Charles Barkley, former NBA star, confirms he’ll run for govenor of Alabama

Charles Barkley, the former NBA All-Star forward and current network basketball analyst, confirmed Monday the long-time speculation that he’ll run for political office. Speaking with Campbell Brown, the new CNN political talk show host, Barkley said he plans to run for governor of his home state of Alabama in 2014.

“We’re 48th in everything,” said Barkley in a wide-ranging interview with Brown. “And Mississippi and Arkansas aren’t going anywhere.”

Barkley, outspoken as an NBA player and equally vocal following his career. He’s gained a substantial following for his frank commentary and he’s had plenty of away-from-basketball antics.

During his 16-year NBA career, Barkley, told a columnist for Sports Illustrated that children shouldn’t emulate him because “I am not a role model.”

In more recent years, Barkley, 45, has been in the news for his substantial gambling losses and as perhaps the worst golfer on the celebrity golf tour. For years, he has expressed his interest in politics.

During his interview with Brown, Barkley said he would focus his campaign on education.

“All the way education, the public school system in this country is the worst it has ever been and what that does is that hurts crime, it hurts the judicial system,” Barkley told Campbell. “You know if you don’t give people education and hope, they become criminals. They get involved in drugs. So we have got to fix the public school system.”