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May 27, 2012
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Charles Barkley Stresses the Importance of a College Degree for Athletes (VIDEO)

by Jason Hughes, posted Mar 15th 2011 3:45AM

Charles Barkley, 'Late Show with David Letterman' (VIDEO)Everyone seems to agree that a proper college education is important. And we use the word "proper," because for many NCAA athletes, they don't seem to be doing the coursework toward an actual degree. Charles Barkley is passionate about this issue, and talked with David Letterman on 'Late Show' (Weeknights, 11:37PM ET on CBS) about it.

"You just can't give him classes to keep him eligible," he said of college athletes. "But you're talking about young kids who all think they're going to go to the pros and a very tiny percent -- less than 1% -- [will]."

Letterman then asked Barkley when he graduated. "I've been thinking about going back and getting my degree," Barkley said.

"Why not?" asked Letterman.

"Just the truth of the matter is I'm just loaded," Barkley said with a laugh. "It won't help me. See, I want the kids that are not going to be loaded to graduate."

It is a good message, even if the delivery turned out a little awkward. But considering this is Charles Barkley, we'll take that he was able to coherently get his message across at all.

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117 Comments

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Phyllis

That's my man!

March 16 2011 at 1:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lavidaloca

there is no such thing as subhumans. what an idiot.

March 15 2011 at 3:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hi Oktavia

I LIKED THE COMENT CHARLES BARKLEY MADE ON JAY LENNO BETTER : " I DON'T HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR ME HO HAVE ".

March 15 2011 at 2:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dr. Kelly

Sarah Palin has a degree. She still makes up words, speaks in terms she constantly has to correct and she's not half as entertaining as Sir Charles. Who would you rather be?

March 15 2011 at 2:32 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
logebfd

Competitive sports is not structured to develop character only characters

March 15 2011 at 2:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
johnsjr51

First you have to teach these ghetto subhumans how to speak english. The public school system has been trying for decades and it hasn't worked.

March 15 2011 at 1:58 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to johnsjr51's comment
thankuprezobama

Yeah. It was hard for them to understand your mother's accent!!!

March 15 2011 at 10:37 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
md2am

This gut needs to go back to school just to learn how to talk correctly.
It seems like people just like to watch TNT to see Charles make a fool out of himself!

March 15 2011 at 1:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to md2am's comment
stopforreststop

LMAO!!! He needs to learn hot to "talk correctly"? Really? Hello pot! Meet kettle.

March 15 2011 at 2:01 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
pamcat1

#1- Charles is one of the dumbest and stupidest people every to hold a microphone. He doesn't need a college education, he needs to go back to grade school. This guy speaks correct English an avg 1% of the time. Want to see how dumb he is? check out his appearance on Jeopardy, it hurts to watch!
#2- Loaded! This is the same person who bounced checks all over Vegas and had to be charged with a crime before he would payback the casinos. Didn't Michael Jordan feel sorry and give him some money to cover those bad checks?

March 15 2011 at 1:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to pamcat1's comment
whmere

Pamcat, Charles is dumb like a fox. While it is true he does not speak correct english most of the time,he does commuicate fairly well. He is encouraging todays atheletes to get a degree and speak well. He came up in a different ere. Where his homespun "igorance" was considered charming. It is doubtful he would be so welcomed today if he were just retiring from basketball. I do believe it is a shame that most,not all, of todays atheletes have not been properly educated.

March 15 2011 at 6:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
thankuprezobama

AS LONG AS THE PRESIDENTS ON HIS MONEY HAVE A DEGREE, THEN HE'S DOING OK!

March 15 2011 at 10:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ted

I have info on the ipad 3 and schematics on the 4 , williamrussell1@hotmail.com phone 233-540923276

March 15 2011 at 1:38 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
lemmonherk

Yes, Sir Charles, a college degree WILL still help you, even though you're already "loaded". How? Simple -- it will improve your mind, broaden your perspectives and make you a more interesting person to know. These factors, of course, have been the primary purpose of higher education for a long time now; for several millenia, in fact.

March 15 2011 at 1:35 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to lemmonherk's comment
rltballer

lemmonherk
i disagree..if Barkley is already loaded, already has contract to keep doing bball commentary, why would he go back? i just dont see the point..he is the exception to the rule.

March 15 2011 at 1:54 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Richard

My experience with college Grads is we have a whole bunch of educated idiots that think they know it all. If they could only see themselves as others see them they would keep their mouth shut more often. There is nothing worse that an educated idiot and a hot air merchant combined. Oh well, the bright side is they give us something to laugh at.

March 15 2011 at 4:42 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply

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