NBA’s clown prince takes a serious turn
STATELINE, Nev. — Charles Barkley can work a gallery, although “work” is probably the wrong word. The fans who flock to the American Century Championship are putty in the hands of Sir Charles, who, by the end of his daily 18, has insulted, flattered and/or charmed half the folks on the course.
But now Barkley has a new gallery to work, and an opportunity to do something far more impactful than bust up his adoring fans at Lake Tahoe. Barkley has a foot in the door at the very highest levels of government and power. And America’s favorite sports funnyman is dead serious about taking advantage of his newfound influence.
“I just got another text from Jared Kushner,”
Barkley confided Friday.
Intriguing, but I didn’t get a chance to get the full story until Saturday, when I walked the first five holes with Barkley as he attacked the Edgewood course, and fended off its counterattack.
The story: Over the past few years, Barkley has donated millions of dollars toward the education of poor children. Word gets around, and Barkley was invited to appear Tuesday at the Allen Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.
The Allen Conference is a weeklong get-together of the nation’s super-elite in the business, media and political world. It has been called a summer camp for billionaires, who bond while golfing and rafting.
This year’s campers included Rupert Murdoch, Tom Brokaw, Roger Goodell, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. Barkley’s invite came through Brokaw, who is an old pal.
Barkley was asked to participate on a panel discussion Tuesday, where he got a chance to talk about his “mission” of narrowing the gap between America’s rich and poor. He shared the panel with former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns and noted author Wes Moore.
I asked Barkley if he thought the Allen people brought him there for laughs, or whether they seriously wanted to hear his message.
“No, this ain’t a laugh crowd,” he said. “Those people understand what my mission is; that’s why I got invited. So I knew going in it was a serious thing. I have no problem talking about that part of my life. I use the TV and the basketball to get my message out and to help my causes.”
Barkley said it was a bit intimidating — “I’m a little black kid from Leeds, Ala., and I’m going to speak to group?” — but he thought he made his points. And since leaving the conference and coming to Tahoe, he has received a couple of texts from Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.
“He said he really appreciated the speech,” Barkley said, “and wanted to know if we could sit down and talk.” When? “Hopefully, some time in the next few weeks,” Barkley said. “I just want to make sure he’s legitimate. Like, I don’t want to (pose for a photo op), I’m really trying to make a difference when it comes to poverty.”
The last thing Barkley wants is to be exploited to boost the sagging approval ratings of an administration about which he has reservations. Barkley is Democrat, but not a blind follower. He believes his party is not faultfree.
He also believes that if you have a voice and something to say, you should speak up, just in case someone is listening. What he’s saying is pretty basic:
“Rich people gotta help poor people get an education,” Barkley said. “When you’re rich and successful, your goal is to help poor people . ... I use a baseball analogy. If you’re born poor in this country, you’re going to go to a s— school, and live in a s— neighborhood. How many times (are) you going to get a hit if every time you step up to the plate you’ve got two strikes? It’s not right, and it’s not fair.”
Barkley donated $1 million each to three historically black universities, $2 million to his alma mater, Auburn, and $1 million to his old high school — all to further education for disadvantaged students.
The people in the current administration, with their health-care and tax-cuts-forwealthy plans, wouldn’t seem the ideal congregation for Barkley’s preaching, but he is undaunted. What if they do listen?
“All you can do is your part,” Barkley said. “I tell people every day, they’re like, ‘Dude, this is (impossible).’ First of all, shut up. The only thing you can do in life is your part. Nothing’s going to stop my mission.”