PERSON: Charles Barkley

NBA sports analyst

Charles Wade Barkley is a retired NBA power forward who played from 1984-2000. He left the game as one of only four players in NBA history who have compiled at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Karl Malone.

Nicknamed "Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley was selected to both the All-NBA First Team and All-NBA Second Team five times and once named to the All-NBA Third Team. He earned eleven NBA All-Star Game appearances and was named the All-Star MVP in 1991. In 1993, he was voted the league's Most Valuable Player and during the NBA's 50th anniversary, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic games and won two gold medals as a member of the United States' Dream Team. In 2006, Barkley was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The loquacious Barkley was frequently involved in on- and off-court fights and sometimes stirred national controversy, as in March 1991 when he mistakenly spat on a young girl, and as in 1993 when he declared that sports figures should not be considered role models. Short for a power forward, Barkley used his strength and aggressiveness to become one of the NBA's most dominant rebounders. He was a versatile player who had the ability to score, create plays, and defend.

Since retiring as a player, Barkley has had a successful career as an Emmy Award-winning color commentator on basketball, working for TNT as a studio host for its coverage of NBA games. In addition, Barkley has written several books and has shown an interest in politics.

-- espn.com