News & Views

Charles Barkley saying hello to fans in LA and Vegas

The main event of Thursday’s late night calendar involves the appearance of Brett Favre on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Favre will be making his first public comments since the Minnesota Vikings’ overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game.

While Favre spends very little time in an interview setting, Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is perfectly comfortable sitting in front of that bright red light. 

Barkley has parlayed his 16-year playing career into a highly successful role as NBA Studio Analyst for TNT Sports. The most outspoken player of the 80’s and 90’s has become the most gregarious broadcaster of the 2000’s.

Very few commentators, in any genre, have the editorial freedom possessed by Barkley.  He can opine on practically any subject, void of retribution or controversy. Barkley is no stranger to trouble, but his malfeasance is generally due to his actions and not his words.

Barkley is the combination of wealth, fame and accessibility.  Despite his status, which includes close friendships with Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, Barkley appears to almost always have time for his many fans.

Below are two video examples of this situation.

The first circumstance took place outside of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in Los Angeles.

The second setting was the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, with Barkley walking down a hall with Nelly.

 

Photograph Source: SI.com

 

 

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Jon Rapoport has spent his career working on all sides of the media and sports industry. He began his career at ESPN in studio production at the ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. While there, he won an Emmy for his contribution to "SportsCenter." Following his tenure at ESPN, Jon relocated to Los Angeles, joining the staff of the “Best Damn Sports Show” on FOX Sports Net.

Upon leaving the show, Jon worked in Web site and sports radio show development/production, with Major League Baseball in media operation logistics for the World Baseball Classic and on behalf of Los Angeles’ effort to bring the 2016 Summer Olympics back to Southern California. Jon currently writes a political blog for the Los Angeles edition of Examiner.com.

Born and raised in Plymouth, Minnesota (just outside of Minneapolis), Jon is an avid sports fan, particularly for his beloved Minnesota teams. Jon graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned his BA in communication and interned for ABC’s “Good Morning America” in New York City and Washington D.C. He is married and resides in Los Angeles.  

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