‘Full of crap.’ Charles Barkley bipartisan in contempt of political parties.
Kentucky Coach John Calipari’s “Coffee with Cal” Facebook show veered into politics on Monday. The guest, Hall of Fame player Charles Barkley, pooh-poohed the notion of political figures being important in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
“They’ve approached me several times about running for governor of Alabama,” Barkley said. “But then I realized that both of these parties are full of crap.”
Republicans are only concerned with wealthy people, he said.
And Democrats?
“I’ve been a Democrat all my life,” Barkley said. “I just realized now they have done an awful job of taking care of poor people. They make the same boasts every four years, come to the black community and (say) they’re going to make things better. But they don’t really make things better.
“I’m still a Democrat, but I don’t fall for stupidity.”
Barkley said he had gained a great appreciation for self-reliance.
“People are sitting around waiting for government,” he said. “Government ain’t going to take care of you.”
Calipari asked Barkley why he thought the coronavirus was hitting minority populations at a higher rate.
“Economics,” Barkley said. “The black people, brown people and poor white people, they don’t have good health care.”
To which, Calipari said, “I’m glad you threw in poor white people because we’re in Kentucky.”
By that, Calipari said he was referring to the Appalachian region of the state.
“It’s about poverty,” Barkley said. “And America is far and away the greatest place in the world. . . . But one thing we’ve never done is take care of poor people.”
In dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Calipari said a priority should be placed on schools. Besides educating students, the schools provide a “stable environment” for children, he said.
Barkley said he had donated $1 million to four historically black colleges. The four were Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Alabama State University and Miles College.
Barkley and Calipari spoke of facing challenges growing up.
“I was a little fat kid from east Alabama,” said Barkley, who grew up in Leeds, Ala. “I grew up in the projects with a single mom who was a maid raising four boys. . . .
“After I got out of that situation, everything’s been pretty much gravy for me, man.”
Barkley said he was blessed to have been able to attend Auburn and play basketball. “Had three great years there,” he said. “Got a chance to watch Bo Jackson play (football), which was probably the highlight of my college career.”
Barkley played 16 years in the NBA. After retirement he has worked on telecasts of NBA games for 19 years.
“The key to life is if you can make your parents proud,” he said. “That’s all you can do. I exceeded all my expectations in life.”
Calipari grew up in Moon Township, Pa. He father worked as a fueler of planes and then a baggage handler at the Pittsburgh airport. His mother inspired him to aspire to greater things outside the familiar.
“We know if (the pandemic) happened when you and I grew up, we would be looking in that line to get money and food,” Calipari told Barkley. “Our parents and families would have been the first out (in line).”
Moses leads the way
Barkley and Calipari spoke repeatedly of the importance of helping people.
This prompted Barkley to say, “I think of Moses Malone all the time.”
The two were teammates on the Philadelphia 76ers in the mid-1980s, Barkley the young player hoping for an NBA career and Malone nearing the end of a successful career.
As the rookie and veteran met at this basketball crossroads, Barkley directed a pointed question at Malone.
“Moses, why am I not getting to play?” Barkley said he asked.
Malone was unsparing in his response. “Because you’re fat and you’re lazy,” Barkley remembered him saying. A moment later, Malone added, “You can play at 300 pounds at Auburn. You can’t do that in the NBA.”
With Malone’s help, Barkley said he lost about 50 pounds.
“One of the greatest players ever took a young fat kid from east Alabama,” Barkley said. “He didn’t have to do it.”
Malone’s helping hand was an inspiration, said Barkley, who added, “people just need a chance.”
