Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20, 1963, in Leeds, Alabama)
is an American former basketball power forward. A current resident
of Scottsdale, Arizona, Barkley is commonly nicknamed Sir Charles
and occasionally The Round Mound of Rebound. Barkley was named
Most Valuable Player of the NBA in 1993. In 1996, the NBA's 50th
anniversary, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Barkley won the Olympic gold medal with the U.S. Dream Teams in the 1992
and 1996 Games. Barkley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Barkley is best remembered for his tenacity and ruggedness for rebounds,
despite his relative lack of height for his natural position of power forward.
In addition to being one of the best rebounders of all time, he was also
a prolific scorer and a consummate team player.
After his playing career, Barkley has enjoyed enormous success as a
sports commentator, leading some to believe that his legacy in basketball
will be similar to American football's John Madden.