Barkley's Apology

It's cheap entertainment. The never-ending supply of squirming superstars under the white hot light of scandal. Who hasn't chuckled at a millionaire athlete choking on arranged tears saying, "mistakes were made, I'm giving my life to God now."

In the downplay and dishonesty category, Mike Vick went with God. Alex Rodriguez and Michael Phelps played the, "I was young and stupid," card. Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds tried the "nuh uhh" approach.

But in the case of former Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns All-Star power forward Charles Barkley, something was different.

Barkley was arrested December 31, 2008, for driving under the influence. When Barkley was arrested, he was with a woman who was not his wife. He told the arresting officer he ran a stop sign because he was in a hurry to receive oral sex from the woman.

Barkley returned from leave last Thursday night to his anaylist position on TNT's "Inside the NBA." Former NBA players such as Karl Malone, Chris Webber and Gary Peyton unsuccessfully filled in during the absence.

Before Barkley spoke, I couldn't help but expect the usual. I expected 33 minutes of prepared lies sprinkled with insincerity and hidden smirks. I expected anything from a Spitzer subterfuge to a Palmiero point.

But Barkley looked into the camera and said, "I embarrassed everybody in my life. I'm sorry."

No, "I'm sorry, but...." No note cards. No false tears.

I kept waiting for a bus load of excuses to arrive. You know the, "I didn't go to college," or, "I didn't know what I was putting in my body," type we've heard lately. But the bus never pulled in.

Barkley continued to speak, seemingly unrehearsed, and never once sounded as if he was blaming anyone but number one.

When host Ernie Johnson asked Barkley what he'd said to his daughter about the incident, Barkley gave an answer any shamed man would give. "I told her I really, really screwed up and that's all you can say. You can't make excuses, this was 100 percent my fault and it's unacceptable," he said.

I must give TNT credit for allowing Johnson to ask Barkley some tough, at-times awkward, questions. He asked about everything from Charles seeking professional help to what went through his mind as he saw the lights flashing.

The most amazing part: Johnsons concise interview included follow ups.

Maybe it's his natural charisma, the same that makes Sir Charles one of the most popular sports analysts, that makes him seem more believable than A-Rod or Phelps. But more than likely, its because he actually is sorry.

And that, is all we want.

We don't expect athletes to be saints when they grow up showered with praise, doused in money and put in sinful situations aplenty. But they must, upon miscue, understand that they are not beyond consequence. That their ability to hit home runs or catch touchdowns does not mean instant exoneration.

Barkley's apology may be the only one I can remember not thinking that he's only sorry because he got caught.

A-Rod did steroids and Johnny Damon thinks it could have been worse.

The world of Major League Baseball is in shambles, proclaim the general media, because Alex Reodriguez used steroids. Somehow we were all transported into the world of 2003, where people were shocked that professional baseball players used enhancing drugs.

With A-Rod being the "latest and greatest to fall" (Sports Illustrated), the media believes we need every member of the New York Yankees to chime in. Derek Jeter spoke, as if the voice of God was coming down from heaven giving his opinion. Jeter, being the team captain and not trying to make clubhouse conflict, stated that the team was there to support Alex. Then Captain Derek tried to turn the attention away the Yankees.

Last night, Johnny Damon provided one of the best, unintentional humor, interviews of all time. When asked about his feelings towards A-Rod, Damon took a pro-team, pro-A-Rod stance. He then explained that there were other, more serious things Rodriguez could have done. This allowed a female reporter (they always seem to play a great set-up woman - see A.I.'s "practice" interview) to follow up asking, what things would he consider worse. Damon, straight faced, responds, he could have murdered someone. Thank you everyone and good night.


However, I'm still pretty sure Ray Lewis killed that dude in Atlanta.

RE:WHat?

Listen.

On behalf of those guys who write about their love for the rugged and never emotional or physically soft Sal Fasano, it was not my suggestion to mention such movie as Love Actually. That really happened. Granted this same ex-girlfriend was very open to watching games all the time... granted her taste in teams was questionable at times.


Though I am a big enough man so... I'm sorry. It won't happen again.

Oh and Love Actually is not endorsed and will never be endorsed by this website. Though if your like Clockwork Orange, you better watch 2001, that is some pretty deep stuff.

Mike Milbury is mad as hell and he is not going to take it!

So during Sunday's game, Flyers-Rangers, NBC's Mike Milbury was more than upset with the Rangers playing in a crucial rivalry match-up. Granted this was during the first intermission when New York was trailing only 1-0. This was before the Flyers skated all over Lundi and the lackluster Rangers.

Milbury, back to the main point, was near the point where he would be saying four letter words. He felt ashamed that Rangers fans paid good money (which they did) during a poor economy (which we are in) and got to see a travesty of a team. It seemed that viewers were going to see Milbury from his coaching days; swearing at refs and tossing equipment on the ice.

Mad Mike was right, that team played so dull, no life, no emotion and the scoreboard proved that. Despite some effort and a few fights in the third period, there was no pride regained by the blue shirts. In fact I think that when some little kid was struck by a puck (the kid didn't cry!) he would have been more useful on the ice than Coltan Orr or any of their other goons.

This team feels familiar, you know, like those old late 90's Rangers squads that were financed with top dollar free agents but failed to even make the playoffs. Take into consideration about a half a dozen team don't make the playoffs each year, so it's not like the numbers are against them. Poor playing and lack of enthusiasm causes you to miss the playoffs.

WHat?

Please allow me to make a statement reguarding Sal's Keeper's post on Valentines Day:

I in no way advocate the dumb ass non-sense that flowed so seemingly easily out of him in light of the day. It is to be noted that Sal's Keeper knows about has much about relationships as I do about Cricket.

The urge must have struck him to be a complete pussy and suggest a garbage film. My girlfriend and I watched the Stanly Kubrik classic, "A Clockwork Orange," becuase all women are not interested in roses, puppies and chick flicks.

It is offensive that he used our beloved sports blog to discuss such issues and even suggest that games should be skipped to celebrate a made-up holiday.

I apologize to anyone who read his piece and became physically ill such as I did.

In the future, we - as a team - plan to keep our softer sides out of it and stick to the most important things in life like backup catchers such as Sal Fasano.