• Charles Barkley is a retired NBA player. As a player, Barkley is arguably one of the greatest players in the history of the game with over 20,000 points scored, 4,000 assists and 10,000 rebounds in his illustrious career. In 2009, Barkley served three days in jail for DUI charges.

  Barkley played at the Regions Charity Classic in Alabama on May 14, 2009. While attempting to tee-off, his ball hit a spectator in the gallery. Barkley stayed and signed autographs for fans for 10 minutes after the incident.ESPN Video: Barkley Hits Fan With Tee Shot

  
  With the fifth overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft the Philadelphia 76ers selected Barkley. He quickly established himself as one of the elite players in the game. After the retirement of Julius Erving, Barkley became the face of the franchise. In 1989, The Sporting News voted him the player of the Year. In 1992, Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns and he went on to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1993, as well as leading the team to the NBA Finals, but losing to the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. In 1996, he would be traded again to the Houston Rockets where he would eventually finish his Hall of Fame Career.

• 1. Born: February 20, 1963
  2. Birthplace: Leeds, Alabama
  3. 1993 NBA MVP
  4. Named to NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
  5. 1991 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  6. College: Auburn University
  7. Hall of Fame (2006)
  8. 1992 Dream Team Member
  9. Nick-name: Round Mound of Rebound
  10. December 31, 2008: Arrested for suspected DUI in ArizonaTMZ: Charles Barkley Popped for DUI (December 31, 2008)
  11. Took a leave of absence from his job as an analyst for TNTTMZ: Bearkley's DUI TNT (January 9, 2009)NBA.com: Barkley: I have to use better judgment

• DUI

  On December 31, 2008, Barkley was arrested in the Scottsdale Old Town area in Arizona. A police officer said he saw Barkley run a stop sign. When the officer stopped him, Barkley would not submit to a breathalyzer test but was given a blood test. Barkley was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and released.TMZ: Bearkley's DUI TNT (January 9, 2009)

  Barkley commented on his DUI in February stating, "Clearly, I made a mistake drinking and driving. And I'm getting penalized for that, and rightfully so. Drinking and driving is a very serious thing. It was stupid, and it was 100 percent my fault."TMZ: Barkley Admits Stupidity (February 9, 2009)

  He took a six-week leave of absence from his job as an analyst for NBA on TNT. He has since called his arrest "unacceptable" and has offered a public apology. On February 19, 2009, Barkley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to ten days in jail. He was also fined more than $2,000, must attend an alcohol awareness class and install an alcohol interlock system on his cars.ESPN.com: Barkley Pleads Guilty in DUI Case The jail time was later reduced to three days, providing he complete an alcohol treatment program.

  Barkley was released from the Tent City Jail in Arizona on March 9, 2009, at approximately 8:00 a.m. after serving his three-day sentence.TMZ: Sir Charles Makes Fast Break from Jail (March 9, 2009)

• Barkley vs. Chizik

  Barkley, an Auburn graduate, was disappointed that the Auburn Tigers football team chose Gene Chizik as their new head coach. On December 15, 2008, Barkley stated "I think race was the No. 1 factor... Out of all the coaches they interviewed, Chizik probably had the worst resume... Clearly, if we'd hired a black coach, it would have created a buzz."ESPN.com: Charles Barkley Outraged by Auburn Tigers' Hiring of Gene Chizik

• Barkley vs. LeBron James

  On November 28, 2008, Charles Barkley chastised young superstar LeBron James. While appearing on the Dan Patrick radio show Barkley stated, "If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up. I'm a big LeBron fan. He's a stud. You gotta give him his props. I'm getting so annoyed he's talking about what he's going to do in two years. I think it's disrespectful to the game. I think it's disrespectful to the Cavaliers."

  When asked to respond to Barkley's quote, James stated "He's stupid. That's all I've got to say about that."ESPN.com: Barkley chastises LeBron for furthering free-agency discussion (November 28, 2008)

• Early Life

  Charles Wade Barkley was born in Leeds, Alabama, on February, 20, 1963. He attended High School at Leeds High School and he later went on to attend Auburn University where he was named the SEC Player of the Year in 1984.

• Post Playing Career

  Barkley is currently a studio analyst for TNT and part of the TNT post game show Inside the NBA with former players Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson Jr. He is renown for his blunt, outspoken style, often making controversial and provocative remarks. He has also released written two popular books I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It and Who's Afraid Of A Large Black Man? In 1993, he was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and in 2006, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Charles Barkley Timeline

  • February 20, 1963: Born
  • 1985-1992: Philadelphia 76ers
  • 1992: Member of Gold Medal Dream Team
  • 1993-1996: Phoenix Suns
  • 1997-2000: Houston Rockets
  • 2006: Inducted to Hall of Fame

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