I can already tell this is going to be one of those really fun articles to write. First, any time an article is about something that NBA Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley said or did, we're in for a treat. Second, I'm more than familiar with the other half of the story.

Sunday night's NBA All-Star game was played in Indianapolis, where Barkley's friend and fellow Hall-of-Famer Reggie Miller played his entire NBA career with the Indiana Pacers. Barkley being Barkley — which I say as a supreme compliment — randomly asked Reggie during the game:

Hey, Reggie, if you had a chance to be in cold (Indianapolis), or be around a bunch of homeless crooks in San Franciso, what would you choose?

One of the announcers immediately lost her mind, saying: "We love San Fran..." before Barkley immediately cut her off:

No we don’t. You can’t even walk around.

"Yes, you can walk around," said another announcer. Barkley then went full-metal Barkley:

Yeah  — with a bullet-proof vest...and security.

As our friend and colleague Jon Gabriel noted, "How ridiculous is it that even the NBA announcers have cognitive dissonance and push the propaganda that woke hellholes are anything but..."

Charles Barkley goes in on San Francisco during the NBA All-Star Game:

“Hey Reggie(miller), if you had a chance to be in cold, or being around a bunch of homeless crooks, what would you choose?”

Announcer: “We love San Fran…”

Barkley: “No we don’t. You can’t even walk… pic.twitter.com/uhMgzVWwR0

— ✞ Gabriel ✞ (@gabrielhaynes) February 19, 2024

So here's where I come in. Not that it matters, but just the same. 

I live in Indianapolis — actually, in a far-north suburb, but I'm more than familiar with most parts of the city and surrounding suburbs. To be sure, there are some areas I wouldn't venture through at night. But not only was Barkley's question fair; his larger point was spot on. 

During Reggie Miller's playing days, I lived roughly half a mile from his place. Super impressive digs — his, that was. The area hasn't changed all that much. Neither has the city — except for the steady growth. If I were Reggie and Charles Barkley asked me that question, I would've jumped all over it like Michael Moore jumping on a bag of Quarter Pounders with Cheese: "I'll take the cold weather!" Besides, the weather is more than fine most of the year.

The Bottom Line

I loathe cold weather, mind you. But here's the thing. I loathe rampant homelessness, out-of-control crime, widespread drug addiction, and a stratospheric cost of living even more. 

So, as to Barkley's question to Reggie, "Right on, Sir Charles — I'm with you."

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