Charles Barkley, You Just Don’t Get It
I can’t leave it alone. I know that the chances of him reading this aren’t great, but it is the vehicle I have. Preparing to watch the Cavs play Portland last night, I flipped on the TNT coverage and sat down to the computer for a liveblog. The studio crew started their routine and I was only about half paying attention- until Mo Williams’ interview. They asked Cleveland’s point guard about coming to the Cavs from Milwaukee and his experience. Mo gave his answer about being excited to play for a chance at a title, which you would expect. They cut back to the studio where Charles Barkley decides he needs to make a point. Here is the comment he made-
“If you want to swap the people in Cleveland and Milwaukee, they’d be the same dreary-a** city.”
Laughter erupts from Chris Webber, while Ernie Johnson tries to salvage the situation. But Barkley couldn’t just let it go. Ernie informs Charles that he was born in Milwaukee and it is a very nice city, to which Barkley agrees. Ernie then tries to stick up for Cleveland saying there is nothing wrong with Cleveland, to which Barkley replies-
“Oh yes it is. If you live there. There’s nothing happening in Cleveland other than the Indians. They’ve got LeBron James who is spectacular, but there is no reason to live in Cleveland. That’s why they call it the mistake by the lake. They didn’t call it that for no reason Ernie.”
They went on to discuss LeBron and the MVP debate, which I hoped would be the end of it. It was for a while. After talking about the Hawks game, He pestered Ernie some more about leaving Milwaukee, and they mercifully went to commercial.
Where do you start? I’ve never been to Milwaukee, so I don’t know how similar that city is to Cleveland. I can only speak about Cleveland. Several things bother me about these statements. The first is the unspoken sentiment that nobody with intelligence would choose to live in northeast Ohio. Well, believe it or not some do. We aren’t backwards, or unemployed. We are perfectly capable of finding employment somewhere else. (As much as the next guy anyway in this economy.)
The second thing that bugs me is that there is ‘nothing going on here.’ I suppose to a pampered and spoiled celebrity there may not be as many places willing to look past your absurd behavior. There aren’t any casinos to rack up ridiculous gambling debts that you don’t pay back. But hey, it looks like they will keep trying to get a bill passed. This time Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is getting involved, so maybe the bill will pass and you can come visit us. And I suppose there isn’t enough prostitution here in Cleveland for you. Of course, if the casino issue passes, who knows?
Even your jail time doesn’t seem to have made any kind of impact on you.
See Charles, when you choose to live in Cleveland, perhaps it is because you realize all that other stuff doesn’t really make you happy. Just maybe you understand that time spent with family and friends is more valuable than time spent at a black jack table, or with some woman you don’t even know. It’s a shame really. It’s a shame that you have a platform. It’s a shame that you can’t see past the superficial junk. And it’s a shame that companies like T-Mobile and TNT continue to put your mug in front of the world
I understand that your DUI was a mistake as you call it. I understand that we all make mistakes. Myself included. I also understand that you are entitled to your opinion, and to voice that opinion. But I’m also inclined, and allowed to have a different one. And this is how and where I can respond. I’d love to talk to you about our city. But it won’t do any good will it Charles? You will probably never get it.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Thank you. I was hoping I wasn’t the only one outraged by this post.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Whoops. Outraged by his diatribe. The post was great. [Long day, reaches for drink.]
March 20th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Charles wont even step foot in this city, why? Because he’s scared of us. I GUARANTEE he wouldn’t ever say something like that here. Why? Cause he’d get jacked while he was busy throwing down stacks of money at the racetrack, then he’d be too drunk to drive and crash into the median.
But that’s just what I can hope for. I HATE when we get disrespected. Most people outside of Cleveland couldn’t survive here. Bring anyone from New York, Boston, Miami, LA, Dallas, ANYWHERE and see if they can make it here. Bet you they aren’t strong enough.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
He’s a grade A nickname for RICHARD (family friendly website, i remember). Barkley, you were born in Leeds, Alabama. The only thing that town is known for is how close they are to Birmingham. I looked it up, you come from a population of 10,000. And you want to say nothing is happening in Cleveland? Non sports wise, we have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We have the Indians, and I guess you forgot that the Cavaliers have the number 1 record in the NBA. Oh yeah, we have nothing going for us. The best thing about Cleveland though that you miss? We never lost hope. We have never won a championship in this city, and nothing big since 1947. But yet we never lost hope. We don’t whine when we are excluded, because we are used to it. We are a family, and your words mean nothing to me at all, though I will come to this cities defense. You have nothing to offer us opinion wise, and the haters will come when you are on top of the world. We will get the last laugh when LeBron stays in Cleveland and we win a championship, something you could never do Mr. Barkley. Charles Barkley, kindly GO F*** YOURSELF.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I’m proud to have grown up in Northeast Ohio, Charles. And I have been to your hometown of Leeds, Alabama. Now THAT place is a dump. You have no room to talk, my friend.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
graham hall ur the man. ctown 4 life
March 20th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
its ok charles has his judgement blinded by all his championship rings..oh wait…..nevermind…he AINT got none!
March 20th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
millwaukee and cleveland are very similiar.
both are towns where others think it’s so horrible to live there, but the actual people there love it.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Before anyone makes any claims either way, I published this at 6:51, Mary Schmitt Boyer published hers at 6:53. The point being, we were obviously working on these at the same time. Neither stole from the other.
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/03/cavaliers_shrug_off_barkleys_d.html
March 20th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
For all of Charlie’s bluster, his evidence against Cleveland amounted to a tired old insult, that, to my knowledge, alluded originally to the oil fire on the Cuyahoga back in 1969. That fire was a wake-up call not only for Cleveland but for the nation as a whole; and, as bad as it was, it led to important environmental protections, including the creation of the EPA.
Cleveland does have problems, but is that one insult all that Charles could think of, to support his prejudice when it occurred to him that a blanket insult for an entire city would be suitable for a sports chat?
Well, there have been more than a few insults leveled at Mr. Barkley, many of them for recent, compelling reasons. Should we, then, apply the logic that he does when insulting Cleveland? That is, should we say, “someone insulted him; it had to have been for a reason,” and leave it at that?
In his post, Rick showed us a better way.
And I continue to scratch my head over the fact that such inarticulate men lacking in insight and character are hired to hold forth on sports.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I am so glad you wrote this article. I was unusually upset when he made those comments. I’ve never liked Barkley and can’t stand his commercials or TNT pregames because he is just so idiotic in his statements.
I mean he is on a national show talking about basketball and he is sitting there dissing a city that is about to play. And its not just any team but the best one in the NBA. I know TNT would never do this but they should can him. I hate how he is always given a pass because of who he is.
Its just like the Manny being Manny thing. Its stupid, and he won’t stop until serious things happen. I just cant the whole national media thing they are so pro-big cities its sickening. I can’t wait till we win this thing and have the center of the basketball world center around CLEVELAND!
March 20th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I was born near Cleveland and spent a good part of my life there, my father lives in Alabama and I spent several years living with him when I was young. I’ll take Cleveland and our mistake on the lake over the social ills of Mr. Barkley’s state of origin. The large majority of that place is stuck in some kind of time void where they don’t understand (maybe due to illiteracy, i’m half serious) things like civil rights, the end of the civil war, and people who don’t share their religious views are not evil.
although Charles’ entertainment value is his “tell it like I see it approach” which while entertaining with basketball is pretty absurd when applied to other facets of life, mostly because his statements outside of basketball are riddled with ignorance.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
I guess if Charles wants to speak in wild generalizations about Cleveland then we have the right to give it back to him as a drunk, adulterer, cheat, and liar.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Okay, I’ve lived in Cleveland all my life with a brief stint in Birmingham, ALabama, where Charles Barkley is from. I thought Birmingham was the most boring city in the world when I lived there. Birmingham has nothing going for it unless you count a crackpot mayor and a crumbling football stadium that isn’t used much anymore and is in the middle of the ghetto (actually, the whole city is a ghetto.) I DARE Charles Barkley to even live in Cleveland for a week. He’ll get eaten alive. Cleveland has a LOT more going for it than Birmingham. I’ve never been to Milwaukee, so I can’t say anything for them. I can’t stand Charles Barkley. I wonder if he’ll visit when we have a casino on the lakefront…
March 20th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Also, in response to Hoy, I agree that they are in some kind of time void. When I lived there, my boss hated me because I was a Yankee (which I heard every day) and because I somehow burned the University of ALabama to the ground during the Civil War (also, something I heard every day).
Harsh words from Barkley considering he never won an NBA title. I hope the Cavs win the NBA championship this year, just so we can stick it down Barkley’s throat.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
“See Charles, when you choose to live in Cleveland, perhaps it is because you realize all that other stuff doesn’t really make you happy. Just maybe you understand that time spent with family and friends is more valuable than time spent at a black jack table, or with some woman you don’t even know.”
Rick FTW…
March 20th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I am so glad you all wrote about this. I was so infuriated at this goober. What does he know? He should be in jail for one thing and if he looked in the mirror he would understand what dreary and nothing going on really looks like. He is a PIG!!!!! Oink, Oink. I cannot understand why TNT would want his name associated with them. However, wasn’t there some problem with Marv Albert at one time, other than his really bad rug? I agree with Graham Hall and LOL’d at his comments! I am in FL now, but originally from OH and always did and always will love Cleveland!!!!! How about those Cavs???????????????????????? xoxoxoxo
March 20th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
if barkley had said the same things about pittsburgh, we’d all be laughing and marveling at how perceptive sir charles is. but there’s no reason for charles to make fun of pittsburgh – he has no reason to go there – we and miami are the two smallest cities in the US that has NBA, MLB & NFL franchises, and there are plenty of cities bigger than cleveland that do not have a NBA/MLB/NFL franchise such as columbus, louisville, el paso, las vegas, etc. and quie a few more that have only one like memphis, nashville, sacramento, san antonio, san jose (but they do have the sharks), jacksonville, austin (but they have U-T).
the point is that it’s a pretty strong statement that the people who matter awarded *three* pro sports franchises to such a relatively small metropolis.
on the flip side, clevelanders and ohioans in general tend to exhibit a great deal of provincialism, which includes a huge chip on their shoulders, which makes it easy to push a hot button and get them riled up.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:37 am
It just makes me so mad when I see comments like this, especially from a washed up drunk who has probably never stepped foot in Cleveland other than his time as a basketball player. I personally think he should issue an apology, but I doubt it will happen. But we have dealt with worse negativity, and when all is said and done, I won’t let this rile me up. I’ll just look at the NBA league standings and start to smile at who’s number 1
March 21st, 2009 at 12:42 am
Don’t worry everyone. While I am sitting at a playoff game, I will have lovely sign ready for Charles. We have solid tix, so I know it will be visible to many many people, not buried among the throngs. I emphasize this part only to give you hope that our voices will be heard.
Just you wait…any suggestions?
March 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am
And we also have the Cleveland State Vikings!!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2009 at 9:17 am
What do you expect from a guy from Auburn. The last Auburn athlete I can remember around here was Wesley Person and I’m not even sure that he could read.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:53 am
Barkley…hmmm I remember him, isn’t he the washed up basketball player busted for DUI and solisitation of a prostitute.
He is garbage and hates Cleveland so what let’s look at what a wasted soul and what a bum he is. His reputation is done and so is he. Go hate someone new like the face in your mirror, you are a pathetic loser who is lost and will remain a loser in the eyes of good quality blue collar people from Cleveland.
March 21st, 2009 at 10:10 am
Hey loud mouth. Is that your butt or the OHIO STATE BAND playing in your shorts…………
March 21st, 2009 at 10:19 am
Please stop suggesting that Barkley would not “survive” in Cleveland, it only lends weight to his side of the argument that Cleveland is the mistake on the lake.
Obviously, he is a rude and ignorant individual. I would suggest a better way to vent our anger and frustration with him is to boycott all things Barkley. If you have a T-mobile contract cancel it. Write letters to T-Mobile and to TNT stating that you will not use their services until Charles Barkley is removed. Instead of watching Cavs’ games on TNT, listen on the radio. Joe Tait’s soothing “…And what?” is a marked improvement over Sir Charles sewer of a mouth.
The best way to get Barkley to shut up and give respect is to hit him where it hurts, his wallet.
March 21st, 2009 at 10:22 am
Also, Fox 8 posted a link to Barkley’s agent so you can voice your opinion.
http://www.fox8.com/wjw-barkley0320,0,6203226.story
March 21st, 2009 at 11:18 am
thanks for the link fmayse. somebody might want to tell charles that his agent is employed by IMG who has their headquarters in cleveland. just slightly ironic, wouldnt you say?
March 21st, 2009 at 11:43 am
Jeez, everybody’s so touchy about Cleveland. Yes, Charles took a cheap shot at C-town, but he’s basically right. I grew up on the east side, and moved to Tampa when I was 17. I’ve only been back twice in the ten years since. As I write this, the temp in Cleveland on this, the second day of spring, is 40 degrees and cloudy (according to weather.com). Outside my window, it is 72 and sunny. If it weren’t for the NCAA’s, I’d be at the beach.
Everybody I know down here who came from Cleveland, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Cincinnati or Pittsburgh all agree that we would never move back. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my Cavs, Indians, Browns and Bucks, but the fact is that Cleveland is kind of a dump. I lived up there during the “renaissance” of the 90’s; it was a dump then, and it’s a dump now. I feel I can say this because I spent my first 17 miserable winters in Cleveland, and I’ve found greener pastures.
Brooks may have loved Shawshank, but Andy and Red had it right.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Barkley is a complete clown. WFNY – don’t get off this guy, and please continue to use the same mug shot pic you did with this post everytime you reference him. I wish he would have stayed in the slammer, and hope T-Mobile drops him from those stupid commercials, because I am sick of seeing his wind-bag mug every time I turn on the TV.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:25 pm
dutch – youre entitled to your opinion but cleveland is hardly a dump. im sure the weather in tampa is great today. i have also lived in FL and i can honestly say that i much prefer summers in cleveland than summers in FL. if you want to base it on weather, the ideal would be to live in FL half the year and cleveland half the year. and for the record, i know many people here in cleveland who are from other places like florida, nyc, chicago, arizona, seattle and denver (thats just in my neighborhood) – all of which have been here for many many years now and swear by it with no desire to leave.
you can count me in the group that lived in cleveland, moved to florida, and is glad i moved back.
oh – and i also know a few people who live in florida right now who are looking forward to moving back up north. one is actually leaving this year (she is sick of having to keep rebuilding / remodeling her house after hurricanes).
March 21st, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Mike- You’re right, I shouldn’t have made such a sweeping statement that Cleveland’s a dump; the fact is, the suburbs of Cleveland are just as nice as the suburbs of anywhere else. Especially since you can be happy anywhere as long as you have friends and family. I was just surprised that everyone got so defensive over Charles’ rather innocuous statement.
But objectively speaking, if you could move your friends and family to any city in the US, would Cleveland be in your top 10? Top 20? Weather’s a big factor, at least for me. Cleveland, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Detroit, etc. are pretty dismal places for much of the year.
Also this: in the ten years since I moved to Tampa, I’ve witnessed first hand a Super Bowl Champion, a Stanley Cup Champion, two NCAA basketball championships and two NCAA football championships (all at UF, which I attended during their incredible run). That’s a big part of my leaving Cleveland and never looking back…
BUT none of those championships were as sweet as watching the Bucks take down Miami in the Fiesta bowl or seeing the Cavs win the lottery in ‘03 and improve the level they’re currently at. Although we may disagree on the merits of Cleveland as a place to live, at least we can all root for Lebron as he tries to break the Cleveland c*rse!
March 21st, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I’ve lived in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Buffalo. The last three are pretty much the same city in a different area. It’s odd that only people in Cleveland are constantly “outraged” when some dumb*ss makes a comment against their city. I have no idea why this is, except for the fact that Cleveland people must feel inferior which is why they constantly feel the need to demand respect from people whose opinions really don’t matter anyway. It’s so odd.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I think it’s a personal beef for Sir Chuck. Anyone else remember when that big tub of goo got arrested for throwing someone out of a window at the Basement in the Flats back in the 90’s? Methinks he never got over it. Who gives a poop what he thinks? I live in DC and I’d move home in a second if my house wasn’t worth 60% of what I paid for it 4 years ago. Something to be said for living in a flat economic area – Miami, Phoenix, San Diego and pretty much every other “desirable” place has the same problems I’ve got right now. Eff that noise.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:31 pm
dutch – ill be the first to admit that if i didnt grow up in cleveland im sure it wouldnt tops on my list for places to live. you can pretty much say that about anywhere though.
weather is a factor for me too. for me, i can tolerate cleveland’s winter better than florida’s summer. but to say cleveland is a dismal place for much of the year is a huge exaggeration. honestly – the weather is fine typically until november-ish and then stinks until about mid-march usually. by april its spring, a little chilly but perfectly fine. half the year is “crappy” weather and the other half is very nice weather.
so youre saying you moved to tampa to witness all those championships? that makes NO sense unless maybe you have a copy of biff’s sports almanac from back to the future part II and you knew in advance that all those championships would be won in tampa and florida.
the fact of the matter is, every city has great points and bad points. no place is perfect. the issue is that people who have no idea about cleveland (or milwauke) make uninformed generalizations about it and others assume they know what they are talking about. cleveland is one of the easy punching bags for those generalizations and it gets pretty damn annoying. its all media perception. certain places like cleveland, milwaukee, pittsburgh, which are perfectly fine cities have this inaccurate reputation while others like seattle, denver, phoenix, portland have pristine reputations. honestly – is the weather in cleveland THAT much different from chicago or new yorks? not really. its one thing for me or you to say we dont like cleveland, or we dont like tampa or whatever. its a completely different thing for someone like barkley who is on national TV to go on and on about it like he did. its totally irresponsible, immature, unprofessional and stupid.
and think about it – why would barkley ever come to cleveland? the only reason would be when he was a player or now as a part of the media. he would only come here during the nba-season (nov – april) and maybe may, june if the cavs are in the playoffs. so his only few experiences in the city have been in the middle of winter, with probable wind, snow and cold. hes probably never been here in june-september when its hot, sunny, humid and beautiful.
March 21st, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Haha Mike, I never said the reason I moved was to witness those championships, just that they probably play a pretty big role in my not missing Cleveland too much. It’s like leaving an abusive relationship and getting into a good relationship, and you’re like “So THIS is what it’s supposed to be like.”
My only point was that having grown up in Cleveland, I recognize that it’s not really high on most people’s list of where they would choose to live, as should anyone else who has lived there. Same goes for Pittsburgh, Detroit, Minneapolis, and a million other places. The difference is that those cities have won championships recently, so there is not the same reaction when a guy like Charles takes a jab. Do you think people in San Antonio complain when Chuck says there’s nothing to do there besides the River Walk? No, because they have 4 championships and some nice weather to comfort them. Until Cleveland wins something (hopefully this June!), there will always be a bit of an inferiority complex.
And as far as the weather being nice for half the year in Cleveland and unbearably hot in Florida for half the year, Cleveland has an average temp below 60 for 8 months of the year and gets 55 inches of snow a year, while the temp in Tampa ranges from 60-80 throughout the entire year (and no hurricanes in the area for 4 decades, knock on wood). I understand though, I was in denial about the weather in Cleveland when I lived there too.
I guess what I’m saying is everyone should just move down here and we’ll open a Cleveland-themed sports bar.
March 21st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Thanks for sticking it to that moron, Rick.
What upsets me is the facile reliance on crass stereotypes about Cleveland. William Blake once wrote “to generalize is to be an idiot”, and Barkeley falls into that category.
I wish that he’d visit University Circle and then revisit his opinion that there’s nothing of any value in Cleveland. But as Rick said: no alcohol and no prostitutes make Charles dull, so probably won’t ever happen.
March 21st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Dude nice job for sticking up for the whole city of cleveland. I applaud you
March 21st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
i think we should keep in mind that this is charles barkley and hes known for just saying/doing whatever is on his mind, more often than not, with hilarious results (intentional or non). but thats pretty much his schtick, on the air an off. hes abrasive, often-times ignorant (not to be confused with stupid or dumb), and really just there to make things funny.
so this time the punchline was cleveland, ok. as someone in a previous comment put it, charles is probably just basing this all on a time when cleveland really was the joke of america, and sadly enough, that era still haunts and plagues cleveland and its inhabitants to this day.
i love cleveland and i will defend it with a passion, but in this case i think its just charles being charles (man i hate to have to resort to something like that) and thats that. why try and trade insults with a guy who( insert any of his numerous public humiliations here)?
March 21st, 2009 at 5:09 pm
ok how about this?
the WFNY guys contact TNT/barkley’s agent/PR whatever, and invite him to spend a weekend in Cleveland with you guys as his tour guides? show him what Cleveland’s really made of? i mean the playoffs arent too far away…
think of the possibilities!
March 21st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I think this is kind of funny. Barkley is trying to be someone who makes comments that people talk about or remember.
However, the reaction of the Cleveland crowd is funny. I have been living here for 6 years now because of a job, have cavs season tickets and for the most part dont mind the time from April through December (everyone can use a little winter). I get sick of this place in Jan-March though and its when I take most of my vacation.
I am 54 and have lived in several other cities in all parts of the US except the pacific northwest. Oh and I live in Downtown Cleveland, not the burbs. No other city hates itself like cleveland. The people here, on the whole dont like it here. They say they do like they are trying to convince themselves that their cancer isnt really THAT bad.
Otherwise, there is plenty to do (the rock and roll hall of fame is not one of them). The restaurants here are awesome, the museums are great and since ive been here baseball and basketball has been pretty good. Plus things are pretty cheap.
To say I would WANT to move here from say San Diego, Denver or Boston would be a lie but its a very livable place as long as you plan your vacations wisely
.
March 21st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
lol – dutch. no worries. im not in denial though about clevelands weather. like i said, ive lived in florida for a few years. all things considered, i prefer the cleveland weather. its personal preference.
March 21st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Barkley was here in June (or the very end of May) in 2006 for game 6 of the ECF. When he had only enough suits for the first 5 games (because he though there was no way the Cavs would make a series out of it …lol).
I was at Game 6, and the fans were giving him the business, so much so that he gave the fans the bird (while on the scoreboard TV) during warmups.
I think he believes some of what he says, but part of me think he enjoys getting Cleveland fans rilled up. I mean, how many other fan bases would boo this guy for criticizing their city (Boston, maybe New York, although he’d never critize thoses cities). I think he enjoys the adversarial/villian role in Cleveland, and that in a weird way a tribute since it shows how passoniate Cleveland fans are. I think he enjoys the attention.
March 21st, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Correction to my previous post…. replace 2006 with 2007.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:53 am
Cleveland is alright, nowhere near as incredible as some of you are making it out to be. The schools in the suburbs are very good (for now, with the continued mass exodus of the educated youth, and the school funding mess in the state with the over-reliance on property taxes, I’m inclined to believe that the schools will go downhill over the next 20 years).
The downtown sucks. It just does. Columbus is infinitely better and it’s not even a debate (much of that has to do with the Ohio State). People walk around Columbus, the downtown isn’t completely barren by 7:00, regardless of whether there’s a sporting event or not. (Cleveland has the same problem in almost every other rust belt downtown area..except Pittsburgh, which has transitioned nicely from a blue collar town to a progressive town with quality leadership. They have a great downtown, don’t knock it unless you’ve been there).
But I continue to shake my head and the frustration coming from people when those like Barkley are obviously honing their schtick. He knows it will get a rise and get people talking, and you subsequently take the bait. Then all your commentors take the obvious cheap shots at his personal life(of which I’m no stranger to). It’s precisely what he wanted.
I’ve never in my life had the inferiority complex about the city I was raised in. But it seems so many of you do. I’ve never been “outraged” by something a media personality said either. Some of you guys need stop taking things so seriously.
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:43 am
cursedcleveland.com is a steelers fan. why dont you take your hoopla somewhere else, or i will be inclined to meet you in person with unpleasant results for u. natty
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:51 am
Honestly when people ask me the best thing about the Cleveland area and Ohio in general, I have two answers: 1) there’s space. 2) Things are affordable.
That’s usually the extent of it, sorry.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
‘Charles is stupd’.
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
cursedcleveland – im downtown every day until 9:00 or so. its hardly completely barren. you might want to check out the warehouse district. or the east 4th district. or even the playhouse area.
IRB – whats it like being that dense?
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Mike, Opie and Anthony put it best when they describe Cleveland, saying: “the downtown looks like the aftermath of a nuclear bomb detonation.”
Sure, there’s the Warehouse District, which is fine. But if you’re trying to make it seem like Downtown Cleveland is some social destination, it’s not. I could name 20 cities I’ve been to that are just more fun, more to do, better entetainment, better views..better weather..etc. And by the way, Pittsburgh is one of those towns. I have no idea how anyone could dispute that who’s been to both. I’d even take Mount Adams in Cincinnati over West 6th.
Why are you taking such offense to this? You have your opinion..that’s fine. But all of you are just so damn paranoid when people critique the city.
And I appreciate the name calling for my dissenting point of view. That’s another way to be taken seriously.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Hey mike – what’s it like being so light and fluffy?
I forgot to add that the people in Ohio tend to be nicer than those out here on the East Coast, but then again you might have proven me wrong.
I grew up in northern Ohio. I went to OSU. In my opinion, Columbus is light years ahead of Cleveland when it comes to entertainment, hospitality, and overall awesomeness. I now live in DC and while there are many down sides (traffic, important people, cramped city living) there are many things that I like much more than Ohio.
I second cursed’s mention of Pittsburgh as a more fun town. It’s got an attractive downtown and has largely made a successful transition from an industrial city to a commercial city – something that Cleveland is still struggling to do. A lot of people have an inferiority complex that is mind boggling at times. I’m proud of where I’m from and have no issues saying I’m from Ohio. That being said, I also am not afraid to point out the shortcomings that I perceive.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:36 am
well i wouldnt know. what i do know is youre making broad generalizations that are not accurate. look – im not delusional. ive lived in cleveland and ive lived elsewhere (ny and florida) to name a few. also lived in europe for a short time.
im well aware where cleveland ranks on the “excitement” scale. i never said nor believed that cleveland is the greatest city in the world – its far from it. however, it has nearly anything you want to do within reason, at a reasonable price. columbus is light years ahead of cleveland in college bars and atmosphere, but far behind in sophisticated bars and restaurants. columbus doesnt even have anywhere close to the number of outstanding ethnic cuisine that cleveland offers.
pittsburgh is a great city – ive always enjoyed my time there. they may be a step ahead of cleveland, but thats it.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
All of you are overlooking a very important issue regarding Charles. He is an addict. He is addicted to gambling, alcohol and probably sex. He lives for the moment with no regard for anyone but himself, as most addicts do. He may be the single most insecure person I know. He lies non-stop and relies on the accolades of those around him. It is actually pretty sad. It is safe to say that he is a product of his upbringing (or lack thereof) and continues to try to prove to whomever will pay attention that he still “has” it. He has a wife and a daughter and they are both very solid citizens. His remarks regarding Cleveland were no different than anything else he says that is off color. He said it for attention. He thrives on it. The man needs help. Pray for him. I think his story is going to end tragically.