Posted on: Sunday, December 8, 2002

Barkley on 'Golf Hawai'i'

Advertiser Staff

Former NBA star Charles Barkley, called the "world's worst golfer" by Tiger Woods, offers his view of social issues on Tuesday's "Golf Hawai'i" show. Barkley's views on golf will be shown the following Tuesday in the final show of the year.

Barkley spoke with host Mark Rolfing at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf on Kaua'i. The interview covered everything from having women members at Augusta National to why Barkley enjoys a game he cannot master.

Barkley, who works for TNT cable, tells Rolfing that if Jesse Jackson pickets at the Masters, Barkley will picket across the street with signs that say "Jesse Go Home."

"Basically he's saying this shouldn't be Jesse's cause," Rolfing says. "He's got a lot more important things to worry about than whether or not a woman becomes a member at Augusta National."

Barkley also weighs in on other social issues in the first half of the interview.

"Charles is one of the most brilliant people I've met in my life," Rolfing says. "Until the last couple years he was never in a situation where everyone asked his opinion. When he was at Auburn or playing for the 76ers or Suns, they asked him about rebounds.

"There was this thing inside of him that needed to come out, and now it is coming out. The problem is, it's coming out but everyone still remembers him for what he was — one of the Top 50 NBA players of all-time."

On the Dec. 17 show, Barkley talks about his game and Po'ipu Resort is featured, along with golf tips.

"Golf Hawai'i" airs weekly on The Golf Channel. The show's eighth season continues Jan. 21-March 18.

Rolfing will host the "Golf Talk Live" and "Viewers Forum" shows for the Golf Channel the weeks of the Mercedes Championships (Jan. 9-12) and Sony Open in Hawai'i (Jan. 16-19). He will also host USA's new Sunday golf show those weeks.