Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Charles Barkley is a man of Falstaffian tastes, noted for enjoying a cocktail from time-to-time and, on occasion, enjoying many of them while gambling. It should not shock you to note that Charles Barkley was arrested in Arizona early this morning after running a stop sign and being suspected of drinking and driving.
It'll also surprise no one when you get an editorial or two talking about how Charles needs to "straighten up," or stop drinking, or doing whatever he likes with the piles of money he earned in the NBA and beyond. To this we say: Charles Barkley does not need rehab, or lecturing, or a serious life change. Last night, Charles Barkley needed a cab, and made the stupid mistake of not taking one, a mistake thousands of other people will unfortunately make this New Year's Eve. It's not worth a finger wag, much less an editorial.
So if Charles is not a role model, he can at least be a warning for you tonight. If you decide to ring in the New Year by wiping your mental hard drive with a barrage of alcoholic beverages, get a cab, because even charming, charismatic and funny NBA stars cannot lie about the amount of alcohol in their blood. Also, when you wake up with a barbed wire halo of a headache tomorrow, remember that you probably don't need rehab, but instead need some Pedialyte and then eggs and bacon carefully applied to said hangover. It's a lot cheaper than eight weeks in Tranquil Pines.
UPDATE: Barkley not only spent $1800 at the bar, he tipped well. Points awarded to Barkley. Points deducted: in the car at the time with Mr. Barkley, one Jaleel White, a.k.a. Steve Urkel from Family Matters. If you were big in the 1990s, there exists no rule stating you can only socialize with others who peaked in the 1990s. (Via)
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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If this was just one or two mistakes by Charles, that’s one thing. There have been a whole littany of things involving him that reflect a lack of good judgement. Those who say that this is no big thing are merely being his enablers. No, he shouldn’t be crucified, but he needs to realize that he needs to clean up his act before it gets worse…because if it does, it’s going to get much worse. Nobody is going to be laughing then.
by BradKT on Dec 31, 2008 9:16 PM EST reply actions
I cannot stand drinking and driving, it despicable, deplorable and shows an utter lack of judgment and respect for other human beings! That part of the story isn’t funny whatsoever.
But just for a moment, can we divert from the ridiculous to the hilarious? Sir Charles pub crawlin’ with Urkel??? There’s no way that’s serious, is it? Un-freaking-believeable! When I read about that pairing, all I could do was laugh. Then when I told my family, their was laughter too!
by fan82 on Jan 1, 2009 12:37 AM EST reply actions
Bad move by Charles…could have killed himself and others if he was involved an accident. I think that what the man is lacking is some common sense…
by fmfnavydoc on Jan 1, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions
When you drive drunk, you can kill people. I don’t really care about Charles’ other foibles, but I think you’re making light of a serious situation, Spencer.
by Not_bob on Jan 1, 2009 4:24 PM EST reply actions
and he is at it again!!!
man that Barkley… http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/charles-barkley-takes-another-drive/
by weeklyworldnews on Jan 2, 2009 4:05 PM EST reply actions
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