8B
Thursday, October 17, 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Barkley plans future in politics broadcasting after time in NBA
Forward says league overpays and glorifies unproven players
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A job at NBC will follow two more years of basketball. Then he'll run for governor of Alabama in 2002.
Charles Barkley now has a life plan. And the newest Houston Rockets superstar says the plan doesn't necessarily include an NBA championship.
"Everybody tries to tell me what I'm thinking, but I'm not thinking about winning a championship," Barkley said. "It would be great to win it, don't get me wrong. But I look at things differently than everybody else."
Barkley is crusading against young players who don't work as hard or treat the game with as much respect as he does.
He says the NBA glorifies and overpoways young players who haven't shown much more than the ability to sell sneakers.
"The NBA made all these guys stars so they can sell jerseys and shoes, but most of these guys can't play," Barkley said. "It's sad. We might laugh it off, but seriously, it's a shame."
Barkley, who acknowledges that his
skills have deteriorated, was almost forced into retirement in recent years because of a back injury. Now he says that his back hasn't bothered him in more than a year and that his plan is to play two more years, move to the
broadcast booth and then enter politics. He's not kidding about running for governor.
"I'm very serious about it," Barkley said, calling current Alabama Gov. Fob James Jr. a clown.
"Politics is on the back burner, but it's something I look forward to," Barkley said. "There's an election two years from now, but I'm not going to be in that one. They'll have to wait six years for me."
It has been almost two months since Barkley was traded from the Phoenix Suns. His personality clashed with that of owner Jerry Colangelo, and Barkley defined the dispute in terms of respect.
"Everybody thinks I got traded because I wanted to win a championship, but that's not necessarily true," he said. "I wanted to stand up to the system — and I got what I wanted."
He thought the Suns were disrespectful of him last year when they started listening to trade offers without talking to him. When the season ended, Barkley demanded a trade.
"My thinking about getting out of Phoenix was standing up to the man," he said. "They want you to make them a lot of money, and then they want to treat you however they want to."
"Well, I think I've earned a certain amount of respect. And I proved my point."
A 99-87 loss to the Knicks on Tuesday dropped Houston's preseason record to 2-1. Starters Brent Price, Kevin Willis and Clyde Drexler missed the game because of injuries.
Barkley will play with superstars Hakeem Olaijuwen and Drexler for a team that won championships in 1994 and 1995 but has been overhailed since. Olaijuwen is the only remaining member of the 1994 team.
"It's unfortunate that I had to wait this long to get players like this around me," said Barkley, who has never won a championship in his 12 years in the league. "Obviously with me, Clyde and Hakeem, people expect us to have a good team, and I expect that."
"But a championship is not the most important thing to me. Even if I win one, it won't mean as much to me as coming from where I was in Alabama to where I am today. I've got a great life."
Renovated Lakers team prepares for new season
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Last season ended most unpleasantly for Nick Van Exel. It was so distasteful, he won't discuss it.
The Associated Press
Then came the playoffs, which didn't last long for the Lakers. Van Excel wasn't at the top of his game, and Los Angeles was eliminated 3-1 by the Houston Rockets in the first round.
At one stage, Magic Johnson, who has since retired, said Van Exel should be more involved in offense.
It began when the Los Angeles Lakers' point guard shoved referee Ron Garrettson during the fourth quarter against Denver on April 9. Van Exel was suspended for the final seven games of the regular season and fined $25,000.
At another, Van Excel clamored for Eddie Jones to get the ball more.
After the Lakers were eliminated in Game 4 in Houston, Van Exel didn't attend the final team meeting the following day at the Forum.
"I'm just glad it's over with, I'm moving on," he said this week. "I not really talking about it. I'm glad to be on a team like this, that has a chance of doing something special."
The Lakers boosted their stock significantly in July when center Shaquille O'Neal signed a seven-year. $120 million contract.
By the time the wheeling and dealing was finished, only five players — Van Exel and fellow starters Jones, Cedric Ceballos, Elden Campbell, and reserve Corie Blount — remained from last season.
"My job is going to be to help make other players better," said Van Exel, who is about to
begin his fourth NBA season. "It's less shots for me. Hopefully my assists will go up tremendously. It's a sacrifice we've_got to make."
Van Exel, a second-round draft pick in 1993, averaged 14.9 points and 6.9 assists last season. His career scoring average is 15.1 points, and he has led the Lakers in assists each year.
He said O'Neal's signing probably won't sink in for him until the start of the regular season Nov. 1.
"He's a great scorer, an intimidator in the middle, a great shot-blocker," Van Exel said. "It makes my job a lot easier. I want to help him lead the league in scoring, and I want him to help me lead the league in assists."
Van Exel said O'Neal would have a lot more freedom offensively with the Lakers than he had with the Orlando Magic, and the Lakers are running the same offense they ran last year.
"In Orlando, he was always on the block," Van Exel said. "He'll get to show everybody he's not just a dunker.
"With him, you've got so many options. He's a great scorer, rebounds, starts the break so well. And we've got a team, we've got some guys who can finish."
Van Exel said fans in the area had already demonstrated great enthusiasm about the upcoming season.
"The they love us now," he said. "O'Neal) is getting all the pub, but around L.A., everybody wants to see us doing well."
SEARCH FOR THE STARS AT KU THIS WEEKEND
IT' S ALL A PART OF Super TARGET SPORTS WEEKEND!
FRIDAY, OCT. 18:
4:00PM KANSAS SOCCER:
vs. IOWA ST. SUPERTARGET FIELD
THEN COME EARLY FOR YOUR
"LATE NIGHT" FUN!
6:00PM ALLEN FIELDHOUSE
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ADMISSION IS FREE, BUT PLEASE BRING A CANNED
FOOD DONATION FOR THE SUPERTARGET FOOD DRIVE
COME EARLY !: FIELDHOUSE
DOORS WILL BE CLOSED WHEN
THE ARENA REACHES CAPACITY
Kids 12 & Under WILL NOT Be Admitted
Without an Adult
7:00PM KANSAS VOLLEYBALL VS. MISSOURI Then the ALL SPORTS PEP RALLY
"LATE NIGHT WITH ROY WILLIAMS"
SATURDAY, OCT. 19 KANSAS FOOTBALL:
7:30PM KANSAS VOLLEYBALL:
vs. IOWA ST.
SUNDAY, OCT. 20
1:00PM KANSAS SOCCER:
vs. #6 NEBRASKA
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