I loved Charles Barkley. I loved everything about the guy. I loved the way he played the game being an undersized power forward and more than that, I loved his candor and blunt honesty when he was asked a question. Agree or disagree, the one thing you could always count on from Charles Barkley was an honest answer. Till, that is, he became a basketball analyst for TNT.
An analyst’s job, first and foremost, is to be objective. Irregardless of the way he or she analyzes a game, what his or her delivery style is like, or what their background is, the one attribute you must have is to be objective in your analysis. It’s broadcasting 101. And if you live in Phoenix, or ever tune into TNT when the Suns are playing, you realize pretty clearly that Charles Barkley was absent the day that class was taught.
Since Steve Nash has arrived in Phoenix, I think it’s safe to objectively say they’ve done pretty well. Two straight trips to the Western Conference Finals, one of the top records in the league each of the past two seasons, and Nash personally winning the league MVP each of the two years he’s been back in Phoenix. So, again, I believe it’s logical to at least admit that this has been a pretty good basketball team. Listening to Barkley, however, you’d never know that. In his world, magically, every team the Suns play curiously has its worst night ever, doesn’t play well, or wasn’t a good team to begin with. It’s never “Phoenix really took it to them and played well,” but more like, “{insert team here} played terrible and that’s why Phoenix won.” But I’ll get to more on that in just a little bit.
Because of my affection for Barkley the player and the personality, I gave him the benefit of the doubt first few times I saw Phoenix play on TNT when he was literally incapable of giving praise to them other than to say, “they are a fun team to watch.” When he criticized their defense, some of his points were valid. When he said they didn’t have a ‘go to’ guy in the clutch or that their style wouldn’t win in the playoffs, I saw some validity in what he was saying. I didn’t agree with it per se, but I could see where someone would say that. But then I started to notice something. Over the past two-and-a-half years of basketball, I can’t recall a single time where Barkley ever complimented the Suns on what THEY were doing well opting to always point out what the other team WASN’T doing.
Last night was a microcosm of what I’m talking about. The Suns matched up against Cleveland in a game that had a lot of intrigue. It was first and foremost, a national game on TNT. Cleveland came into last night’s game with the best record in the eastern conference, had beaten the Spurs twice this season, and winners of their past 5 games. Phoenix has been red hot winning 7 in a row heading in the last night’s game and they boasted the 2nd best record in the western conference. On paper, this was a very intriguing game to watch. I was at the game and, if you saw it, you know that any intrigue that this game had stayed on paper, as Phoenix thoroughly dominated Cleveland in every aspect of the game. Yes, that even includes defensively, as they held Cleveland to 37% shooting for the game. Along with the solid defensive effort, Phoenix was, well, Phoenix on offense shooting 48% from the field for the game with 5 players scoring in double figures. The stat sheet will show 34 points for LeBron James, but look closely and you’ll see he needed 28 shots to get those points. Steve Nash, on the other hand, took only 7 shots for the entire game and yet thoroughly dominated every aspect of the game handing out 21 total assists on the night. It was, again, a microcosm of why it’s almost absurd to think Nash isn’t the MVP of the league again and the best basketball player on the planet. What other player in the league can score 4 points on only 7 shots, and yet still dominate the game? But I’ll leave that argument for another article. Back to Charles for now…
So after Phoenix just goes on an insane run to close out the 1st half basically putting the game away right there, they cut to the studio and an enthusiastic Ernie Johnson says, “Is there any player more fun to watch than Steve Nash?” (By the way, Ernie, no, there is not). Kenny Smith and Barkley say nothing leaving EJ to answer his own question. As the highlights are showing and EJ is talking about how great Phoenix looks, Barkley chimes in with this gem, “Cleveland is terrible. A lot of teams find their A game against Cleveland.” Of course, this is an absurd point when you factor in that Cleveland has the best record in the east at 22-12 and had won their last 5 games in a row. But it goes to show the spite that Barkley has for the Suns. As the highlights are rolling of Nash making brilliant pass after brilliant pass, all he can say is “great defense.” Really? Are you THAT petty, Charles? Does it kill you THAT much to be objective and actually give praise to this team? If this was only last night, that’s one thing. But he does this EVERY time they are on TNT and it’s getting to the point now that he simply looks ignorant, jealous, and petty.
Then there’s after the game when asked about Nash winning a 3rd MVP, Barkley then goes into how Shaq should’ve won it 2 years ago and he’d have given it to Dirk last year. He then goes into how you need to decipher the MVP vs. the best player in the league because, as he so eloquently and dismissively noted, “Steve Nash isn’t the best player in the league,” as if that’s almost absurd to even think that. Really? He isn’t? Hmmm. Well, in the past two weeks alone, both Scott Skiles and Ray Allen have both been on record saying he is indeed the best player in the league. So it can’t be THAT absurd, right Charles?
At first, this was all very frustrating. Now it’s just sad. Sad to watch a guy who was such a huge part of Phoenix Suns basketball history become so petty and jealous of what this current Suns team is doing. I know, I know. If Suns win it this year and you ask Barkley why, it will be because every team they played magically had their worst games ever and it will have nothing to do with Phoenix being a really good team. That would be just way too much for him to admit.
So to the producers on TNT, do us all a favor and maybe next time you’re fortunate enough to have the Suns on one of your nationally televised games, perhaps it’s best to put Charles in a time out and let someone else come in and analyze that game. If for no other reason, do it for the safety of my television. For I fear that if I have to endure the pain of watching Charles Barkley “analyze” another Suns game, a chair might find its way through it.
You can say whatever u want 2 about Charles, But just like "ALI" he brought people back to loving basketball. I have never liked sports And I am now 70 years old and would not miss a SUNS game. I met his wife and his daughter at my CHIRPNDALES BIRD STORE. I am a 70 yr old female that loves Chuck & his family very much so give him a break. He has enough money to say whatever he wants. He has a beautiful wife & daughter & in the celebrity world its hard to keep either. I met them at my Bird store in Phx and enjoyed them very much. I am now devout basketball player because of him