Russakoff Rules
Auburn Dumbfounds Round Mound of Rebound
By Lee Russakoff
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:23:56 GMT
You won't believe this: Charles Barkley has said something controversial...about race.ESPN.com is reporting that Barkley, a former Auburn Tigers star, is ripping his school for choosing Iowa State's Gene Chizik as its new football coach over Buffalo coach Turner Gill.
Barkley believes the school didn't pick Gill because he's black.
"I think race was the No. 1 factor," said Barkley, who played basketball for three seasons at Auburn during the early 1980s. "You can say it's not about race, but you can't compare the two resumes and say [Chizik] deserved the job. Out of all the coaches they interviewed, Chizik probably had the worst resume." ...This is why Charles is the best. Whether you agree with him or not, he tells you what he thinks and is unapologetic about it. If more athletes were like this, hot button issues like race wouldn't be so taboo. And maybe, with a wide-open discussion, we'd be able to accomplish more.
Barkley, who works as an NBA analyst for Turner Network Television, said he spoke with Gill before Gill interviewed with Auburn officials last week.
"We talked about the whole race thing in Alabama," Barkley said. "I told him it's there and it's going to be anywhere you go. I told him you can't not take the job because of racism. He was worried about being nothing more than a token interview. He was concerned about having a white wife. It's just very disappointing to me."
Just saying...
What do you think of Barkley's comments? Sound off respectfully here.
Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 12-15-2008 02:31 PM
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I agree. But then Turner Gill is the lucky one.Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:02:21 GMT | bowman24
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barkley's is a fool--------if he was white he wouldn't have a job---------tv caters to blacks------why does 13% for the population have 95% of the commericals on t v --------after his playing days he would have been on welfare if he was whiteMon, 15 Dec 2008 20:02:37 GMT | chgotown
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Your photo says it all - consider the source. If his candidate wins, it is earned. If his candidate doesn't, it is the race card. And, since when did he become an expert on football? Charles - get a real job like most of the rest of the world.Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:02:55 GMT | Respectfully
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I don't know if Charles is right, because I don't know the extent of the two men's resume. I do know that Charles has always talked about African Americans getting the short end of the stick. I think he should talk to Barack Obama about African Americans getting screwed!Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:06:02 GMT | Thefhost
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I don't know if Charles is right or wrong, but I don't think he is a racist and I value his opinion on all things basketball, and many things sports.Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:06:53 GMT | sharkbait
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i don't disagree with Gill, i think he may have just been a token interview, but whatever, he would have been a better choice than the one they made. he is a class act and i know he and his wife well.Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:07:53 GMT | prism1950
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Who cares what Barkley thinks!!Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:07:53 GMT | bohica07
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Charles is the best . . . at being an idiot and a provocateur. No one has said there's a race issue here except Charles. He wasn't privy to the interview process so he doesn't know anything about it, and when people chime in who don't know what they're talking about, no one cares what they think.Message Edited by 1CoolDude on 12-15-2008 03:11 PM
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:07:59 GMT | 1CoolDude
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Millionaire basketball player gone Jesse Jackson...sad and pathetic really. I was a big fan of the Suns and him while he played there. All that is wiped out now as he is just a racist!Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:09:23 GMT | Tundra07
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WHAT DOES CHARLES THINK ABOUT THE OTHER CANDIDATES WHO DIDN'T GET THE JOB? WHAT'S HIS READ ON THAT? ONE MAN FOR ONE JOB.Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:09:45 GMT | lkwal715
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I agree with Barkley...I lived in Alabama for three yrs. It sucks we still have race issues in this country. I also agree with bowman24. Would Gill be successiful in a hostile environment?Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:11:48 GMT | Ranger275
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I wish some of you who disagree with Charles, could spend a couple of days in a black man's shoes living in the south. Just or unjust, who's to say? But when you have to answer to your peers, I can tell you for certain, sometimes the wrong decision is made!Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:12:28 GMT | spydaaman
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I used to enjoy this guy, but this garbage is getting really old...How does being a good basketball player give you executive decision making ability?
Charles, LEARN YOUR LIMITATIONS.....
When something is your opinion state it as such, not as fact!
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:16:14 GMT | jachinapura
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It is my understanding that the picture of Charles accompanying this piece is also the one that will appear on his campaign posters when he runs for the Governor of Alabama.Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:16:40 GMT | BigMolly
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BARKLEY YOU KEEP SPEAKING YOUR MIND AND YOU WILL BE O N WELFARE..ALA IS RADCIST AND BEHIND TH4E TIMES SEE THE ALA SENATORS ATTIDUTED ON THE AUTO BAILOUTMon, 15 Dec 2008 20:17:54 GMT | XCHUCK
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Charles Barkley is one of the biggest racists in this country. He hates whites but married a white woman. Stop playing the race card Charles. Auburn went for the coach they thought was best and also a Auburn Tiger.Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:18:38 GMT | ribzlover
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Charles Barkley in a left wing nut who is a racist. Anyone who will use the race card to promote their agenda is a racist. Why would anyone even care what Charles "The Has Been" Barkley has to say anyhow? He was overrated in his playing years and got media attention by being a professional "Big Mouth". Not by his playing ability as a professional basketball player!Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:18:39 GMT | ggues
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Barkely is right on target. I grew up seven miles from Auburn. That place was racist then, and it still is. My youngest granddaughter just graduated from Opelika High School, with an "A" average, and couldn't make the top honor roll, so what make anyone think that Auburn will hire a black coach, with a white wife. That State is still piping sunshine in, where they can see. Raceism is world wide, but where is the tolerance, folks.Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:20:32 GMT | Jacksports
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Why is that "knucklehead" ALWAYS bringing up race. Charles you NEED to quit crying and whining like a baby! I don't know who is worse, him or T.O.Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:21:41 GMT | sailorboy1