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July 27, 2006
Barkley Eyes Ala. Governorship
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Former basketball star Charles Barkley says he's switched political teams from Republican to Democrat and is again talking about running for governor in his home state, possibly in 2010. "I really believe I was put on Earth to do more than play basketball and stockpile money," said Barkley, known as the Round Mound of Rebound. "I really want to help people improve their lives, and what's left is for me to decide how best to do that."Barkley, a Leeds native who has been an NBA analyst with cable network TNT since his 2000 retirement, has been talking about running for governor of Alabama since he was playing with the Phoenix Suns in the 1990s. In 1995, he said he was considering running in 1998 as a Republican, but that never materialized.
Barkley continued to identify himself as a Republican until recently, when he switched parties. "I was a Republican until they lost their minds," he said earlier this month.
Barkley said his immediate goal is to get his 17-year-old daughter through high school and into college. Then he plans to decide on his future, including whether to run for governor.
"I say welcome Charles Barkley. Charles Barkley has been a Horatio Alger story for many people, not only in sports but in business and broadcasting," Joe Turnham, Alabama's Democratic Party chairman, said Wednesday.
But Jim Seroka, a political science professor at Auburn University, said the former Auburn basketball star is getting ahead of himself. "He doesn't have any of the bases necessary to run a statewide campaign," Seroka said.
I think Auburn professor vastly underestimates Mr. Barkley, but I also think that Mr. Barkley underestimates the political climate in the state of Alabama. Having lived there from April of 1996 through September of 1999, first in Huntsville and then in Phenix City (and no that isn't spelled incorrectly), I saw first hand forms of racism that floored me in today's age! It was the main reason we got the heck out of there! When our friend John would come over for dinner the neighbors would literally sit with their noses pressed to their windows until he left, as if he was some sort of monster or something that must be watched constantly. Of course John and I always played it up to the hilt hugging each other and kissing each other on the cheek on the front porch to make them even more uncomfortable, but that's beside the point.
Anyway, I think this could be an interesting story in the years to come as Mr. Barkley decides what he's going to do. He's already turned away from the dark side, so I say more power to him!
Found via Yahoo! News.
Posted by Dianne at July 27, 2006 2:15 PM
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Comments
Yep, but maybe he could change some of those antiquated attitudes! Even his just running might help!
Posted by: Dar at July 27, 2006 4:19 PM