It seems every time Charles Barkley gets a chance to bring in some humor, he does not hesitate. Before tonight’s NCAA Championship game, the NBA Hall of Famer responded to Arizona State Sun Devils’ head coach Bobby Hurley’s gameday fasting routine in the most Charles Barkley way he can.
Bobby Hurley was at the pre-game show talking to the CBS crew about the championship game involving his brother‘s UConn team. Host Ernie Johnson asked about rituals and superstitions coaches follow, to Hurley.
We all have routines. I don't eat on gameday, that's mine. I want to make myself suffer and sacrifice before I have to go out and perform. No food on gameday. I fast. Bobby Hurley said
I eat fast. Charles Barkley replied
As bizarre as it sounds, Bobby Hurley might be using all the rituals he can to be successful in his career. But anything about food is all Charles Barkley needs, to bring some much-needed humor to the stage.
Charles Barkley has always criticized or trolled those who do not eat meat, or resort to vegan food. His colleague Kenny Smith being a vegan has borne the brunt of most of those trolls. Barkley knows Hurley from their time in the NBA, which meant all bets were off as he trolled his former compatriot.
Moving to the humorous side has helped make Charles Barkley into the legendary broadcaster that he is. The former league MVP has often used food as a prop to bring humor into his conversations. He has also trolled his lifelong struggle with staying disciplined around the topic of food.
Charles Barkley credits former teammate and mentor Moses Malone for getting into shape
When Charles Barkley entered the NBA, he was close to 300 pounds. As a rookie, all that weight resulted in limited minutes despite being the 5th pick of the NBA. When he asked then Philadelphia 76ers star center Moses Malone why he wasn’t playing enough, the veteran leader told him that he was fat and lazy. If he wanted to be elite at basketball he had to get into shape.
Malone challenged Barkley to lose weight every week to get into playing shape. And the rookie heeded his veteran leader’s words and lost almost 50 pounds in a month. Eventually, Barkley went to start for the 76ers, and the legend of The Round Mound of Rebound was born. Had Malone not helped Barkley get into shape, he would not have been league MVP down the line.
After breaking into his 60’s Barkley has been very vocal about weight loss and maintaining a diet to stay in shape. But his own struggles with weight loss are one of his best humor props whenever he gets the chance.
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