Barkley steals the spotlight at The Great One's show
By Dave Lagarde, PGATOUR.com Correspondent
COLLINGWOOD, ONTARIO, Canada -- Any idea about how difficult it is to steal the show in a pro-am played in Canada when national treasure Wayne Gretzky is the official host of the event and a slew of NHL hall of fame heroes are sprinkled throughout the field?
Hate to answer a question with three more, but . . .
Splitting that first atom? A snap.
Landing on the moon? No problem.
Solving the world's quest for oil? Mere child's play.
Get the picture?
Give credit to the Round Mound of Rebound who has morphed into the Round Mound of Sound since retiring from the NBA in 2000. He came about as close as an Alabama-born-and-raised basketball player could last week in the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic sponsored by Samsung.
Charles Barkley was a personable, disarmingly charming, incredibly accommodating cuddly Care Bear and a giggle fest wrapped into one larger-than-life package as he made quite the impression on Nationwide Tour players and tournament spectators alike. The virtuoso performance by his close friend didn't escape the Great One's notice.
"I think Charles had more fun than anybody this week,'' Gretzky said as his successful first edition was wrapping up. "I can't tell you how many people came up to tell me how great he was and how great it was to meet him.''
That list was a long one and included Nationwide Tour members Craig Bowden, Barkley's partner, and Ben Bates, a laidback Nationwide Tour original, who played alongside.
"He was a prince,'' said Bowden, who also served as Barkley's straight man for the tournament's first 36 holes. "He signed every autograph. He stopped and talked to people and thanked them for coming.
Said Bates: "I can't remember laughing that hard playing in an event.''
To think Barkley did this while putting a swing that often is ridiculed but will never be duplicated on display makes the feat even that more impressive. Gretzky said Brett Hull, who won the celebrity portion of the pro-am with fellow Dallas resident Colt Knost, called Barkley's action, complete with its sometimes stationary (he gets stuck at the top and in the middle of his downswing with his driver) and sometimes movable parts, to "a fall-away jump shot.''
Barkley has a better analysis.
"It's a hesitation thing,'' he said, sipping a cold one while drawing howls of laughter in the room in the contestants' lounge after the second round.
What's overlooked while Barkley provides spectators with something to yuck about, film-clip fodder for sportscasts and reams of material for those late-night talk show hosts, is he was helping raise money for charity. That makes him a willing target for those friendly verbal barbs.
"I don't mind embarrassing myself if it's for a good cause,'' Barkley said after trudging 18 holes Friday, the majority with his ball in his pocket and a "what-me-worry?" attitude as he smiled through the pick-up pain. "I can take a joke. That's what's wrong with a lot of people these days. Nobody can take a joke anymore.
"Besides, my game's not good right now. If they make it funny, I'll laugh. What am I going to say, 'I don't stink'? I do stink.''
Here's the thing about Barkley. He was "a legit eight to 10'' handicap a few years ago. He ran into a severe swing-thought morass when he started taking a few too many lessons, listened to far too many suggestions and simply short-circuited. Everyone wants to help -- Bowden and Bates offered opinions last week -- and Sir Charles always will listen. He even went so far as to try hypnosis as a cure for what ails his game.
"All I got was a good nap,'' he said.
One tip caused the most damage.
"Some teacher who's glad I can't remember his name told me to stop at the top of my swing to help with balance,'' he said. "Now I can't stop stopping.''
There's one other thing Barkley cannot stop. And that's talking.
It comes as easily as breathing for one of the best players and, perhaps more important considering his new station in life, most colorful personalities in NBA history. Barkley remains one of the game's most identifiable figures, an extremely outspoken TNT analyst who never minces words, holds back criticism or skimps on sharp opinions. He is as close an observer of other sports, golf included, as he is the one that made him rich and famous.
Barkley professed much admiration for the players on the Nationwide Tour, saying it is unfair for anyone to compare the circuit with the minor leagues.
"These guys are too good for that,'' he said. "They all can play. Some of these guys have won on the PGA TOUR. Some are U.S. Amateur champions and NCAA champions. I'm not saying they're going to be the next Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods, but people who want to compare this to the CBA (Continental Basketball League) or some AAA baseball league aren't paying attention.''
He also believes he knows the difference between a Nationwide Tour player and one who successfully plies his trade in The Big Show.
"Maybe these guys didn't get a break when they needed one,'' he said. "Sometimes that's all it takes. But to me, it's all about confidence. After ability that's the most important thing in golf.''
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