>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOLKS, MY FIRST GUEST TONIGHT IS AN N.B.A.
HALL OF FAMER, AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST, AND A STUDIO ANALYST
ON "INSIDE THE N.B.A."
HE WILL BE COVERING "MARCH MADNESS" RIGHT HERE ON CBS AND
TURNER.
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," MR. CHARLES BARKLEY!
♪ ♪ ♪
( CHEERS ).
>> Stephen: WHEN A HIT?
THERE YOU GO.
JUST IN CASE.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE I'VE BEEN.
>> HEY.
>> Stephen: YUP.
OKAY, LET'S TALK CORONAVIRUS FOR JUST A SECOND BEFORE WE TALK
SPORTS.
>> SURE.
>> Stephen: HOW IS THAT AFFECTING YOUR LIFE?
>> NOT AT ALL.
>> Stephen: IT'S NOT?
>> NO YOU.
>> Stephen: DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE GERMS, ABOUT THE
VIRUSES, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> I MEAN, I HOPE-- UNFORTUNATELY SOME PEOPLE HAVE
PASSED AWAY AND SOME PEOPLE ARE SICK BUT YOU CAN'T STOP LIVING
YOUR LIFE YOU KNOW.
( APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
>> NO, WELL, IT'S LIKE, THIS DEBATE WHERE WE DON'T LET FANS
COME TO GAMES.
I'M LIKE, OKAY, IF THEY DON'T COME TO GAMES, ARE THEY NOT
GOING TO LIVE THEIR LIVES?
ARE THEY NOT GOING TO GO TO WORK?
ARE THEY NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND HAVE DINNER AND THINGS LIKE
THAT?
YOU CAN'T STOP LIVING.
JUST NOT COMING TO A BASKETBALL GAME, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING
TO SOLVE ALL THE ISSUES.
>> Stephen: AS A PLAYER, HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT FOR YOU TO HAVE
THAT ENERGY OF THE FANS?
HOW MUCH DID THAT AFFECT YOUR PLAY, A REAL, LIVE CROWD?
>> IT AFFECTS YOU A LOT.
IT GIVES YOU A GREAT ENERGY BOOST.
SOMETIMES YOU'RE TIRED WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING THREE GAMES--
FOUR GAMES IN FIVE NIGHTS OR YOU'RE JUST PHYSICALLY OR
MENTALLY EXHAUSTED.
THE CROWD IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT WOULDN'T BE GOOD FOR THE GAME NOT TO HAVE FANS.
THEY'RE AN INTRICATE PART OF THE PROCESS.
>> Stephen: LeBRON JAMES SAYS HE'S NOT GOING TO PLAY IF
THERE ARE NO FANS OUT THERE.
>> ONCE HE MISSES ONE OF THOSE CHECKS, HE MIGHT CHANGE HIS
MIND.
( APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: HE MIGHT IN THE MAKE RENT.
>> I'M PRETTY SURE LeBRON MAKES ABOUT $2 MILLION A WEEK,
EVERY TWO WEEKS.
I THINK ONCE HE MISSES A COUPLE OF CHECKS, HE'LL BE BACK OUT
THERE.
( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: YOU WILL BE COVERING "MARCH MADNESS."
>> YES.
>> Stephen: IT STARTS ONE WEEK FROM TODAY.
ARE WE GOING TO SEE "MARCH MADNESS" WITH NO FANS?
THAT'S JUST "MARCH."
THAT'S JUST "MARCH SADNESS" MAN.
>> IT WOULD BE SAD.
>> Stephen: YEAH.
>> IT WOULD BE REALLY UNFORTUNATE.
LIKE I SAY, IF YOU FEEL BAD, DON'T COME.
BUT IT'S SUCH A GREAT EVENT.
>> Stephen: YEAH.
>> I TELL PEOPLE, I WAS BLESSED TO PLAY IN THE OLYMPICS TWICE.
( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: WHICH TWO?
WHICH TWO?
>> '92, '96.
>> Stephen: '92, '96.
BARCELONA...
>> AND ATLANTA.
>> Stephen: OKAY, SURE.
>> OTHER THAN THE OLYMPICS, "MARCH MADNESS" IS THE GREATEST
THING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE BEEN
COVERING "MARCH MADNESS."
IT WOULD BE A TRAVESTY IF THE FANS WEREN'T THERE.
WAR EAGLE.
THAT'S AUBURN.
>> Stephen: NEWS FROM THIS PAST WEEKEND-- SPEAKING OF THE
OLYMPICS, ACTUALLY.
I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE MARIE CONDOING.
YOU'VE BEEN SIMPLIFYING YOUR LIFE IN A FEW WAYS.
YOU'RE LOOKING TO SELL SOME THINGS.
>> I'M GETTING RID OF ALL THE CRAP TROPHIES I EVER WON.
>> Stephen: THEY'RE NOT JUST CRAP TROPHIES.
YOU'RE SELLING YOUR M.V.P.SPS TROPHY AND '96 OLYMPIC GOLD
MEDAL.
>> AND A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF.
I'M FROM A SMALL TOWN IN ALABAMA CALLED LEADS, AND IT'S A REALLY
SMALL TOWN.
WE NEED SOME NEW HOUSING.
PROBABLY 30, TO BE EXACT.
AND I'M GOING TO SELL ALL MY-- I'M GOING TO KEEP THE '92 FOR MY
DAUGHTER.
>> Stephen: THE '92 GOLD MEDAL.
>> EVERYTHING ELSE-- I HAVE A BUNCH OF GOOD STUFF I'M GOING TO
SELL.
MAN, IT'S JUST CLUTTER, YOU KNOW.
>> Stephen: THAT'S VERY ENLIGHTENED OF YOU.
>> I TELL PEOPLE, WHEN I'M 70 I CAN'T BE SAYING, "HEY, GUYS,
COME OVER AND LOOK AT MY TROPHIES."
>> Stephen: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
>> I'M NOT THAT, YOU KNOW, CRAZY.
>> Stephen: WHAT'S SOMETHING OF YOURS-- IS THERE ANYTHING
BESIDE THE '92 MED ALL WOULDN'T GIVE AWAY, YOU WOULDN'T SELL?
WHAT'S PRECIOUS TO YOU?
A FAVORITE PAIR OF SHOES.
>> NO, MAN, COME ON.
> Stephen: A LAY Z BOY CHAIR.
>> I HAVE A CHAIR I WATCH THE SPORTS FROM.
>> Stephen: IT TAKES A LOT TO GET TO YOUR BODY SHAPE.
>> NOT WITH THIS ASS, IT DOESN'T.
>> Stephen: YOUR ASS TAKES CONTROL OF THAT CHAIR, SHOWS
WHO'S BOSS.
>> GOES RIGHT DOWN AND GETS COMFORTABLE IMMEDIATELY.
( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER N.B.A. M.V.P.
YOUR FRIEND SHAQUILLE O'NEAL-- >> WE'RE NOT FRIENDS.
WE WORK TOGETHER.
>> Stephen: GOOD TO KNOW.
GOOD TO KNOW.
HE LOST A BET TO DWYANE WADE RECENTLY, AND THE-- THE-- THE--
THE BET WAS, IF HE LOST THE BET, HE HAD TO LET HIS HAIR GROW OUT,
SO WE COULD SEE WHERE HIS PRESENT HAIRLINE IS RIGHT NOW.
AND THERE IT IS.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE-- WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?
>> THAT MIEBT UGLIEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
>> Stephen: I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS.
THIS IS-- HERE ARE YOU.
THIS IS YOU AT AUBURN RIGHT THERE.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: HERE ARE YOU IN THE 80s WITH YOUR HAIRLINE
BACK IN THE DAY.
( APPLAUSE )
>> MAN.
>> Stephen: WHERE WOULD YOUR HAIRLINE BE THESE DAYS?
>> I DIDN'T HAVE THAT BAD HAIRLINE LIKE SHAQ.
I HAVE A BIG HOLE IN MY HEAD.
I DIDN'T HAVE A RECEDING HAIRLINE.
I JUST HAD A BIG DONUT IN MY HEAD.
>> Stephen: YOU HAD THE MALE PATTERN BACK THERE?
>> YES.
>> Stephen: WE FIXED YOU UP WITH NEW HAIRLINES TO SEE WHAT
YOU LOOKED LIKE IF YOU LET YOUR HAIR GREW OUT.
WE CALL THIS "HUGH GRANT FROM WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL."
RIGHT THERE.
>> THAT'S A HARD NO.
THAT'S A HARD NO.
>> Stephen: THIS IS THE "I PITY THE FOOL," RIGHT THERE.
YEAH.
>> NOT BAD.
>> Stephen: NOT BAD.
WE'LL NAUGHT RIGHT THERE.
PUT IT ON THE SIDE.
THIS IS THE "I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND."
THIS IS THE BEATLES.
>> THAT'S A HARD NO.
>> Stephen: THAT'S A HARD NO.
>> Stephen: AND, OF COURSE, WHO CAN PAZ UP THE FABIO RIGHT
THERE.
>> I THINK IF YOU TRIM UP THAT A LITTLE BIT, I MIGHT BE GOOD.
>> Stephen: SURE, SURE, YEAH.
>> I DON'T LIKE HAIR FOR A DUDE WAY BELOW HIS EARS.
>> Stephen: OH, OKAY.
>> LIKE YOUR CUT IS TIGHT.
>> Stephen: OH, IT IS?
I WANT THAT ON A CARD.
"MY CUT IS TIGHT."
>> YES.
>> Stephen: OKAY, HE D.J.s, SHAQ.
>> HE'S ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
>> Stephen: REALLY.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: DOES HE HAVE A D.J. PERSONA?
LIKE SOME PEOPLE TAKE ON A NAME.
>> "D.J. DIESEL."
>> Stephen: BECAUSE HE'S LIKE A TRAIN YOU CAN'T STOP HIM?
>> NO "SHAQ DIESEL," JUST SOMETHING HE MADE UP.
>> Stephen: I LOVE HOW MUCH THE TONE OF RESPECT YOU PUT IN
YOUR VOICE.
>> I WILL TELL YOU THIS.
WHEN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WATCHING THE GAMES AT WORK.
>> Stephen: YES.
>> HE'S IN THE BACK PRACTICING.
>> Stephen: "D" "JING"?
>> WE HAVE TO PUT HIM ON ANOTHER SIDE OF THE STUDIO.
HE PRACTICES.
HE PUTS HIS TIME AND EFFORT IN.
I HAVE TO GIVE HIM CREDIT.
HE ACTUALLY SHOULD BE WATCHING THE GAME.
BUT HE DOESN'T WATCH THE GAME.
HE'S IN THE BACK DOING D.J.
STUFF.
>> Stephen: WHEN DID YOU FIRST MEET HIM?
DID YOU MEET HIM ON THE COURT OR OFF THE COURT.
>> I MET HIM ON THE COURT.
AND I SAID, "WHAT THE SCHEDULE THAT?"
HE'S THE BIGGEST HUMAN BEING YOU'RE EVER GOING TO MEET.
>> Stephen: I'VE NEVER MET HIM.
HAVE I MET HIM?
HAVE WE HAD HIM ON?
NO, WE COULDN'T FIT HIM THROUGH THE DOOR.
( LAUGHTER )
BUT I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO.
>> HE'S A WONDERFUL GUY.
>> Stephen: YUP.
>> BUT HE'S THE BIGGEST PERSON YOU'RE EVER GOING TO SEE.
AND YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN HE COULD REALLY RUN AND REALLY
JUMP, HAVE A GUY 7'2" WHO COULD PRETTY MUCH OUTJUMP ANYBODY AND
OUTRUN ANYBODY.
HE WAS A PHYSICAL FREAK OF NATURE.
>> Stephen: HE CAN STILL DO THAT.
>> NO, HE CAN'T.
>> Stephen: THANKS TO THE MIRACLE OF ICY HOT.
HE CAN RUB THAT.
YOU'VE SEEN THOSE COMMERCIALS, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
HE COULD TAKE A BATH IN THAT STUFF AND HE CAN'T DUNK ANYMORE.
>> Stephen: HE DOESN'T HAVE TO JUMP.
HE JUST DOES THIS.
THAT'S THE THING.
>> HE'S FUN TO WORK WITH.
HE'S GOT A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.
>> Stephen: CHARLES, WE HAVE TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK.
DON'T GO ANYWHERE.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE MR. CHARLES BARKLEY.