May 15, 2008

Say It Ain't So, Chuckster : A prosecutor says retired NBA star Charles Barkley will face felony charges if he fails to repay a $400,000 gambling debt to a Las Vegas Strip casino.

read story | posted by texasred to Basketball at 12:32 PM CDT (12 comments total)

Sounds like he gambles like he swings a golf club...

posted by lpaulson at 12:49 PM CDT on May 15

Chuck is lucky that Bugsy's buddies don't run Vegas anymore or he'd be getting a different kind of letter. One with a horses head attached to it.

posted by Shotput at 1:25 PM CDT on May 15

Yeah, I'm surprised nobody's broken his kneecaps. Oh, right, he doesn't have any left.

Bada bing, bada boom.

From the article:

Barkley estimated during a May 2006 interview with ESPN that he'd gambled away about $10 million over the years.

"Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a gambling problem," Barkley said. "But I don't consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble."

Not any more, it looks like.

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:59 PM CDT on May 15

$400,000? Dude, that's pocket change for Sir Charles. I'm sure that he'll re-pay those markers but com'on now, Barkely could probably piss away $400,000 in his sleep and not even toss over to get off of the wet spot.

posted by BornIcon at 2:43 PM CDT on May 15

Do we really think Charles Barkley is worth that much? I mean, Charles did make more than $43M during his career, but factor in taxes, gambling debts and the fact that guys with big gambling debts don't generally invest particularly well and maybe he ain't swimmin' in it.

posted by wfrazerjr at 4:16 PM CDT on May 15

Sir Charles is one pro that knows how to invest his money and make more off of it.

I did an electrical overhaul on his moms house in Leeds Alabama while I was working as a journyman electrican for a company just across I-20 from Leeds.
Was honered with his presance on several ocasions and was feed well at lunch when he was around.

But if he still wants to be Govenor of AL. he better clean up his act a bit.

posted by Folkways at 5:00 PM CDT on May 15

Do we really think Charles Barkley is worth that much?

With all the endorsements, businesses and also his side gig as color commentator for TNT, yeah, I think he's worth much more than you think. He'll be just fine.

posted by BornIcon at 5:29 AM CDT on May 16

I think he's worth much more than you think

Pretty much sums it up. Various outlets say he admits to losing $10 million dollars on gambling. Reframing your argument, it could be that he does TNT and ads because he needs the money.

posted by yerfatma at 7:06 AM CDT on May 16

Reframing your argument, it could be that he does TNT and ads because he needs the money.

I doubt that. I think that he's on TNT because not only is he an entertaining individual but he's also one of the most respected and outspoken person that's involved in some aspect of the NBA.

posted by BornIcon at 7:13 AM CDT on May 16

I think it is bogus that this could be a criminal charge. It's more like running up a credit card and failing to pay it back than writing a bad check.

posted by bperk at 8:36 AM CDT on May 16

If the casino keeps a list of unwelcome guests, Barkley's still not on it, I'll bet.

posted by Newbie Walker at 10:57 PM CDT on May 18

Newbie,
That is excactly true...No way he doesn't get his comp'd room and more next time he goes there. He's "almost" a perfect customer, loses big and draws attention when he is there. They have to wait a few months for some $$, NP, more pub. I love CB, (don't even go there) and any chance to have a Miller Lite with him or watch him piss away, or win money at a table would be great fun to watch, and even better to listen.

posted by gfinsf at 7:48 AM CDT on May 19

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