"I tried to stay here and tough it out. But the Sixers were just a crappy organization," Charles Barkley said. "Never had a chance in Philadelphia."
Prior to appearing on Daily News Live on Monday evening, Charles Barkley sat down with Neil Hartman to watch a tape of the March 11, 1987 game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls. Chuck and Neil's commentary of the game will air as the second episode of Philly Sports
Classics on Wednesday, July 14th at 8:00 pm on The Comcast Network.
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Michael Jordan finished that game with 49 points, but as Sir Charles pointed out, MJ did so by taking 34 shots. Chuck on the other hand finished with 31 points but was much more efficient having taken only 12 shots.
I had the opportunity to sit in on the taping and listen to Charles analyze his own skills as well as the guys he played alongside. Barkley was his typical self, sharp with both his analysis and wit. "Trust me, we were not gonna design a play to get David Wingate to go one-on-one with Michael Jordan," he said after Wingate made an awful attempt to score on MJ.
Charles was effusive with his praise of Michael Jordan, repeatedly calling him the best basketball player to ever play the game, as well as former teammate Mo Cheeks. John Stockton was the best point guard Chuck has ever seen play, but Mo was the best he ever had the chance to play with. Even in his praise of Cheeks, Charles remained hilarious, "He could only see out of one eye. That's the eye that had Dr. J in it."
Sitting in a conference room in the Comcast offices at the Wachovia Center, watching Charles Barkley crack jokes at the current Sixers head coach -- "Sweet little perm Doug Collins has there. You still think he got that
today?" -- it got me wondering if there is anyone who you would rather watch an NBA game with than the Round Mound of Rebound?
News
If you want to see what it's like to analyze a game with Chuck, you can tune in to TCN on Wednesday night at 8:00 pm. Charles even got one "turrible" on film when describing one of his own passes.
"Philadelphia is a very special place. I came here as a boy and I left here like a man. It's a great city... if you're playing well," Barkley said.
Barkley performed very well on Monday. Definitely worth checking out the taping tomorrow on the slowest sports day of the year.