![]() This extremely rare jersey was produced by Champion, the official supplier of the NBA for much of the 80's, and would be just like the one Barkley donned before taking the court. This jersey was worn by the team from 1978 to 1991, and is the longest tenured jersey in Sixers history, appearing in 1,066 games. Barkley was a six time All-Star with Philadelphia, and averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds while in the City of Brotherly Love. Now you can commemorate his career with this authentic jersey that mirrors the one Chuck would have worn for 7 of his 8 years with the Sixers. No matter what you call him, Charles Barkley was one of the greatest Sixers of all-time. it'll have to be later," said Larry Bird, pulling an athletic bag onto his shoulder and slipping out the locker room door.The round mound of rebound. While Bird has never become as effervescent as Johnson, today he is unfailingly available and patiently answers questions in front of his locker before retreating.īut Friday night, he frowned, his eyes darting down to the floor when Johnson was mentioned. ![]() That changed at about the same time that Bird's relationship with Johnson changed. Earlier in his career, talking with him after a game here meant hurling a question at his back as he scampered out of the old building, or trying to wait for him to emerge from the off-limits trainer's room. When the subject of the number switch was raised, he shrugged it off, saying: "All I wanted to do was play basketball," as he headed toward the showers.īy now, Bird was holding court in the Celtics' locker room. The controversial jersey was gone moments after the game bare-chested, Barkley softly answered reporters' questions. The difference became clearer in the second half: Boston won 122-97. Barkley had 21 points and seven rebounds at halftime but it was clear the Celtics had far too many contributors. In one early sequence, he even sailed over the press table for a loose ball.Īfter the first 12 minutes, he had 15 points and six rebounds, but if Johnson taught us anything it's that it takes more than one man to win a game. But he opened the game as if it were an "S" across his chest, winning the tip and scoring the game's first points. I won't be their Uncle Tom and just go along with the program."Įven so, he admitted before the game that he was "mentally tired" and nervous about wearing number 32 for the first time. If I only tried to do the right thing and say the right thing I'd lose my soul. Last week, Barkley, a former star at Auburn, said football player Eric Ramsey, currently embroiled in a controversy over improper payments at the school "should have been happy and kept his mouth shut."īarkley added: "People say that I'm in the NBA and getting paid good money so I should just shut up. steprock."īefore the season he was assailed for saying he knew the 76ers would keep white center Dave Hoppen as its 12th man because the organization and city weren't ready for an all-black team. "I wasn't really that close to Magic and I was really affected. "It's affected people on different levels," said Boston forward Kevin McHale. ![]() 7 announcement, Bird, one of Magic's closest friends in the league, has barely spoken a word about Johnson's departure, calling it too painful. Barkley, the 76ers' power forward, says he'll wear it all year as a tribute to Johnson, who retired from the Los Angeles Lakers 10 days ago after contracting the AIDS virus. Neither would divulge what was said, but in that moment there was no longer one of the NBA's most heated, passionate rivalries, but rather two men, perhaps paying respect to a faraway friend.įriday night's game was the first that Barkley wore 32, which for 12 years was worn by Magic Johnson. 16 - Moments before the tipoff of Friday night's game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, long after the traditional handshakes between players had been exchanged, Larry Bird leaned his head forward, across the number 32 that graced Charles Barkley's back and whispered into his opponent's ear. ![]()
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