There’s just something about Charles Barkley. He’s not the smartest guy in the world, but he’s certainly smart. He’s not the funniest guy in the world, but he’s certainly funny. He’s not the best basketball analyst in the world, but he’s certainly a great one. He’s not any one thing, but as a whole, he’s incredibly unique and incredibly likable. You hear or read the things he says – and they aren’t the first time you’ve heard these things – and just say yes, Barkley is right!
I think what it boils down to is that he’s just incredibly comfortable with who he is. He never pretends to be something he’s not. Every single personality you see on TV, hear on the radio or read in the paper is trying to put forth an image that’s greater than the real thing. Not Barkley. He is who is and he’s perfectly happy with that. You wouldn’t think that sort of self-confidence would be rare, especially in a world filled with professional and former professional athletes, but within seconds of hearing Charles talk, you can see the facade. Not his facade, but everyone else’s.
In this interview in The New Republic, Barkley talks about politics and current social issues, including the Imus and Duke lacrosse cases. As always, he’s worth listening too.