Barkley On LeBron: “Shut The Hell Up”
While everyone and their mother is talking about LeBron James and the year 2010, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley feels The King should, well, keep to himself. Let’s just say LBJ probably won’t be helping Barkley campaign in Alabama…
Who do you think is right in this situation?
November 30th, 2008 at 12:11 am
baraks says:
Bron should either man up and just say what the hell his plans are, not give hints to what he’s gonna do and shit, or just shut the hell up completely. He’s just giving all the safe answers.
I’m willing to bet good money he wouldn’t say something like this if Sir Charles was in his prime and beasting everyone in the L. If he can mix it up with a man-child Shaq, Bron would be in a world of hurt.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:36 am
keegan says:
i love lebron…but charles is right, he needs to just shut the hell up for now.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:38 am
hahns says:
gota agree w/ charles
November 30th, 2008 at 12:47 am
hoopsguru says:
It’s Stern that is the head of all this Bron to NYC!
Seriously, this whole thing is stupid, who the hell knows what is going to happen two years from now? Why didnt NYK keep ZBo for another year and then drop him after they got into the playoffs this year…..and if I were Cleveland, I would just drop him like Steph
November 30th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Dagomar says:
This is BS.
Look, the media is absolutely bombarding Lebron with these questions. If he says he’s definitely staying in Cleveland he takes all the pressure off his organization to surround him with a championship-calibre team. If he says he’s definitey going to NYC he’s similarly shooting himself in the foot. He’s simply doing what’s best for his future: staying uncommitted as to where he’s going. If the media continually turns that into a story with rampant speculation, constant editorials and stories about nothing, is that his fault?
Barkley made his reputation as a broadcaster for being outspoken - and that means saying stupid things from time to time. He’s doing the same now.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Mark says:
With all the politically correct things BronBron has been methodically formulated to automatically respond, he sure says some rude things sometimes. Players of his caliber shouldn’t even be responding to commentators, or at least I thought.
Both parties are not incorrect, but BronBron wasn’t very articulate. Like, at all.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Jerry says:
bron is a dumbassss
needa STFU
and paly ball fo the cavs or just straight up say he gonna goo….so they could trade his old ass
November 30th, 2008 at 1:03 am
slygerogg says:
I think Charles is right
but Lebron has the freedom to speak his mind
November 30th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Wake says:
Bron’s head is getting big. That’s a freakin’ hall of famer he just dissed. Barkley just tells it as it is and the way Bron handled it was the real “stupid” part.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Max says:
Bron’s handled the constant questioning with class and discretion…it’s not his fault that over-enthusiastic NYC media (not to mention Ohio reporters who are endlessly looking for material to pound neurotic, low self-esteem Cleveland fans with) are hitting him all the time.
Charles should focus on his gambling habit and STFU about LeBron.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:48 am
E$ says:
I wonder what Milwaukee PG Session has to say - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUSDtDqyoLg
November 30th, 2008 at 1:48 am
bron sucks says:
lebron sucks major monkey cock
November 30th, 2008 at 2:04 am
m.rob says:
Agree with Charles %100
November 30th, 2008 at 2:10 am
dagwaller says:
I like where Barkley’s heart is at, but at the same time, I feel bad for LeBron (of whom I’m a fan). I can’t imagine getting asked the same question ALL THE TIME.
That having been said, didn’t Barkley play for a few teams in his career? I know that he doesn’t necessarily mean that LeBron MUST play for one team the whole time, but I sense a little bit of hypocrisy.
November 30th, 2008 at 2:36 am
TomGfromCanada says:
this whole thing is “terrrible”
November 30th, 2008 at 2:39 am
jace says:
lebron is a punk. charles didn;t say anything about him personally.. yet lebron has to come back and say that he;s dumb. wut a bitchass, he comes back with that crap. charles just speakin from his point of view… he didnt insult lebron at any point.
November 30th, 2008 at 3:16 am
lebronsucks says:
shut the fuck up lebron and fuck jay z in the ass!americans loosers
November 30th, 2008 at 3:23 am
caeubona says:
i think chuck has a point. the truth is this thing with lebron is getting out of hand. in case y’all didn’t notice, 2010 is more than a year away. lebron’s taking so much attention off the game and into himself - it’s not good for the league, it’s not good for the other teams, it’s not good for HIS team, and it’s not good for the game itself. honestly, comment #9 seems a little right - bron’s getting too full of himself here. it’s like he’s telling everyone, circle july 10, 2010, coz that’s the only time y’all should come alive. doesn’t he see that he’s alienating some of his fans, not to mention some of his teammates?
plus, sure he’s a great player and all that, but doesn’t charles barkley deserve some respect? i mean, chuck isn’t exactly the model of courtesy and all, but he is a hall of famer and of the 50 greatest players of all time. i don’t think even lebron has the right to call him “stupid.”
unless all these king james brouhaha has really gone to his head.
November 30th, 2008 at 4:31 am
QQ says:
@ post 14:
IMO dag, what Charles is trying to say is it is disrespectful to Lebron’s current team that he is now talking about playing for other teams, when he is still under contract. Charles is not dissing Bron for wanting to transfer to another team, but for TALKING about it right now when he is still a Cavalier, and will be a Cav for 2 more years. Bron could speak all he wants bout oww it’s nice to play in NY and all that stuff, but as long as he is STILL in Cleveland, he should respect the fans, the city, and the uniform.
November 30th, 2008 at 4:42 am
CAVS says:
“He is stupid!!!!”
How old are we? 1st grade in the sandbox of ps 134?
Come on LBJ, act like an adult…
pathetic
November 30th, 2008 at 4:57 am
Flip says:
Now what a sophisticated response by Mr. James.
November 30th, 2008 at 5:05 am
Kalan F. says:
Charles Barkley is dead wrong. For the people who agree with him, let me ask you this question. If Charles told you to shut the hell up on a nationally sindicated radio show, how would you react? I have no problem with LeBron for retaliating the way he did. We have to realize that this is not going to go away. LeBron could lie if he wanted to and stay that he will stay in Cleveland, yet the media will keep harping on it. LeBron is handling this the best way he can. He’s just stating that he will do what is best for him, his career and his family. He didn’t say outfront that he will be going to New York in 2010. Charles has to realize that LeBron is a megastar playing in a weak market. Charles never had to be constantly asked this question because he played in big markets in Philly, Phoenix and Houston. LeBron has already done a great deal for the city of Cleveland in six years. So if LeBron wants to go to New York, so be it. He isn’t disrespecting the city of Cleveland, the organization or his teammates in any way shape or form. So Charles Barkley is the one who needs to shut the hell up. He needs to focus more on how he can stop gambling, making those ludicrous bets and pay less attention to what LeBron is saying. I respect Charles for who he was as a player and a person, but he is 100% wrong.
November 30th, 2008 at 6:46 am
chiaki says:
@ post 14
yeah, Sir Charles played for different teams but it was not his choice to change teams because he was traded.. all he’s trying to say is for Bron to just focus on what’s going on this year and mind the free agency later..
but these are all the media’s fault..
November 30th, 2008 at 8:46 am
J5 says:
Gotta go with chuck man, lebronz gotta show more respect.
If he’s dying to play for another team, he should shut up, force a buy out and stop disrespecting the cavs fans. dude should focus on playing for the cavs, stop dreamin!
November 30th, 2008 at 9:15 am
fallinup says:
Ohhhh poor Lebron…has to answer the same question all the time…and even that one time…where the shoe company he endorses peppered NY with free hotdogs and red shirts….ohhhh whoa is Lebron.
Puh-leeze. Lebron coming back with, “He’s toopid.” Shows what lack of class he has. I’m pretty sure Chuck aint the only one feeling the same way.
At this point. I think I’ll just point and laugh if Lebron suffers a career threatening injury before 2010. You can have him NY and Cleveland. I want a player that respects the game…not one that uses it to become a global icon.
One must remember…MJ earned his respect…he didn’t have it tattooed on him before he even signed a contract.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:46 am
vinny says:
@ost23- barkley forced Philly to trade him if I remember right-correct me if i’m wrong, then he wanted out of phoenix-right? then he couldnt get along with Pippen in Houston- all this while spitting on a fan and throwing a guy thru a window- You know what Labron is right he is stupid-and a hypocrite and he needs to S.T.F.U.!!!
November 30th, 2008 at 10:04 am
K.i.n.G. says:
yo lebron from time to time always tells the media that for the next two seasons his focus is on the cavaliers, ive heard this statement constantly, so to all the guys on here saying that lebron is disrespecting the cleveland cavaliers are dead wrong. Cleveland is where his heart is now at the moment and it won’t change unless he leaves in 2010. Now whether he actually leaves is all speculation.
Now for all the people who said lebron’s relatialition was classless and charles was just “speaking his mind”, you guys are hyprocrites to the fullest! It can go either way, charles telling lebron to shut the hell up on national tv is just rude! Now i could come here and say lebron was just “speaking his mind” when he called charles barkley stupid but that would be hypocritcal of me. Both statements were classless, and BOTH are professionals.
Now, with all that said, sir charles is 100% wrong
End of story
November 30th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Max says:
“You can have him NY and Cleveland. I want a player that respects the game…not one that uses it to become a global icon. ”
I think this is the most unintentionally funny thing I’ve read on Dime in a while.
November 30th, 2008 at 11:12 am
JCARR says:
Agree with Barkley… Its not like LBJ is going to stay quiet about it. He probably has the year and date (2010) highlighted with a yellow highlighter. LBJ does need to shut up and be honest with all of its viewers. Instead of creating a large soap opera about himself and all the people who want a global icon
November 30th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Sweet English says:
Unless you are in the licker room after every Cavs game, you have no idea what you are talking about (me included).
First off, Charles being a part of the main stream media as well as once being an all star should know that once the media are onto a massive story like this, they don’t let up. If entire teams are gonna bomb a season just to be in the running to pick him up, then it might be somehting the media pick up on, dont you think?
I’m not on Lebrons jock or anything, it’s not like i feel sorry for the guy. We ask questions, he answers them, there is no point in then bitching about it.
Put it this way, if the Media did not ask a question about his free agency, he wouldnt start talking about it.
November 30th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Sweet English says:
locker room*
ha ha.
November 30th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Sweet English says:
it’s not as though Lebron is just walking up to reporters in the street and goin’ ‘Hey! YOU! you wanna record me while i talk about my free agency?’
November 30th, 2008 at 11:37 am
rana says:
yeah, but LeBron’s not doing anything to stop it, either. he keeps on talking about it. and talking about it. and talking about it. he tells everyone - on the record - that july 10 2010 is gonna be a big day. he wears special kicks for the game against new york. he’s loving the attention. and barkley is right when he says that it’s disrespectful to the cavaliers. and if lebron just says exactly what he’s planning to do, then the media would be satisfied. the reason they keep on asking him question is because he is literally flirting with the media on this matter. he wears an NY cap - then says he “ain’t goin’ nowhere.” he wears special NY kicks - then says he’s focused on the cavaliers. you may say that the media is eating up this story, but it’s not like lebron is doing anything to shut them up, either. barkley is right when he says lebron should just shut up. he could’ve said it in a more astute manner, but i say chuck is right on the money on this one.
November 30th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
ticktock6 says:
In total agreement with #33, above.
He drops just enough cute hints to keep everyone strung into his LeBron James-centered soap opera. If I would be the rest of the Cavs, I’d be totally over it.
As for myself, as a fan of the rest of the league where there IS BASKETBALL BEING PLAYED right now and not in 2010, I laughed out loud and applauded when Chuck said that on TV.
November 30th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
dc says:
I’m going to have to agree with Charles Barkley on this one. For LeBron to continue to entertain the questions and say, “circle July 1, 2010 on your calendars. It’s gonna be a big day.” is disrespectful to his current team. One has to ask if he is focused on this season in order to get the Cavs back to the Finals or soley to take this media circus all over the country and arrest the attention of every basketball fan for the next 18 months. He needs to let his team of handlers promote him and keep his mouth shut. He should just focus on winning. If he’s not careful, he’s going to alienate his team. How is this any different than Larry Brown entertaining other coaching positions while he was coaching Detroit to the Finals a few years ago? The only difference is there are so many people riding LeBron’s jock that they can’t see the forest for the trees.
November 30th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Zhess says:
I always go back to What Would Jordan Do when a situation like this comes up. Dude was a beast with the media. He was cool, calm, and always said the right thing. He would have said that all that matters to him is playing for the Bulls, getting a(nother) ring, and finishing the season strong. Another point Jordan.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Ian says:
to the jordan lovers
wtf yall taln about isnt this a lebron article and u using this to say one more reason why jordan was the best
gtfoh with that
December 1st, 2008 at 12:28 am
Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend says:
you all seriously cant be bitching about the media askin lebron the same questions..umm ever heard of “no comment” hes feeding into the media with all the guessing games. Like charles said, focus on where ur at and worry about the rest when it comes. Lebrons hyping it up like hes a boxing promoter with all this “wait till 2010, big things are gonna happen” type shit…either a) say ya i’m out cleveland sucks b)say hes sticking with cleveland c)say I don’t wanna talk about it and wait till 2010 to point it all out. And stop with the poor lebron shit. hes a grown ass man and knows exactly what hes doin and what hes sayin. Playin all these crazy gf head games wit the media. If kobe can handle gettin asked about rape or shaq and still be someone adult, lebron can shut his trap about something that MIGHT happen 2 years from now. All he literally has to say is “I’m with cleveland now and i’ll deal with my contract when its up” if he really wanted to kill the rumors for now. I mean what hes doing is the same as a coach going “oh we’d love to have so and so on our team” which is supposedly tampering by league rules right?
December 1st, 2008 at 12:31 am
johnnyKILLroy says:
Lebron’s lucky Barkley’s old and fat the young round mound of rebound would just whup his ASS!
December 1st, 2008 at 9:32 am
Eric says:
Even before Lebron said anything Espn,Tnt and others have had Lebron leaving Cleveland since he was drafted by Cleveland in 2003. Barkley is a class A moron. All his foolish talk about being disrespectful. Are you kidding me? Barkley is the same idiot that spat on people when he wasn’t hitting little girls with basketballs that were sitting in the stands.
What is lebron suppose to do? If he says nothing Screaming A. Smith claims that a source close to Lebron said yada yada yada. If James does say something people bitch. So obviously saying that he’s with cleveland now won’t shut folks up.
And since when did Charles become a lover of Cleveland? I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count how many times that monkey has sat on TNT and called out the city of Cleveland for being the shit hole it is.
This alleged soap opera is just another example of how big Lebron is. Dwayne Wade tried to do the same thing and nobody gave a damn.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Rye says:
lebron has that BALLER MENTALITY… He is a spoiled, dumbass, moronic, HIGHLY ILLITERATE, egotistical douchebag. His childish and mindless retort to Charles Barkley’s justified opinion, “He’s just stupid” pretty much says it all. It says “IM TOO STUPID MYSELF TO GIVE A CONCISE, RELEVANT AND COHERENT RESPONSE.”
Egotistically, he is on the same level as Stephon, AI… ETC. TALENTED BUT CLASSLESS.
Wade has already got himself a ring and even he is not as ARROGANT as lebron. Quite frankly, i think lebron’s ego will stand in the way of his dream of winning championships, much less one. I dont see it happening… and he doesnt really deserve it.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Rye says:
Charles was even respectful enough to say “I like lebron…” charles just doesnt like the way he is treating his team and the fans. It was nothing personal, Even the people of cleveland got upset seeing their own boy flirting with team-owner friends, displaying enthusiasm at the thought of moving to a bigger city… IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MOVE AT LEAST HAVE THE DECENCY TO KEEP YOUR FUTURE PLANS TO YOURSELF, AND ENOUGH RESPECT FOR THE CITY OF CLEVELAND TO FINISH YOUR TWO YEARS BEFORE YOU START PACKING YOUR BAGS. That is just what Charles was saying… but he was too arrogant to listen. At least charles is thinking ahead, LEBRON (not charles) IS STUPID.