azcentral sports Mon May 20, 2013 6:04 PM

Charles Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns prior to the 1992-93 season. During his time in Phoenix, he was a colorful, quote machine.

On his knowledge of history:

“How did I do in history? Hey, as long as I was playing well, they made sure I did well in class. ... If it didn't happen in Leeds, Alabama, I don't know about it. The only Alamo I know rents cars.”

After he was traded from the 76ers to the Suns, June 17, 1992:

“Don't judge me by a 20-second sound bite you might have seen on TV because you might not know the circumstances. You should go by my actions on the court. I'm just concerned about winning. If you get to know me, I think you'll like me.”

On why he couldn’t return to Philadelphia after the 76ers shopped him around following a 35-win season in 1991-92:

“We're not pieces of meat like people seem to think. We're human beings. If your wife says to you, 'I'm going to look around all summer and see if I can find a better husband, and then if it doesn't work out I'm going to take you back,' it's obvious you aren't going to feel the same way.”

At his first Phoenix news conference, June 20, 1992:

“I don't believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models. ... It's not like it was when I was growing up. My mom and my grandmother told me how it was going to be. If I didn't like it, they said, 'Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.' Parents have to take better control.”

On how he liked Arizona, shortly after moving here:

“We've got to change the laws. ... I'm just telling you all, the left-hand lane is for speeders. Not for people who are going to drive the speed limit. Remember that, Arizonans. That's the only problem I got with this state. People have a tendency to drive in the left-hand lane, driving the speed limit.”

After a pipe bomb exploded at the Olympic Games in Atlanta:

“Let's just play three in one day and get the hell out of here.”

At the Olympics in Barcelona:

“A lot of those foreign guys don't like us because we're the glamour boys. Some of these teams — Lithuania, Croatia, Germany, Spain — they'll give us a good game ... for a half. Other teams have been sending their pros for years. Now they can take their whipping and go home.”

On comparing the preseason to opening night:

“Preseason is just a way to screw fans out of money.”

On calming Oliver Miller after a Suns exhibition victory in 1992:

“He's a dumb rookie. He was saying in the fourth quarter, 'I see a parade in my future.' I said, 'Sure, son. It's the first exhibition game of the season and you're talking about a parade already.' That tells you right there he's not playing with a full deck.”

On the tougher approach from the bench by coach Paul Westphal:

“Yeah, Paul was pissed off tonight. And he should have been. He was yelling and raising hell. He wasn't our friend, but if you want a friend, you might as well get a dog.”

On his Christmas gifts:

“I always get the old sweater trick. That's what I got, sweaters and shirts. White guys get ties. Me, I get an old sweater.”

On his plans for New Year's Eve:

“I'm getting a busload of homeboys and heading to Sun City. They don't have young people out there. I feel like it's my duty to liven the place up.”

What he told official Darell Garretson, Jan. 29, 1993, during the Suns' victory over the Spurs:

“I told him that they were holding me. I know women who don't hold me that tight.”

On referee Mike Mathis, after Barkley fouled out of a game:

“Mike Mathis is self-explanatory. I don't want to call him an (expletive). Every time I call him an (expletive) they fine me. But he is. He's an (expletive).”

Back home after an 11-day, six-game road trip:

“Real glad to be back. You pay as much for a house as I did, (you) might as well spend some time in it.”

To official Joey Crawford, when the America West Arena lights went out for a few seconds during a Jan. 30 game vs. the Dallas Mavericks:

“I told him that it was a favor, cause we didn't have to look at his old, ugly face anymore. Yes, there is a God.”

On whether he was ever on a first-place team at All-Star time:

“I'm always on top of the world. I'm a Black millionaire.”

To Tom Chambers, who went to Ogden, Utah, during the All-Star break because he doesn't like city life:

“Well, you're in the right place right now, Tom. This is the desert, all right. This is the only place I know where Michael Jackson isn't as popular as Garth Brooks.”

On the lack of defense in All-Star Games:

“I don't play much defense for the Phoenix Suns, either. I get paid to score and rebound. I'll need another $1 million for defense.”

On his performance in Game 4 against the Lakers (28 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks) in the Suns' 101-86

victory that evened the series at 2.

“I didn't change. I've got 16,000 (career) points. No sense tinkering with it now.”

On the two anti-inflammatory injections he received for his hamstrings before Game 5 against the Spurs in which he had 28 points, 21 rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots.

“Dr. Emerson gave me the magic needle. This is the best I've felt. Whoever came up with that drug is underpaid. You don't feel no pain.”

On whether he’d tell the media he was being named MVP if he knew.

“Everybody knows I can't keep a secret. That's why I had to leave Philly. They tried to keep it a secret we had a brutal team and I told everybody.”

Barkley on whether he was motivated by Michael Jordan's play in Chicago's Game 4 victory over the Knicks.

“I was on the golf course. Didn't see the game. Haven't seen any video. Shot pretty good on the golf course, though.”

On the addition of lights to Chicago's Wrigley Field.

“That was sacrilegious. I don't know what made them think the Cubs would ever win the World Series. Talk about a waste of the taxpayers' money.”

Barkley on his teammates after the Bulls eliminated the Suns in the NBA Finals.

“They have tremendous heart, tremendous courage. We did everything it took to win. So many times we were written off. You know what's amazing? I know a lot of players, and I talk to them a lot. I don't think teams around the league respected us. They always talked that we were soft, even though we had the best record. The great thing about the Finals is we gained their respect, and to do that is a great thing. I think people respect the Phoenix Suns now.”

On his relationship with Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons.

“Cotton doesn't bother me. He's a talkative little fellow. ... Sometimes I'll get mad at him and sometimes he'll get mad at me. He wants me to be Superman all the time. I have to remind him that Superman was actually Clark Kent more often than he was Superman.”

On Suns CEO Jerry Colangelo.

“I'm not concerned about Jerry. He's so busy with that other (expletive), he hasn't been paying attention with what's happening in basketball, anyway. . . I'm not like everybody else in Phoenix. I don't owe Jerry Colangelo anything. I know everybody's scared to say anything or write anything bad about him. But he doesn't tell me what to say or what to do.”

Responding to fine for criticizing officials.

“This ain't about money. ... They (officials) were bad that night. I said it then. I say it now. You can't control me with money.”

On whether he could ever return to the 76ers.

“I can be bought. If they paid me enough, I'd work for the Klan.”

On why the Spurs believed they were the best team in the Western Conference.

“You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world. And I might be right. I'm just going by what those 2,000 women on the golf course told me the other day.”

On the future of Black children.

“I don't care about more Black athletes. I want to see more Black doctors and Black lawyers and Black Indian chiefs.”

On whether his new line of shoes was comfortable.

“Anytime somebody pays you $2 million to wear something, they're going to be comfortable.”

To former Cardinals quarterback Steve Beuerlein when he came to Phoenix.

“If you want to get your ass beat, get it beat in the sun. At least if you lose here, you can go play golf and let your frustrations go.”

On men's grooming.

“Why do bald guys always grow beards? When I started to go bald, I took it like a man.”

On one of the issues he would address if elected governor of his home state of Alabama.

“We're raising two classes of people. A public education is just not equal to a private education. We've got to do something about that. I've lived on both ends of the spectrum. I've been really poor and really rich. As long as we have two different types of societies, we're going to have problems.”

On whether athletes need more security in the aftermath of the attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan.

“You can't live like that. You just have to have a good right cross. That's better than having a gun. You can't shoot yourself with it.”

On women becoming business executives.

“Every major corporation should be run by a man. That's a rule I have. Nothing personal. I just think men do a better job.”

On young players getting big contracts and instant star status in the NBA.

“I don't think they work as hard as the old players do. Every time they block a shot or dunk, they stand over you. I don't like that stuff. I liked the good old days, back when you worked hard for star status. The veterans would slap you upside the head if you did that.”

To former Suns teammate Dan Majerle and the media as he announced his plans for a post-game meal at Majerle's Sports Grill, which had been investigated by the health department.

“Save me a table, Dan. He should save me a table. I'm one of the three people still alive after eating there.”

On whether he advises Commissioner David Stern on NBA matters.

“Me and David don't talk. I don't like matzo balls and he don't like chili, so we don't get along.”

When he learned that former Suns teammate Oliver Miller, who played college ball at Arkansas, would be sitting with President Clinton at the NCAA championship game between Arkansas and Duke.

“Oliver Miller, he's a sex symbol. 'O' will be hanging with the Prez and talking about taxes. Hey, 'O', if you keep playing well, you'll be in my 50 percent bracket next year.”

On being a celebrity guest for the opening of Planet Hollywood.

“I got a feeling it could be a bad night for me tonight. I'm going to be hanging out with ‘Rocky’ and ‘The Terminator’ tonight. Jean Claude Van Damme, Arnold (Schwarzenegger), Sylvester (Stallone) and the Chuckster, all in the same place. I wish you all were somebody so you could go, too.”

To a well-dressed Dan Majerle as he pointed to the less fashionable media crowd.

“Dan, you look good. You're destroying my perceptions of how White people dress. I thought they all dressed like this bunch. Man, media wages must be real bad.”

On whether he would continue to frequent nightspots after a confrontation in a Scottsdale saloon.

“No, I'm not going to stay in the house all the time like some moron. This is the best time of my life. I intend to enjoy it.”

On whether he would return to the Suns in the wake of trade discussions.

“Just on principle alone, I would never come back unless the first step would be an apology. I don't mind being underpaid, which I know I am. But I'm not going to be disrespected.”

On the fans in Phoenix.

“I wish I could have finished my career in Phoenix. I love the fans. I'd say almost all the letters I've gotten are very positive. You're going to get some who bring up the racial stuff and say I'm an ungrateful brother. But 95 percent of the people understand my side.”

On his opinion of reporters covering the NBA.

“Even a blind acorn can find a nut sometimes.”

On whether he felt any pressure.

“Pressure is when I get to the pearly gates and God says to me, 'Oops, sorry, you're going to hell.'”

Compiled by azcentral sports’ Sarah McLellan and Bob Young.