Q&A: NBA legend Charles Barkley answers 9 burning questions that go beyond golf

Phil Mickelson and Charles Barkley face off against Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning at Stone Canyon Golf Club in Oro Valley, Ariz., at 3 p.m. ET on Friday for “The Match: Champions for Change.” You can watch it all beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Friday on TNT.

The NBA legend and lovable loudmouth plays nine with Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, cohosts of the GOLF.com podcast “Subpar.”

Colt Knost: Charles, here are nine fun questions we call the Emergency 9. The first one we ask every Subpar guest: If there’s a movie being made about your life, who plays you?

Charles Barkley: Good question. James Earl Jones.

Knost: Gary Woodland said Denzel [Washington]. I don’t think he understands how this works.

Drew Stoltz: John Daly said Matt Damon. 

Barkley: There’s a better chance of me playing John Daly than Matt Damon.

Stoltz: No. 2: If you ran for president, who do you want as your VP?

Barkley: Michelle Obama.

Knost: Question 3: Who’s a worse tipper, Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan?

Barkley: Oh, they’re both cheap. [Laughs.] 

Stoltz: No. 4: Who’s more likely to win the Oscar for best actor, Charles Barkley in Space Jam or in the Capital One commercials?

Barkley: Let me just say, it’s a privilege to work with Sam Jackson [in the Capital One commercials]. He’s the most giving guy I’ve ever been around. When I’m struggling, Sam says, “Chuck, try it like this,” not “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

Knost: All right. No. 5: We know you’ve had some beef with [former Knicks forward] Charles Oakley in the past.

Barkley: Only ’cause he hates me.

Knost: Who wins in a fight between Charles Oakley and your bodyguard James [Haywood]?

Barkley: Well, my bodyguard has been a cop for 30 years. He’s a black belt. I like his chances against anybody.

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Stoltz: Next. Of all the members of the Olympic dream teams you were on, who would you least like to be quarantined with?

Barkley: Probably Michael. [Laughs.] Because every day he would talk about beating [me] in the finals in the ’92 championship.

Knost: Question 7: You’re a clean freak. What’s the thing you’re the most OCD about?

Barkley: I just like clean. You know, growing up poor … My mom was a maid. I was the oldest brother, so my mom would say, “Charles, if this house is not clean when I get home, I’m gonna beat you to death!” 

Stoltz: Good incentive. Question 8: Your nickname, the Round Mound of Rebound — love it or hate it?

Barkley: Love it. In college I had probably 10 nicknames: the Crisco Kid, Break Truck, the Wide Load from Leeds.

Knost: Question No. 9: Is there a dollar amount you would pay to become a scratch golfer instantly? 

Barkley: No.

Stoltz: Two million to be scratch right now — would you do it?

Barkley: Is it my money?

Stoltz: Yeah.

Barkley: Hell, no.

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