For as long as I can remember basketball was an important part of my life. Growing up, all of my friends were basketball fanatics. If we were not playing basketball, we were watching it. And, as an often-used last resort, we would be talking about it. As a Boston Celtics fan growing up in Southern California during the 1980’s and the Showtime reign of the Los Angeles Lakers with the seemingly commonplace, yet epic clashes between those two storied teams, I often found myself outnumbered and, truth be told, loathed in a sort of agnostic, yet real way. I didn’t care and in fact I somewhat reveled in it. Magic Johnson versus Larry Bird was an amazing time for basketball fans. I felt true fandom inspired hatred toward Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Byron Scott, and the rest. While the guys in the white hats included Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish, Dennis Johnson, and the aforementioned “Larry Legend.”
What fans often forget however were the epic battles waged by the Celtics and the Philadelphia 76’ers before either ever got to the Western Champion which was often the Lakers. It was pure blood sport in that these two teams genuinely hated one another. Every game usually included a little blood, potential/actual fights, and full-throated taunts. Looking back on it, I am quite sure they respected one another (this would be corroborated for me somewhat). Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, Caldwell Jones, Andrew Toney, Darryl Dawkins, Charles Barley, and many others are etched in my brain and will never be forgotten. To say this basketball was physical and intense would be analogous to saying the invasion of Normandy was hard fought. I had two good friends who were diehard 76’er fans and somehow we often watched the games together. It never seemed to affect our friendship (much) though I am not sure how our friendship survived it. It was a modern-day Hatfield’s versus McCoy’s.
During the summer of 1985 and I fortuitously find myself in Maui, Hawaii with the family; yes, I have lived an extremely blessed life. The whole family (Ken, Mary Lou, and kids Amy, Allison, Carey and me) have great memories of not one but several trips to Maui during the decade of the 80’s. It was quite a special time as I reminisce from the fog of many years and innumerable changes for all of us. I do remember one evening in particular; we were dining at the famous Kimo’s Restaurant in downtown Lahaina. I tend to be fairly observant (although my wife would debate you on this). I saw a large black “kid” having dinner near our table, who quite frankly looked a little out of place. It did not seem like he had made a common practice of dining in Maui. He seemed a little awestruck and in truth, a tad uncomfortable; not surprisingly in light of the grand ascension his life had taken over the last year or so. I recognized him right away but remember this was the offseason of his rookie year, and Charles Barkley was, as unbelievable as this might sound, an unknown quantity. He was dining with a nondescript, Hawaiian shirt wearing, small statured, white guy who conversely appeared as though he had done this many times.
Charles had had a nice rookie season while playing all 82 games during the regular season while averaging 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds. His playoff averages were a smidge better as he and the 76’ers ended up losing to the Celtics 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics would ultimately lose to the hated Lakers 4-2 in the Championship. Charles had come out of Auburn University with the nickname, “The Round Mound of Rebound.” He was the fifth player chosen in the 1984 NBA draft (drafted as a junior back in the days when four-year stints were common) and made the All-NBA Rookie First Team. He was really good, BUT he was 22 and only one year into what would become a Hall of Fame 16-year career* that included virtually everything but an NBA Championship ring. The great things were coming but on that warm summer of ‘85 night in Lahaina it was all mere ephemeral potential.
Recognizing Charles Barkley, I leaned over to my Dad and whispered into his ear to look over to a particular table. He did, and then asked me who it was. I told him it was Charles Barkley. We had watched a few of the games in the Celtics series and my Dad was a big sports fan, but again Charles was a rookie so at first he understandably hesitated in making the connection. However, even as a rookie, once you saw Charles Barkley play you didn’t forget it. He was a little undersized, a little overweight, extremely athletic, very intense and a little brash on the court, and his signature move was a “coast to coast” single man wrecking crew move down the court that started with a defensive rebound, often included a behind the back dribble, and ended with a dunk and a swing on the rim to punctuate it all. I can still remember the first time I saw him do it; my jaw literally dropped. Though a little raw for sure, any legitimate basketball eye could see that the kid was destined to be a star.
Once the recognition kicked in, Ken Cook didn’t hesitate. He headed right over to the table (yes we had all had a few drinks in case you were wondering) and says, “Are you Chuck Barkley?” I think he surprised them more than he surprised us. General George S. Patton would have been proud of the direct frontal attack. It worked like a charm and before we knew it we were engaged in a friendly dialogue that included the dissemination that his dinner companion was his agent (Lance) and that they were (remarkably) staying at the same resort where we were staying!
Before I knew it, I had made plans to play tennis with him the next morning and I also learned that we were exactly one day apart in age. He was really nice and very gracious, and I remember that he addressed my parents as Ma’am and Sir. Every single time he spoke with them… You could tell right away that he was a person who had been brought up to respect adults. It was no act.
Charles Barkley was born in Leeds, Alabama and his biological father abandoned the family when he was an infant. His mother ended up remarrying and his stepfather was tragically killed in a car accident when Barkley was 11. His mother was an extremely strong influence in his life and though he never mentioned this to me, I could tell that he definitely felt as though he had accomplished the things he had accomplished as a 22 year old because of her firm presence. Contrast this with me who was the product of a very stable upbringing in San Diego, California. On the surface we really had little in common beyond a love of basketball. And, I had known very few black people growing up in Southern California. Nevertheless, here we were in paradise, 22 years old, with a week to hang out and get to know one another a little bit.
I often tell my kids, and in fact anyone who will listen, that the decade of my 20’s was the most difficult decade of my life. I can tell they are a little shocked when they hear this, yet I can honestly say I prefer 57 to 27 in virtually every way. I had no idea how I was going to “make it” in life and yet I do remember hanging out with Charles Barkley thinking that he had figured it out and it was up and away from here. Quite frankly I was envious and perhaps a little star struck. Fortunately, or unfortunately, life is never quite that linear and simple for him, me, or anyone. What really matters is character and I could tell right away that this new acquaintance from Leeds, Alabama had plenty of that. I could also tell that he was really excited to play a little tennis as his agent Lance was even worse than Charles and he was looking for a little competition.
I grew up with a tennis court at the house from the time of 7th grade and I must say I wasn’t super excited to play him as he was, well, really bad. Nevertheless, I acquiesced, and I believe the score was 6-0 6-1. I didn’t let him win a game, he was a phenomenal athlete and super competitive. He earned the one game that he won for what it is worth. I have told the story many times to many people, and I am sure I will always remember it. The courts were right on the ocean and he promptly and unceremoniously hurled his brand-new racquet into the ocean at the end with the comment, “nothing personal man, I just don’t like to lose.” My celebrity record stands at 3-0 as I also have wins over Gary Puckett of Union Gap* fame, as well as a doubles victory over game show host extraordinaire Wink Martindale*. For the record, Wink Martindale was the best of the three and that isn’t saying much. Thankfully for them, none quit his lucrative day job.
After our match, we headed back to his place to check in with his agent Lance. It turns out that Lance Luchnick* would ultimately steal all of the money that Barkley entrusted him to invest. At this place, and at this time, all was copesetic between the two and I do remember that Lance gave me a brand new pair of Nike running shoes as we wore the same size and the room was littered with several brand new pairs (mostly high-tops) in their distinctive orange boxes (for both Charles and Lance). I remember admitting to Charles that I was a big Celtic’s fan though I did feel a little differently since we had met and forged a friendship. Yes, that conversation was a little awkward, yet I do remember him telling me, “I really hate those guys, but I do respect them.” He went on to promise me that he would get me tickets when the 76er’s were in town to play the Lakers. This never happened, yet that wasn’t especially surprising. I do remember that we (my parents and me) did follow his career a little closer as we never forgot the experience of meeting an up and coming NBA star who would go on to become a Hall of Famer and beloved sports broadcast personality.
Charles had his share of regrettable moments off the court as a part of his maturation process including bar fights, a DUI, and solicitation of a prostitute. He was not a perfect man and he never pretended to be one. He once famously (or infamously, depending on your point of view), stated that he was not a role model. A successful Nike ad campaign used that sentiment to brand Charles as a cool, rebellious sort in what now seems like a different world from the perspective of 2020 and PC Woke Politics. To his credit, Charles has openly scoffed at the idea of defunding the police and has come out as a champion of law enforcement. * Not terribly surprising in light of the generation from which his morals and mores were formed. Capitalism has been really good to him and he is smart enough and free thinking enough to see that his hard work and effort had led to monetary rewards beyond the wildest dreams of a kid from Leeds, Alabama. Yes, I am editorializing a tad as I spent a little time with him and have followed him somewhat since. Not really one to play the victim in any, way, shape, or form. Not in his DNA I would suggest… If you saw him play or broadcast, I’m inclined to believe you might concur.
I can’t help but wonder and imagine what it would be like if a modern-day (2020) Charles Barkley and Thomas Cook met in a random encounter like the one that we were lucky enough to enjoy in the relatively simple times of 1985. Though I certainly cannot speak for Charles in my analysis, It seems as though we met, realized we were quite different, judged each on the encounter and not based on what someone told us we should think of each other. Color really never played a role in our brief friendship. Never thought about it… Somehow, I do believe that it would be far different now. And, for me, that is a real shame as we all contend with a rather unpleasant here and now based on viewing the world through vastly different lenses. Meeting Charles is a great memory for me and the family. It is also a reminder for me at age 57, that the world has changed mightily and irreparably. To better days…
* https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barklch01.html
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Puckett_%26_The_Union_Gap
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wink_Martindale
* https://www.foxnews.com/media/charles-barkley-dismisses-defund-police-movement
Thomas M. Cook
7/2/20
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