Charles Barkley is Disappointed to Have Lost Friendship With Tiger

[billchao]

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/grill-room/barkley-disappointed-lose-friendship-tiger/

Quote:

Former NBA star Charles Barkley used to be friends with Tiger Woods – such good friends, in fact, that Barkley says they talked once a week for 15 years.

Well, Barkley says now they haven’t talked since Woods’ scandal in late 2009. Barkley said Tuesday on Campus Insiders’ “Seth Davis Show” that it’s “disappointing” to lose that friendship but now must learn to accept it.

I remember reading news articles at the time of the scandal that Barkley was one of the negative influences in Tiger's life in terms of gambling and nightclubs and that sort of thing. If it is true, then I'm not surprised that Tiger would cut ties with him.

[trickyputt]

Lol, I did some work at CB's mothers house. Met his grandmother, brother also. My suspicion is that Tiger wouldn't have survived his childhood had he grown up in that home. Those people had their feet firmly on the ground. That was a long time ago, early in Charles' career.

[GolfLug]

What CB doesn't realize is his swing started affecting Tiger's. Purely a self defensive move on Tiger's part.

[Spitfisher]

[URL=http://www.golfchannel.com/news/grill-room/barkley-disappointed-lose-friendship-tiger/]http://www.golfchannel.com/news/grill-room/barkley-disappointed-lose-friendship-tiger/[/URL] I remember reading news articles at the time of the scandal that Barkley was one of the negative influences in Tiger's life in terms of gambling and nightclubs and that sort of thing. If it is true, then I'm not surprised that Tiger would cut ties with him.

w C'mon Tiger is an adult not 14 years old and can make his own decisions on gambling, night clubs, prostitution and adultery....and did. No one held a gun to his head or influenced him. Barkley is disapointed that his friendship went south, given the circumstances and timeing of when it did, it's perfectly understandable IMO.

[billchao]

C'mon Tiger is an adult not 14 years old and can make his own decisions on gambling, night clubs, prostitution and adultery....and did. No one held a gun to his head or influenced him.

Umm yea people have absolutely no influence on each other's actions or decisions as friends. Right. Peer pressure is not limited to teenagers. It's one of the things they teach people in rehab: to cut ties with the negative influences in their lives. Any user is more likely going to relapse if they return to their old lifestyle and their friends still use.

[GolfLug]

Umm yea people have absolutely no influence on each other's actions or decisions as friends. Right. Peer pressure is not limited to teenagers.

It's one of the things they teach people in rehab: to cut ties with the negative influences in their lives. Any user is more likely going to relapse if they return to their old lifestyle and their friends still use.

Agree. Although peer pressure only brings out what is already inside of you as an adult especially in alpha thinkers like Tiger who I don't think is very impressionable.

I wonder what is CB's lifestyle. He is married and seems to be happily so (courtesy of Mr. Google).

Clean break of friendship of years is very strange though. No turning around, no second guessing, no second chances. Wow.

[Spitfisher]

Umm yea people have absolutely no influence on each other's actions or decisions as friends. Right. Peer pressure is not limited to teenagers. It's one of the things they teach people in rehab: to cut ties with the negative influences in their lives. Any user is more likely going to relapse if they return to their old lifestyle and their friends still use.

Oh I agree with your analogy of chemical or alcohol dependency and the associated lifestyle........ I have seen it first hand. however with a 6 month pregnant wife at home and a child of the age of one at home, having various sessions with countless women, unprotected and somewhat abusive in nature, repeatively and calculated. well I find that to be far fetched to think anyone can influence anyone to do that. It takes a certain individuals character to think that hard and be that selfish. I appologise for bringing this up and it's not my attempt to derail the thread into a Tiger infidelity story, but rather to point out there is some damaged goods with him, skeletons in his closet, some obvious upbringing & honesty issues.....that can further explain away the friendship that he had with Barkley and its demise. It's too easy today just to explain away that we are not responsible for our actions and it's someone's else fault, at my age I see this as cop out to weakness.

[billchao]

Agree. Although peer pressure only brings out what is already inside of you as an adult especially in alpha thinkers like Tiger who I don't think is very impressionable.

To be honest, I don't believe Tiger's actions had anything to do with outside influence. It's just certain friends like to do certain things, and by hanging out with them, Tiger did certain things. That's what I meant by people being negative influences. Being around that environment makes it easier to participate. [quote name="GolfLug" url="/t/79037/charles-barkley-is-disappointed-to-have-lost-friendship-with-tiger#post_1092018"]Clean break of friendship of years is very strange though. No turning around, no second guessing, no second chances. Wow. [/quote]That's what makes me believe that at least some of what I have read about Charles Barkley and Tiger's relationship is true. Easiest (and best, in most cases) way to remove temptation is to cut ties with the lifestyle alltogether. [Rule] @Spitfisher we agree on more things than not. My point is that hanging out in night clubs makes it much easier to do those things and meet people who would do those things. Perhaps that's what Barkley represented in Tiger's life.

[3putter]

Barkley needs to get over it. There was speculations that Barkley and Jordan could have been negative influences with Tiger, but it was only that...speculation. Tiger is still friends with Jordan, maybe he just doesn't enjoy Barkley's company. Maybe Barkley ran his mouth privately, maybe...maybe...maybe..., but it would be nice if he just lets it go. Don't be that guy, Charles.

[trickyputt]

[quote name="billchao" url="/t/79037/charles-barkley-is-disappointed-to-have-lost-friendship-with-tiger#post_1092008"] Umm yea people have absolutely no influence on each other's actions or decisions as friends. Right. Peer pressure is not limited to teenagers. It's one of the things they teach people in rehab: to cut ties with the negative influences in their lives. Any user is more likely going to relapse if they return to their old lifestyle and their friends still use.

Oh I agree with your analogy of chemical or alcohol dependency and the associated lifestyle........ I have seen it first hand. however with a 6 month pregnant wife at home and a child of the age of one at home, having various sessions with countless women, unprotected and somewhat abusive in nature, repeatively and calculated. well I find that to be far fetched to think anyone can influence anyone to do that. It takes a certain individuals character to think that hard and be that selfish. I appologise for bringing this up and it's not my attempt to derail the thread into a Tiger infidelity story, but rather to point out there is some damaged goods with him, skeletons in his closet, some obvious upbringing & honesty issues.....that can further explain away the friendship that he had with Barkley and its demise. It's too easy today just to explain away that we are not responsible for our actions and it's someone's else fault, at my age I see this as cop out to weakness.[/quote] Yep. Thats exactly what I was thinking. Charles had people that burned a certain path into him. But he doesnt consider money equal to morality. Its another toy and he has some to play with. His mom still would not approve imo, but he knows that too.

[bjfox10]

Barkley needs to get over it. There was speculations that Barkley and Jordan could have been negative influences with Tiger, but it was only that...speculation. Tiger is still friends with Jordan, maybe he just doesn't enjoy Barkley's company. Maybe Barkley ran his mouth privately, maybe...maybe...maybe..., but it would be nice if he just lets it go. Don't be that guy, Charles.

I completely agree not to mention hasn't this story already run a number of times. I know he does not give up as much information as people would like but recycling these old stories is getting old. Tell me if you have heard these before...

"Tiger is a lousy tipper"

"Tiger needs more reps"

"Tiger needs more rest"

"It's his short game"

"It's his swing"

"He need to play golf not golf swing"

[DougJ]

Tiger is a great golfer no doubt. But as far as morals/ethics, he is lacking.

[newtogolf]

Tiger is a great golfer no doubt. But as far as morals/ethics, he is lacking.

I think you're wrong by using present tense, he may have exhibited behavior in the past that was questionable, but until a new scandal surfaces he deserves the benefit of the doubt as we all do.

As for CB, I like Charles, he's outspoken and seems to enjoy his celebrity status, maybe a bit too much for someone that is trying to clean up their life like Tiger.  I agree with @billchao y one of Tigers buddies that made it easier for Tiger to get into trouble and Tiger probably didn't need much encouragement.  CB is also a controversial figure who likes to keep his name in the headlines where as Tiger has worked very hard to stay out of the headlines which had to put a strain on their relationship.

I had party animal friends that I distanced myself from after getting married and having kids.  We were at different places in life and nothing good was going to come from me partying with the guys.

[Abu3baid]

I think you're wrong by using present tense, he may have exhibited behavior in the past that was questionable, but until a new scandal surfaces he deserves the benefit of the doubt as we all do. As for CB, I like Charles, he's outspoken and seems to enjoy his celebrity status, maybe a bit too much for someone that is trying to clean up their life like Tiger.  I agree with @billchao , CB was probably one of Tigers buddies that made it easier for Tiger to get into trouble and Tiger probably didn't need much encouragement.  CB is also a controversial figure who likes to keep his name in the headlines where as Tiger has worked very hard to stay out of the headlines which had to put a strain on their relationship. I had party animal friends that I distanced myself from after getting married and having kids.  We were at different places in life and nothing good was going to come from me partying with the guys.

If another scandle is discovered someone could easily say six months later that we should give the guy the benefit of the doubt until a 3rd scandle and so on. @DougJ has an opinion and I think is basing it on indisputable facts.. Giving the benefit of the doubt is always a good thing, but everyone is different in doing so, maybe you are willing to do it after a year from the date of the scandle and maybe I am willing to give it after 5 years while Doug is willing to do it after 10. None of us are necessarily wrong since we are basing it on our own internal moral compass. As far as Charles is conserned I agree with all that have been said, but maybe he is finally over that stage and wants to have a healthy friendship? I do find it fishy that he is taking his publicly though, as if he is running out of things to discuss.

[turtleback]

Tiger is a great golfer no doubt. But as far as morals/ethics, he is lacking.

As are, to one degree or another, we all.  Lucky for most of us, we do not live under a microscope and get our failings widely publicized.

[Patch]

No malice intended, but Barkley is one of several ex-athletes, who became commentators, who just doesn't interest me. I liked watching him play when he was a good NBA player because I thought he did a good job against bigger players. He held his own on the basketball court. I didn't even care about the "that's why I hate white people" remark. I just couldn't just go with him as a commentator. Who his friends were, currently are, or will be, is no business of mine.  Why his loss of friendships is even news worthy is beyond me.

[9iron]

Meh. The Orlando Sentinel ran an editorial from Mike Bianchi in 2010, the year Tiger moved on to Jupiter Island, and it basically read good riddance. I just got back from Orlando last night and loads of locals feel this way about Tiger. Charles should do as they do and just accept it. Tiger is selfish. It is no real loss, Charles.

[colin007]

Meh. The Orlando Sentinel ran an editorial from Mike Bianchi in 2010, the year Tiger moved on to Jupiter Island, and it basically read good riddance. I just got back from Orlando last night and loads of locals feel this way about Tiger. Charles should do as they do and just accept it. Tiger is selfish. It is no real loss, Charles.

Of the people mentioned in your post, the writer, the "locals", and Chuck, only Chuck actually knew Tiger. The others didn't.