Charles Barkley reveals he would like to end 10-year feud with Michael Jordan: "I’m sorry you took offense to it and let’s get past this bullsh**t"
Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan have ignored each other since 2012. Barkley, already a basketball analyst in 2012, criticized Jordan’s ownership and management of the Charlotte Bobcats, who finished that season with a 7-59 record.
“Sir Chuck” sat down with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks and opened up on what he would say to “His Airness” about their long-standing beef:
“I thought it would blow over, to be honest with you. He’s stubborn, I’m stubborn and that’s it. … I probably would say, ‘What I said was what I believed. I’m sorry you took offense to it and let’s get past this bullsh**t and go back to playing golf and having fun.”
Thinking that it would just “blow over” was, in hindsight, a huge miscalculation on Michael Barkley’s part. He knew very well how overly competitive Michael Jordan was. “His Airness” is legendary for making up slights to fire himself up.
Jordan didn’t need to overimagine what Barkley said about how he directed the Bobcats’ basketball operations. “Chuck” simply did what he was supposed to do as an analyst and he’s never been one to tone down his views or criticism when the situation calls for it.
Michael Jordan has had a long history of botched basketball decisions since his time with the Washington Wizards. That didn’t change when he owned the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets. Charles Barkley called a spade a spade and got burned for it by his former best friend.
The two basketball icons had a great opportunity to get reacquainted during the last All-Star weekend in Cleveland. Both were part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team and could have taken the step of patching their relationship up with a simple nod. They merely ignored each other.
Maybe Barkley’s “I’m sorry” comments to Taylor Rooks could start to thaw out the frosty relationship. They may also never see eye to eye ever again.
Tracy McGrady had a piece of sound advice for Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan
Charles Barkley has repeatedly said over the years that he is heartbroken with what’s going on between him and Michael Jordan. He’s also reiterated that his relationship with MJ is already irreparable.
Barkley, in an interview with ESPN, also wasn’t keen to take the first step, saying, "Oh, he got my number. He can call me.”
Tracy McGrady, however, had very practical and sound advice for the two basketball legends:
“MJ and Charles Barkley, they were brothers. They had a great personal friendship. Pick up the phone, call him, and hash things out, man. Life is too short to be feuding over some bull crap like that.”
As the former Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns star admitted, he and the Chicago Bulls legend are just very stubborn. But given Barkley’s most recent comments and how Jordan revealed a few of his regrets at Kobe Bryant’s funeral, things might not be that hopeless.
Basketball fans around the world can’t wait for another decade before the two hoop icons move past their frayed relationship.