s acknowledged the habit, but maintains that it isn’t a “problem,” because he can afford it.  And that’s true, he can.  But when you start reading about the potential for criminal charges, it certainly raises an eyebrow.

            To his credit, Barkley returned to the Roundtable, telling hosts Ian Fitzsimmons and Lance Taylor that he had simply made a mistake by not paying attention to the calendar, and taking full responsibility for the situation.  He was angry with Wynn for not simply calling him and asking him to pay up – again, he can afford to do just that – but maintained that ultimately, he was at fault.

            That’s the kind of stance we like to see people take when they are at fault.  The way Barkley handled the situation was admirable.  However, I’m still not convinced he’d be the best candidate out there for our state’s highest office.

            Going back to February, Barkley appeared on CNN’s The Situation Room, and told host Wolf Blitzer that he thought Republicans were nothing more than “fake Christians.”  Uh oh.  While I do understand where Barkley was coming from with that statement – I’ve run across a few “fake Christians” in my day – to make a broad generalization like that about the party that’s carried this state in the last seven presidential elections is political suicide.  That’s to say nothing about his pro-choice, pro-gay marriage leanings.

            Now we fast forward back to the present and see Barkley forgetting to repay a rather large gambling debt.  Need I remind you that this state has resisted a lottery at every turn because so many people here view gambling as morally wrong?

            It’s kind of sad really.  Unlike so many politicians, including the ones running for president right now, Barkley is straight-forward and honest, almost to a fault.  I think it would be incredibly refreshing to see someone like that holding political office.  It’s unfortunate that, in this case, that person’s political views are at odds with a large majority of the people in the state of Alabama.  It’s also unfortunate to see how fiscally irresponsible that person can be.  Barkley didn’t see that particularly worried about his $400,000 debt, because all his has to do is sit down and cut them a check.  With his money.

            I’m not quite sure I want to see him doing that with mine.  Good luck Leeds if you decide to make him your mayor.  Hopefully Sir Charles can prove me wrong.