OPELIKA, Ala. – Thanking the Tigers Unlimited donors who participated in Monday's eighth annual Bruce, Barkley & Basketball Golf Classic Presented by YellaWood, hall of famer Charles Barkley summarized his instructions in five words.
"Just have a great time."
The 1984 SEC Player of the Year and 1993 NBA MVP, Barkley cohosts the event with Bruce Pearl to raise money for special projects for Auburn's men's basketball program.
"Thank y'all so much for being here today," Barkley said from the clubhouse balcony at Grand National prior to teeing off. "You can have all the charity events you want but if people like yourself don't come it doesn't matter."
After his 16-season NBA career, the ever-quotable Barkley transitioned seamlessly to television, winning four Sports Emmy awards and agreeing last fall to a lucrative 10-year extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports that will keep him in the spotlight for the next decade.
"I always look forward to coming back to Auburn," Barkley said. "Auburn means a great deal to me. We have so many great alumni and sponsors. For them to sponsor the event and come and play, it's pretty cool. I look forward to this every year."
Pearl expressed appreciation for Barkley's faithful attendance and steadfast support of Auburn basketball.
"What does it say about the fact that he's never missed the event? That he comes to town early, before the football game, that he stays afterwards?" Pearl said. "He treats everybody so well. The fact that he is one of the most recognizable, successful men in the world, and that he's an Auburn man and wears it on his sleeve.
"He brings visibility and credibility to Auburn University like nobody else, and certainly to our basketball program. Like him or love him, he is authentic and he's going to tell you what he thinks. And he thinks we're doing a decent job here with Auburn basketball, and that's what I want to continue to be able to try to do."
Barkley attended the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry Saturday, gathering for a pregame picture with fellow Auburn legends Frank Thomas, Suni Lee and Cam Newton.
"It was a heck of a game," Barkley said. "I'm all in on Coach Freeze. Auburn is a very special place. I was with Takeo Spikes and Frank Thomas. Every time we come down here, it's like going back to a family reunion."
'I'm playing great right now': Charles Barkley has golfed daily since the NBA Finals ended in June
An avid golfer, Barkley has played daily since the NBA playoffs ended in mid-June. He's heading to his home in Arizona later this week before the 2023-24 season commences in three weeks.
"I'm playing great right now," he said. "I can't wait to get back. The heat is finally starting to break a little bit. It's a really good time for golfers."
Barkley and Pearl entertained Tigers Unlimited donors Sunday, sharing stories and thanking supporters for helping the program reach new heights under Pearl's leadership, now in its 10th season.
"I know he's excited about the team," the TNT and CBS analyst said. "It's a great time to be an Auburn fan. Unfortunately for most of our existence, there haven't been expectations. To get to the point where we're expected to do well, that's special. Now we have expectations.
"I never worry about our coach. We have the best coach in the SEC in my opinion. Nobody is going to out-strategize us. Our staff is fantastic. Now the kids have to implement it.
"Ever since we made it to the Final Four, that changed the whole dynamic of the program. Auburn people are disappointed when we only win one (NCAA Tournament) game. It's a great time.
Auburn's gotten to the point where, wow, if Auburn doesn't go to the NCAA Tournament, it's a bad year. That's pretty cool."
Charles Barkley brings 'visibility and credibiilty' to Auburn, says Bruce Pearl
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
