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SI Vault: Charles Barkley takes on the world as the Wild Bull of Las Ramblas
This story originally ran in the August 10, 1992 edition of SI. To subscribe, click here.
Charles Barkley, always outrageous, has been the talk of the Olympic Games, on the basketball court as well as off it
Along Las Ramblas, the mile-long, principal tourist avenue of Barcelona, one can find flower shops, bird vendors, taverns, bakeries and vegetarian restaurants. You can find mimes, face painters, musicians, contortionists, panhandlers and pin traders. You can find a couple dozen varieties of olives, roasted pigs, peaches, figs, plums and prunes, and a few saltwater creatures on ice that stare right back at you when you stare at them.
And on many nights during these Games of the XXV Olympiad, you can also find Charles Barkley. ''It is heem! I know it's heem!'' shouted a young Spanish girl as Charles strolled the boulevard one evening ... well, one morning, a few hours after midnight. ''It ees the Charles guy.''
Yes, it was the Charles guy, and he gave her an autograph when she rushed to his side. The crowd swelled and was carried along in Barkley's wide wake. He didn't stop for long, signing and talking and gesturing on the run, yet he seemed to take in everything. He was startled when one older fellow with slits for eyes darted in front of him and pointed, laughing like a hyena. Barkley tried to stare him down for a moment and then shook his head.
''Damn,'' said Barkley, ''you're crazier than I am.''
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Yes, it was a typical Olympian night for the Wild Bull of Las Ramblas, the only member of the Dream Team to have elbowed an Angolan, drawn a technical for talking to the crowd, received gentle yet unmistakable rebukes from his teammates, been called on the carpet by the USOC and gotten alternately cheered and jeered in the pregame introductions. Barkley has earned a difficult and quite curious double distinction in Barcelona: He has become, at once, America's greatest Olympic ambassador and its greatest potential nightmare, a man who can turn a grimace into a smile—or vice versa—in an instant.
Michael Jordan: The Everywhere Man
Barkley's legend has grown quickly, as legends tend to do at the Olympics, and a bit of perspective is needed. Unpredictable though he may be, Barkley is not running amok through the streets of Barcelona, smashing wine bottles and carrying off women, any more than he is doing anything out of the ordinary—what's ordinary for him, anyway—between the lines. Nevertheless, he has clearly emerged as the symbol of the U.S. men's basketball team: invincible on the court,
larger than life off it and, wherever they are, rather like a bad case of heartburn to certain unsuspecting U.S. Olympic officials and athletes.
That resentment toward the Dream Team—its celebrity, its $900-a-night hotel rooms, its all-encompassing, star-studded presence—would arise was inevitable. Swimmer Mike Barrowman, America's 200-meter gold medalist in the breaststroke, expressed this sentiment most eloquently and equitably. ''This is the Olympics, not the NBA championship,'' said Barrowman last week when asked if he was bothered by all the attention the Dream Team is getting. ''I love
these guys. I want them to go out and kill everybody. But this is our chance to come through for our country. We only get that chance once every four years. They get it every day.''
Slowly but surely, though, the Dream Teamers have opened the curtain that seemed to separate them from the other athletes early in the Games. Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin and Scottie Pippen visited the Olympic Village, mingled with athletes from several countries and signed autographs. Larry Bird rode the metro (in fact, he rode it for quite a while because he went to the wrong stadium by mistake) to watch the U.S. baseball team and later met the players in the dugout. ''He came down for autographs,'' said U.S. coach Ron Fraser, laughing. ''So we gave them to him.''
Malone has become good buddies with U.S. lightweight boxer Oscar de la Hoya and huddled with de la Hoya's family during his opening match (a victory over Adilson Rosa Silva of Brazil). Malone and several of his teammates also found time to watch the women's basketball team play. John Stockton even went unrecognized as he conducted an interview for NBA Entertainment along Las Ramblas one evening. ''What do you think of John Stockton?'' Stockton asked an American woman.
''Oh, he's a very good guard,'' she said.
No one, though, has done more to defuse the criticism than Magic Johnson and his good buddy Barkley. As expected, Magic has been the Sunshine Diplomat, waving to the crowd at boxing one night, at gymnastics the next, at track and field the next. Each day the Dream Team is not in action, Magic peruses the schedule of events and then says he wants to go to them all. Sometimes he even does. But Barkley not only has taken in events other than his own but also has gotten sweaty down on the streets, drinking (not to excess, it should be noted), joking and mingling with the crowd that lingers on Las Ramblas until the street cleaners come on duty. His nocturnal promenades, however diverting they might be for Barkley himself, have gone a long way to alter the image of ( the Dream Team as a collection of millionaire isolationists.
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''I just can't sit in my room and do nothing,'' said Barkley one day last week, doing exactly that for the moment and looking plainly restive. ''Sure, it's a pain in the butt to sign autographs all the time, but I'd rather walk around and be bothered than sit around. As far as I'm concerned, it's fun going around meeting people.'' Not nearly as much fun for him as it is for them. One night as Barkley posted up at a bar in Plaza Real, an open courtyard just off Las Ramblas, an astonishing number and variety of fans vied for his attention. ''Get back, please,'' Barkley had to say to an overzealous group of autograph seekers at one point. ''You are definitely in my face.''
One man rode a bicycle in and out of the assembled crowd, always within sight of Barkley, a jester auditioning for the jester-king. Barkley kept up a steady stream of conversation with both his friends and his rapt audience, from time to time dipping his head and slurping his cerveza rather than just picking up the glass. The man doesn't even drink beer conventionally.
''Well, gotta go,'' said Barkley. ''Playing golf with Payne Stewart in the morning.'' Considering the hour, which was close to 4 a.m., he played with pain, as well as with Payne. (But he didn't play badly, shooting a 91 to Stewart's 66.) As Barkley left, the crowd scurried for prime spots and followed him all the way to the door of his hotel.
''I heard this Barkley supposed to be bad guy,'' said one Spanish teenager in broken English, holding up an autograph. ''I think he is nice guy.''
On the other hand, Barkley has done a few bad-guy things. He was whistled for a technical foul during the game against Croatia when he talked to the crowd, a definite no-no in international play. ''If they gave T's for that in America,'' Barkley said, ''I wouldn't make it past the first quarter.''
And no matter what his protests to the contrary, his teammates were upset by his elbowing of a spindly Angolan named Herlander Coimbra (it resulted in a flagrant foul) during America's opening game victory. ''That kind of stuff just isn't good for us imagewise,'' said Stockton. ''In our situation, we have to be extra careful.''
Barkley then compounded the error with an ill-advised comment in a press conference two days later. ''People told me to hit a fat guy next time, not a skinny one,'' said Barkley. ''That guy probably hadn't eaten in a few weeks.''
Did he really mean to make light of the catastrophic famine in Coimbra's African nation? No, but that's how it came out.
Barkley could have handled his hassle with the USOC over a column he was writing for USA Today a little better too. USOC rules prohibit an athlete from acting as a journalist unless he is writing for a hometown newspaper, so the committee forced him to cancel la columna de Barkley after two days. His reflections still appear but under staff writer David DuPree's byline. Said Barkley, ''The USOC is a little jealous of our success. It's an ego thing. We don't think we're above the Olympic committee, but it shouldn't pick on every little thing we do. We should be given our due for being a great basketball team.''
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If there is one point that is beyond debate at these Games, Charles, it's that the U.S. has been given its due as a great basketball team. And if there is one Dream Teamer who has taken a giant step toward the footlights on this world stage, it is Barkley. After America's 122-81 laugher over Spain on Sunday, which moved the U.S. to this week's medal round, Barkley stood first on the team in points (21.6 per game) and third in rebounds (5.4). Not that there were doubts about Barkley's skills, but his astonishing range of abilities—outrebounding much taller players, running the floor like a guard and getting his shot off with either hand while bouncing off bodies around the basket—seem more pronounced when performed within the Dream Team galaxy. ''That Charles Barkley,'' said Brazilian star Oscar Schmidt, shaking his head after Barkley scored 30 points in America's easy 127-83 victory. ''We just don't see any like that.''
That's because there's only one like that. After his final field goal against Brazil, Barkley trotted to a corner of the court and held his arms aloft, a Pavarotti in short pants, inviting the emotions of the crowd to roll down upon him. Some jeered him, but most cheered. And absolutely everyone noticed him. He likes it that way.
GALLERY: Rare photos of Charles Barkley
Rare Photos of Charles Barkley
Circa 1983
Charles Barkley led the SEC in rebounding and his teammates in pizza consumption in each season he was at Auburn.
Circa 1983
During Charles Barkley's three years at Auburn, he averaged 15 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. The school retired Barkley's No. 34 jersey in 2001.
1984
Rookie Charles Barkley shoots against Celtics Larry Bird and Robert Parrish. Barkley was taken with the fifth pick in the 1984 draft by the 76ers, joining a veteran team that had won the NBA title the year before.
1984
Charles Barkley's gregarious personality quickly made him a fan favorite. In this photo, the Alabama native takes in a movie at a Philadelphia theater.
1985
Charles Barkley smiles on the bench next to 76ers teammate Moses Malone at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. Barkley and Malone overlapped with the 76ers for two seasons, losing in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1985 and the conference semifinals in '86.
1986
Charles Barkley and his mother, Charcey Glenn, enjoy some down time at Barkley's Philadelphia home.
1986
Charles Barkley, who famously battled weight issues throughout his career, likes what he sees in the mirror.
1986
Charles Barkley smiles on the bench during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
1986
Charles Barkley has to be restrained as he gets into an altercation with Kurt Rambis during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
1987
Charles Barkley briefly teamed up with World B. Free, bringing together two of the NBA's most outspoken personalities.
1987
Charles Barkley signs autographs for fans before a 76ers game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Although Barkley had one of his best statistical seasons, Philadelphia struggled that year, going 36-46 and missing the playoffs.
1987
Charles Barkley pats a fan on the back after diving into the stands during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Barkley posted a career-high scoring average with 28.3 points per game in the 1987-88 season, including 37 points in this loss to the Trail Blazers.
1987
Charles Barkley shoots against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a Sixers-Lakers game in Los Angeles Lakers.
1988
Timothy Busfield (left) and Ken Olin (right), of the hit TV show "Thirtysomething," act out a fantasy scene with Charles Barkley and Mike Giminski before a Clippers-Sixers game in Los Angeles.
1988
Charles Barkley gets upset during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The 76ers went 46-36 that season before the New York Knicks swept them in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
1988
Charles Barkley takes a second to smile for the camera during a game against the Lakers in Los Angeles. During the 1988-89 season, Barkley averaged 26 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.
1990
Charles Barkley stares down (or up) 7-foot-7 Manute Bol during a game against the Warriors. The two would later become teammates in Philadelphia.
1990
Michael Jordan joins Mike Schmidt and Charles Barkley for a skins game of golf in Philadelphia.
1992
Charles Barkley poses for a portrait as a new member of the Phoenix Suns. After averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game for seven straight seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Barkley was sent to the Suns for Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang and Tim Perry.
1992
Charles Barkley "interviews" his teammate Danny Ainge and Ainge's former Celtic teammates Kevin McHale and Robert Parish at the Boston Garden.
1992
Charles Barkley "confers" with an official during a game against Denver.
1993
Charles Barkley has some fun with fans before a game against the Houston Rockets. He averaged 25.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per game during that season, his seventh of 11 straight All-Star seasons.
1993
Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley flash smiles during Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
1993
Summertime and the living is easy as Sir Charles proved with this memorable pose in a Jacuzzi.
1993
Muggsy Bogues and Charles Barkley talk with Al Franken as Stuart Smalley during the "Daily Affirmation" skit on SNL.
1995
Charles Barkley dresses in royal regalia with children holding his cape at a charity fundraiser.
1995
Patrick Ewing battles for position against Charles Barkley during the NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.
1995
Charles Barkley poses for a portrait in the Phoenix Suns locker room. The Suns sent Barkley to the Houston Rockets after the 1994-95 season as part of a deal to land Chucky Brown, Mark Bryant, Sam Cassell and Robert Horry.
1997
After five seasons in Phoenix, Charles Barkley was traded to Houston. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Allen Iverson became the Sixers next great star.
1997
Charles Barkley reminisces with NBA legends Clyde Drexler, Isiah Thomas and Wilt Chamberlain during NBA All-Star Weekend. Barkley spent two seasons on the Houston Rockets with Drexler and played on the Eastern Conference All-Star Team with Thomas for six years.
1998
Charles Barkley lays alongside Reggie Jordan during a Rockets-Timberwolves game. Barkley was hampered by injuries in Houston, missing 145 games in four seasons before retiring in 2000.
1999
Jack Nicholson chats with Charles Barkley during Game 2 of the Lakers-Rockets first round playoff series. Barkley scored 19 points with 13 rebounds in Houston's 110-98 loss as the Lakers went on to win the series in four games. Barkley is one of the best players in NBA history to not win a championship.
2001
Atlanta Braves closer John Smoltz enjoys a laugh with Charles Barkley before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Atlanta.
2002
Charles Barkley lifts weights in a gym.
2002
Charles Barkley jokes with Gabrielle Reese at Tiger Woods' foundation fundraiser Tiger Jam V at Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, Nev.
2002
Charles Barkley relaxes in a limo for a portrait.
2002
Charles Barkley poses for a portrait. Barkley released a memoir that year titled "I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It."
2002
Houston Rockets legend Kenny Smith yells out to his teammates as Justin Timberlake and color commentator Charles Barkley look on during a Hoop It Up 4-on-4 competition before the upcoming NBA All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
2004
Auburn alum Charles Barkley watches the Tigers football team take on Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.
2005
SI swimsuit model Carolyn Murphy compares hand sizes with Charles Barkley on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
2006
Charles Barkley sits with Tiger Woods during the Robert Guerrero and Orlando Salido IBF Featherweight Championship fight in Las Vegas. Despite Barkley's attempts to learn how to properly swing a golf club, the two are close friends.
2007
Charles Barkley races NBA referee Dick Bavetta during NBA All-Star Saturday Night in Las Vegas. Barkley won the race.
2009
Charles Barkley and his famously ugly golf shot at the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic in Clarksburg, Ontario, Canada.
2009
Charles Barkley stretches with golf instructor Suckki Jang during filming for "The Haney Project." Barkley, who has a notorious hitch in his golf swing, appeared with the famed swing coach Hank Haney on his show to try to fix Barkley's swing.
2009
Charles Barkley listens to Hank Haney during "The Haney Project," the reality show in which Haney worked with Barkley to try to fix the hitch in his swing. Haney, who coached Tiger Woods for years, was unable to fix Barkley's swing.
2009
Charles Barkley makes pizza on The Jay Leno Show. Barkley appeared on the show with Biggest Loser contestant Allen Smith. He later became a spokesman for WeightWatchers in 2011.
2010
Charles Barkley gives a Chicago Bulls Luvabulls dancer a flower while broadcasting a Bulls-Heat game. Upon retiring from the NBA in 2000, Barkley quickly went into broadcasting, working as both a studio and color analyst for basketball games.
2010
Charles Barkley greets actor Michael Douglas on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
2010
Charles Barkley tans by the pool in Dana Point, Calif. Barkley competed against Shaquille O'Neal in a round of golf as part of O'Neal's television show, "Shaq VS."
2011
Charles Barkley acts in a sketch on Saturday Night Live with Paul Brittain. Barkley hosted the show after appearing on NBC's coverage of the NFL Wild Card playoffs that same day.
2011
Charles Barkley appears in a sketch on Saturday Night Live, spoofing "Inside the NBA," the basketball analysis show on which he regularly appears. Rather than play himself in the sketch, Barkley played the role of Shaquille O'Neal, complete with a fake beard while Kenan Thompson filled in the role of the sketch's Barkley.
2012
Charles Barkley rides onto the set in Thunder Alley on a horse before Game 5 of the 2012 Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2014
Charles Barkley celebrates with fans after the Chicago Blackhawks scored against the Los Angeles Kings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Final in Chicago.
Special Contributor, Sports Illustrated As a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, it seems obvious what Jack McCallum would choose as his favorite sport to cover. "You would think it would be pro basketball," says McCallum, a Sports Illustrated special contributor, "but it would be anything where I'm the only reporter there because all the stuff you gather is your own." For three decades McCallum's rollicking prose has entertained SI readers. He joined Sports Illustrated in 1981 and famously chronicled the Celtics-Lakers battles of 1980s. McCallum returned to the NBA beat for the 2001-02 season, having covered the league for eight years in the Bird-Magic heydays. He has edited the weekly Scorecard section of the magazine, written frequently for the Swimsuit Issue and commemorative division and is currently a contributor to SI.com. McCallum cited a series of pieces about a 1989 summer vacation he took with his family as his most memorable SI assignment. "A paid summer va-kay? Of course it's my favorite," says McCallum. In 2008, McCallum profiled Special Olympics founder Eunice Shriver, winner of SI's first Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award. McCallum has written 10 books, including Dream Team, which spent six seeks on the New York Times best-seller list in 2012, and his 2007 novel, Foul Lines, about pro basketball (with SI colleague Jon Wertheim). His book about his experience with cancer, The Prostate Monologues, came out in September 2013, and his 2007 book, Seven Seconds or Less: My Season on the Bench with the Runnin' and Gunnin' Phoenix Suns, was a best-selling behind-the-scenes account of the Suns' 2005-06 season. He has also written scripts for various SI Sportsman of the Year shows, "pontificated on so many TV shows about pro hoops that I have my own IMDB entry," and teaches college journalism. In September 2005, McCallum was presented with the Curt Gowdy Award, given annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for outstanding basketball writing. McCallum was previously awarded the National Women Sports Foundation Media Award. Before Sports Illustrated, McCallum worked at four newspapers, including the Baltimore News-American, where he covered the Baltimore Colts in 1980. He received a B.A. in English from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. and holds an M.A. in English Literature from Lehigh University. He and his wife, Donna, reside in Bethlehem, Pa., and have two adult sons, Jamie and Chris.