Barkley Keeps Campers Happy

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - As usual, the youngsters wanted Charles Barkley to dunk. So the 6-foot-6 NBA star obliged.

Not once but twice, Barkley thundered by 6-7 high school junior Mike Menniefield during a one-on-one matchup at South Carolina State's annual basketball camp.

The Philadelphia 76ers forward won 10-2, but Menniefield didn't care. He got to play against a five-time NBA All-Star, to the envy of the 125 campers who erupted into cheers and twirled towels overhead after Barkley's dunks.

"I was real nervous," Menniefield said. "He gave me some slack on the first two points. Then he said, `Consider this done,' and he came right back and started playing hard. It was a fun experience. I won't forget it."

While Menniefield wore a T-shirt with Michael Jordan's silhouette, the 16-year-old said he "aspires" to be like Barkley. But Barkley, 28, said youngsters and their parents shouldn't view professional athletes as role models.

"I don't think because I can dunk a basketball they should want me to be a role model," Barkley told reporters. "I know drug dealers who can dunk the basketball."

Barkley said parents and teachers should be role models for oungsters.

"I think we should be less of a role model because they have no shot at being like I am," Barkley said. "They have a better shot at being like their parents than being like me. I would love for every kid here to make the NBA, but that's not realistic."

There's another reason for Barkley's view.

"Some athletes are perfect, perfect role models, but they're not good guys behind the scenes," he said. "Then you've got guys who are portrayed negative because maybe they get to fighting every now and then or they're holding out on contracts or get into it with the media, and they may be great guys.

"So that's why you don't want athletes to be role models, because a lot of phony stuff goes around."

Barkley is no phony, according to South Carolina State coach Cy Alexander.

"He is what he is," said Alexander, who first met Barkley about four years ago through their affiliation with a shoe company. "Like he said, if he makes a mistake, it's a sincere mistake."

Barkley has made his share of mistakes - from spitting on a fan to tossing a tray full of cups of Gatorade and water at fans during an NBA playoff game this past season.

"I don't take what I do too serious. I mean I play basketball. A teacher has an important job. A fireman. A policeman. A doctor. I really don't think that whether you win or lose basketball games . . . has any significance in the overall picture of life," he said.

"It is important to me because it's my job. For everybody else, it's just entertainment. It's not life or death. If I lose a basketball game, it's not the end of the world."