Barkley, Barkley, he's our man.
If he can't do it--at least we'll have fun.
A couple of weeks ago or so, Charles Barkley was a guest on the Jay Leno Tonight Show. (I didn't see it, but I heard tell.) During all the BS-ing that Charles is famous for, he let it slip out that he was thinking of running for mayor of his hometown of Leeds, Alabama (coincidentally, my hometown as well). He's let it be known for years that he has the governor's mansion in Montgomery in his sites, so it seems that Mayor of Leeds would be a logical stepping stone. I could dig it.
Reports in The Birmingham News the next day said Charles had purchased a house in Leeds to establish residency. Sounded like he wasn't just BS-ing.
Charles grew up here, graduated from Leeds High School as a star basketball player (of course). When he was a student at Leeds Junior High during the time I was on their substitute teacher payroll, I often had the young Charles in my class. I remember he had hair then, an impressive Afro (it was the 70s, you know); and he never caused trouble in class. (There were two groups of kids when I taught junior high: those who caused trouble and those who didn't. The first group far outnumbered the second.) Even then (mid-70's), I recall, he had an impressive entourage. Several much shorter kids, girls and boys, moved with him through the halls. It was like he was a magnet, drawing the less charismatic youngsters to himself.
After high school, Charles moved on to Auburn University and then to the pros. His mom and grandma and brothers and other kin still live here, and Charles can be seen in town from time to time when he visits family or when he works on some fund-raiser or charity event in town or plays golf in a Birmingham tournament. There's a street in Leeds named for him, and the town owes him a debt of gratitude for the investments he has made in Leeds schools.
So it makes perfect sense to me that he might be interested in our town's top political office. I was tickled when I heard that Sir Charles was seriously considering running for our town's mayoral office in our next election--albeit the fact that the young'n has, by his own admission, never held a real job, much less does he have any experience in politics. We know he's smart, and funny. It would be fun to have a funny mayor. He could learn the rest.
But lo, it might all be just talk. In an interview last week in our prestigious (ahem) Leeds News, Charles seemed to be back-peddling. "That would be a complete change in my lifestyle," he said. And something about not wanting to mess with "that bunch of fools."
I say make up your mind, Charles. Don't leave us on tenterhooks. I'm really counting on this mayorship, man, looking forward to you bringing more industry to town in the form of a Krispy Kreme shop, finally getting the gambling laws changed in Leeds so that we can hold a quilt raffle, convincing you to join Leeds First United Methodist (since that's where all the Leeds mayors worship). I'd even attend City Council meetings if I knew you were going to be spouting your own unique form of political rhetoric (aka BS). Oh now, wouldn't it just be too fun to have Charles for mayor? Let the party begin, I say.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 05/02/2008, Karla said ...
I saw him on CNN recently and he said he was definitely going to run for governor so it seems logical to go for mayor. Interesting that you knew him in his school years!
Karla
On 05/02/2008, Jed said ...
I would vote for him!
I can remember hearing Barkley talk for the first time on a Nike commercial. He definately had a Leeds accent -- he said the word "logo" (Low-go) exactly like Kenny would have!
On 05/02/2008, hunnybunny said ...
Oh my goodness, that would be so funny in a good way. I have to admit to feeling a twinge of jealousy when I read you have a Krispy Kreme. Hot Donuts are GOOD!
On 05/02/2008, sherry said ...
OMG! Sir Charles as Mayor, that is something to contemplate! LOL
On 05/02/2008, Penny @ Lavender Hill Studio said ...
Well, it would be fun wouldn't it? And you are right, he is smart - obviously business savy. So he could learn the rest...
Hugs,
Penny
On 05/03/2008, Beverly said ...
Ooh, ooh! Sir Charles has been a favorite of mine for many, many years. He just plain ole calls it as he sees it, and I love that.
I agree that he would probably be quite a good mayor, and attract business.
On 05/03/2008, Cindy said ...
I think it is great when someone is willing to invest himself--time, energy, talents--where he grew up or where he has family. There are roots and accountability.
On 05/03/2008, Pesky Patti said ...
Hey, we have Arnold S(you spell the rest!) as governor of our state. AND Kevin Johnson (former NBA star) running for mayor of our little capitol city! It is very cool to have celebs in office.
On 05/05/2008, Sharon said ...
When my MIL used to sit and watch basketball she loved Sir Charles. He was her man. She'd would have loved to have had him for Mayor.
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