Bulpett on Barkley

[opi@unesco.org]

Credit the Celtics Organization for doing exactly the right thing,
despite it being "controversial", by giving Barkley a ceremony and award
tonight at halftime. I can guarantee you we won't be having any
retirement ceremonies for Dennis Rodman, Sprewell or Iverson no matter
how much they have or will in the future contribute to the lore of
Celtics rivalries. Man there is a huge qualitative difference between
Chuck and them. For one thing, some jocks talk a lot just because they
know (or think they know) that they are good at words. But when Chuck
talked, regardless of what he said he always sounded sincere and honest.

Bulpett's coverage article below is really worth reading.

Joe

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Barkley thanks C's for memories
by Steve Bulpett

Friday, December 10, 1999

Charles Barkley hobbled down a third-floor corridor in the Ritz-Carlton
last night. His career had been ended the previous evening in
Philadelphia and surgery on his right knee awaits tomorrow.

So why was he in Boston for a game he will not be able to play?

``The Celtics,'' said Barkley.

At halftime of the game with the Rockets, the club will present Charles
with a piece of the parquet floor and a photo from a battle with Larry
Bird. A career-ending knee injury wasn't going to prevent him from
keeping the date.

``It's quite an honor to get something nice from the Celtics,'' he said,
shaking off the sadness and lack of sleep since the realization of his
retirement sunk in. ``I respect their organization. It's that simple.
It's just an honor for the Celtics to do something for me.

``It's an honor for me when I talk with Bill Russell - when KC (Jones)
was the coach, Bird, (Kevin) McHale, (Robert) Parish, Dennis Johnson,
Danny Ainge, Bill Walton. I remember Red Auerbach said something real
nice to me one time, and, man, I was on cloud nine, because I think
everyone who plays basketball should know about the Celtics.

 ``Basketball starts with the Lakers and the Celtics. I don't care what
anybody says, basketball starts with the Celtics and the Lakers and the
Lakers and the Celtics.''

And the 76ers and the Celtics, when Charles played for Philadelphia.

 ``My memories of Boston are all good, because the Celtics have a unique
tradition,'' Barkley, who averaged 22.2 points per game in his 16-year
career, said. ``No. 1, they have a great tradition as far as basketball.
They have fans who love their team, and that's what every city should
do.

 ``And I knew when we came to Boston that the old guys on my team
changed their whole disposition. It wasn't like another game. When we
came to play the Celtics, you could just see Moses (Malone), Doc (Julius
Erving), Maurice (Cheeks), Andrew Toney and Bobby Jones, their whole
demeanor changed. We go into other cities we'd want to win, but when we
came up here or played the Celtics in Philadelphia,  it was
unbelievable. I mean, the tension in the locker room. . . .''

There was tension, too, on the floor and in the stands. But as one who
has never shied away from the emotion of the game, Barkley loved that
part, too.

``Celtics fans, they know basketball,'' he said. ``One of the real times
I found out that I was a good player is when I got traded to  Phoenix
and I came back to Boston for like the first time. And when they did the
introduction, they gave me a really warm ovation."

``I was thinking about it after the game, and one of the fans - I was
out somewhere - came up. I said it was a nice ovation. He said, `Well,
we couldn't cheer for you when you played for the 76ers. We thought you
were a good player, but you played for the 76ers.' And it let me know
right then that they know their basketball and they appreciated what I
was doing, and that made me feel good.''

Nothing much is making Barkley feel good right now. His career ended
several months before he planned, and while he is very appreciative for
all he has received, reality is not pleasant right now.

``Nothing prepares you for retirement. And I will admit that it sucks,''
Sir Charles said candidly. ``That's the only way I can explain it.

``There's not much pain, but it's just the depression. No. 1, the
depression of knowing it's over, and also the depression of knowing the
next six months I've got to rehab myself. I'm just tired.

 ``But I stand by what I said. You know, I think I am a religious
person, even though I might not show it or act like it all the time. I
think the Big Fella's always protected me and put me in a situation to
be successful. And there's no doubt in my mind that, just the way
everything happened (Wednesday) night. You know, I had a really good
game in Phoenix last week. I had a really good game in Houston.

``So their last memories of me, I played good games. And then for this
to happen in Philadelphia with my mom and grandmother there, I think it
just can't be coincidence.''