For once, he was silent. Charles Barkley paused for what seemed a lifetime, then took the deepest and bravest breath of his 46 years, clenching his fists and briefly meditating on national TV. This was a Charles we'd never experienced, knowing him as the rude, crude, decorum-be-damned analyst and basketball legend who threw down drinks as easily as he took down anybody who ticked him off or invaded his philosophical space.Suddenly, he was vulnerable Thursday evening. Suddenly, he was in pain. Suddenly, Good Time Chuck was a human being.




